Lots of people live with s stigma. Many kids from certain countries now living in the US face criticism for their looks, their customs, their heritage. The stigma of being from elsewhere and not having been born on US soil is a reality for adults as well. The thing is, many of those hurling criticism, may not have been born in the US themselves. Sometimes, their parents weren’t either. Nevertheless, picking on others happens to be a way of life for many. The old saying that people feel good putting others down because they lift themselves up, is very true and alive.
Sometimes, decisions we have made bring about stigmas. Oftentimes, we have to endure the talk and wrath of others. Jesus knows your story. He knows the feeling. He can relate. We know Jesus led a perfect life, though things affecting His life on earth weren’t. Truth has always had lies and accusations to contend with. Misunderstandings form when the whole story is overlooked, or misunderstood.
We sometimes think that our secrets, decisions, or past ways will remain unknown to others. Sometimes, yes, but not always. On many occasions, Jesus was accused of being a false prophet, of having connections to the underworld when it came to healing and producing miracles (Matthew 12:24). The one I’m sure had to hit home was when His birth was questioned. Mary and Joseph knew Jesus’ birth was supernaturally fulfilled. They knew it was prophetic. They knew He was God’s Prophet and Savior, though they didn’t comprehend it all. Nevertheless, they lived with the whispers.
And so, on one occasion, Jesus was told, “We were not born of fornication” (John 8:41), meaning Mary was believed to not have been pure when pregnant and carrying Him. I don’t know about you, but in my old neighborhood, our peers were allowed to say all kinds of things about us and against us-save about our moms. That’s when fist went flying whether at school, the home, or anywhere. They were basically telling Him He was the last one that should talk about spiritual or religious matters.
Jesus lived with the stigma of His heavenly Father’s plan: Being born of a virgin. It didn’t irritate Him because He knew the truth, plus, He knew the hearts of the religious leaders incessantly trying to discredit Him, and He let them know that they were vipers, hypocrites, ignorant and blind leaders (All of Matthew 23, particularly, verse 33). While they were telling Him where He came from, He told them where they were going (Matt 23:14): to receive a greater condemnation than others, and because they had not believed He was the Son of God, that they would die in their sins (John 8:24).
Bottom line: Jesus can relate to our stigmas, our put-downs, our hurts. The word says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet he did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). Cast your cares upon Him.
“Cast your cares upon Him, lay your life before Him, For only He is worthy to stand, In tribulation, trial, and sorrow, When you can’t see through tomorrow, He’ll reveal to you the frailty of a man” (Song by John Michael Talbot)
God Bless,
Sam