Ridicule…
Ridicule”¦how did Jesus handle this aspect of His crucifixion?
He had prepared Himself through prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane!
(NIV) Matthew 26:36-39, 42, 44 “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “˜Sit here while I go over there and pray.”™ 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “˜My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”™
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “˜My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”™”
42 “He went away a second time and prayed, “˜My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”™”
44 “So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.”
Psalm 22 is a prophetic Psalm of Messiah on the cross”¦and I believe it also speaks to how Jesus “˜handled”™ His crucifixion:
(NASB) Psalm 22:9-11 “Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother”™s breast.
10 Upon You I was cast from birth;
You have been my God from my mother”™s womb.
11Be not far from me, for trouble is near;
For there is none to help.”
Since Jesus trusted His Father while dying on the cross, shouldn”™t you and I trust Him in our circumstances? Even if ridiculed for being followers of Christ, we need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus!