Humiliation

Humiliation

John 19: ¹⁷ And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, ¹⁸ where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.

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Late for a meeting, I hurried to use the restroom. To my dismay, I slightly wet my light colored pants just enough for it to be visible. “You have got to be kidding me!” I shouted. In haste, I grabbed paper towels and wet them, trying to get rid of the drops on my trousers. I made it look like I had just bypassed using the toilet at all. My pants were wet and I had to go to the meeting.

• Sometimes I feel humiliated.
• Sometimes I feel embarrassed.
• Sometimes I feel like everyone is going to laugh or have a negative opinion of me.

JESUS was forced to carry HIS cross in front of everyone so HE could be humiliated. To add further embarrassment, HE was placed in the middle of two criminals, drawing attention to HIM as being the largest offender. HE had to go on the cross.

• JESUS faced humiliation from many just for me.
• JESUS faced embarrassment just for me.
• JESUS faced a painful death just for me.

Humiliation never feels good. BUT GOD went through it as an example to HIS followers. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of ME. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

JESUS gives me another way to look at the insults and embarrassing situations. HE tells me to persevere when I am insulted because I am trying to teach or preach about HIM. Looking forward to HIS reward calms the sting of the embarrassment.

• Have you been insulted because of your relationship with GOD?
• Have people pulled away from you because you are trying to speak about JESUS?
• Will you persevere, looking forward to the reward GOD has for you?

Insult to Injury

Matthew 27: ³⁸ Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” ⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴² “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. ⁴³ He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

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As I presented the budget I noticed snickering from the audience. Knowing this was my last week at the company, the attendees knew the information was a waste of their time. The questions asked were more insults than enquiries. I felt humiliated.

• There have been times I have felt humiliated.
• There have been times when I was insulted when I was at my lowest.
• There have been times when those around me hurled insults at me and all I could do was stand there.

Someone said “Words will never hurt me” but they did. Those who had once cheered me on were now insulting me as if I were the cause of the world’s problems. I walked out in shame. BUT GOD wanted me to understand something from this.

• GOD wanted me to “Pray for my enemies.”
• GOD wanted me to “Turn the other cheek” while being slapped in the face with insults.
• GOD wanted me to “Love those who are not easy to love.”

It is easy to love people who love me back but to love those who hate me is another thing! I mean they insulted me and mocked me. JESUS too was insulted and mocked. The heads of the church criticized the living GOD thinking they had killed a blasphemer. They insulted HIS love, HIS statements and HIS authority. BUT GOD died for mankind anyway.

JESUS did say HE is the SON of GOD and never shied away from that statement. HE used tremendous restraint to accept insults and injury unto HIS death. HE knows I can be hurt by insults but HE says to me “I love you and that is what matters.” I can let go of insults and focus on GOD’s love.

• Have you been insulted?
• Is someone mocking you and your abilities?
• Can you let it go and allow GOD to heal your wounds today?

Mistaking My Kindness for Weakness

1 Chronicles 19: In the course of time, Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him as king. ² David thought, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father.

When David’s envoys came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites to express sympathy to him, ³ the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending envoys to you to express sympathy? Haven’t his envoys come to you only to explore and spy out the country and overthrow it?” ⁴ So Hanun seized David’s envoys, shaved them, cut off their garments at the buttocks, and sent them away.

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¹⁴ Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him. 

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¹⁹ When the vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to him.

So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites anymore.

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Sitting in my office, I wondered how I was going to get the work done with the resources I had available to me. A peer came to my cubicle and tapped on the imaginary door. He proceeded to ask me to do some of his work. It was small and similar to what our team was doing so I agreed. Our team worked hard, but my peers’ extra load began to drag on and on so I went back to him and asked for more attention to “our” project.

He then said “It’s your project” as if he had nothing to do with it. Things looked bleak for a moment, but after talking to the team, they were willing to work a little harder. We finished all the work with a few minor adjustments and our team won an award. I truly appreciate their wonderful hearts.

• Sometimes I feel my kindness is viewed as weakness.
• Sometimes I feel my kindness is supposed to yield to bullying tactics.
• Sometimes I feel my kindness is taken and trampled by those who aren’t appreciative.

Yes, I know I should not be looking for rewards here on earth. GOD clearly says if I seek a pat on my back, I would get it as my reward instead of getting a reward in heaven from HIM. But HE also said “Do not cast your pearls before swine.” As a follower of CHRIST I need to watch HIS example carefully.

• JESUS served those in need and recognized those who were blatantly against HIM.
• JESUS never sought credit but recognized the Churchy people who blew HIM off.
• JESUS was not afraid to serve someone who acted different than HE did and recognized those who served by exclusion.

The recognition JESUS had of the Pharisees and Sadducees wasn’t good. In fact HE called them a den of vipers. HE wants me to serve with my eyes wide open and perhaps stop serving those who rob and steal from people. HE still wants me to show kindness to those HE delivers to me, but I must obey HIM rather than chasing human approval.

• Are you chasing those who can never be pleased?
• Do people mistake your kindness for weakness?
• Can you say “no” to people to avoid burn-out?
• Won’t you ask GOD to open your eyes to those HE wants you to serve and those you can say “no” to?

A healthy fall makes a healthy return

2 Samuel 16: ⁵ As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. ⁶ He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left.

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⁹ Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”

¹⁰ But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’”

¹¹ David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. ¹² It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”

¹³ So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. ¹⁴ The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.

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“Humiliation” is the one word I felt during my last days this particular job. I was in the middle of negotiating severance and those in power had to tolerate me until I left. It was planning season and my boss’s boss remarked as I was presenting. “It’s not like it matters” was his statement after I presented the plan for what was soon to be my former department.

I saw several grins and chuckles after his statement from those who cheered my rise to the top. The next week it was over and I had to pack my things like I saw so many before me.

There have been times in my life where I have been humiliated.

• There have been times in my life where embarrassment was only the beginning of what I felt.
• There have been times in my life where I wanted to crawl in a corner and give up.

David’s ascent was amazing but his fall was embarrassing. I can definitely understand how he must have felt. But he did a remarkable thing. He didn’t blame GOD.

• GOD says “I will be with you always” so this means through utter humiliation.
• GOD says “I have a wonderful plan for you” so this includes the high and low points.
• GOD says “My grace is sufficient” so HE wants me to pray for those who don’t have my best interest.

GOD is the one who raises people up and makes them fall. We still have a purpose to serve no matter where we are. Praise GOD for HIS constant pursuit to restore us.

• Are you feeling embarrassed?
• Do you feel humiliated?
• Do you think your humiliation is because you were pointing at your own life too much when you should be pointing your life to GOD?
• Can you give your humiliation to GOD and gain strength from HIM?