​The Victim – The Sinned-Against

Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. 
John 19:25-27
 
When I was a freshman in high school I was back stage at an event just hanging out, one of the only freshmen there. I watched as an upperclassman started to harass another boy who was just standing there reading a book. He knocked the book out of his hands and continued to taunt him. The boy never said a word and then suddenly got punched in the face for no reason. His response was to just pick up his book. It was terrible. I know there are many today who feel like life has been just like that – a punch in the face for no reason.

Many have experienced a tremendous amount of pain and trauma in life, not because of anything they have done, but because of what has been done to them. There are a lot of victims in our world. A lot of people who have been sinned-against. I want you to know – God sees you and knows you. I also want you to know you don't have to stay the victim!

We often stand at the foot of the cross of Jesus and shout, “Jesus, save me, the sinner!” But, we forget that right next to us is Mary who is shouting, “Jesus, save yourself and me – the victims!” You see the cross of Jesus isn’t just about the sinner but also about the sinned-against. It is there the victim (Jesus who was innocent Himself) dies. It is there Jesus makes sure the victim (Mary) is cared for. It is also there Jesus forgives the one killing Him.

Too many of us stay at the cross though – we stay the victim. We let that define us and dictate our life and our decisions. But, Mary doesn't stay the victim and neither does Jesus. Because a few days later we have the resurrection. The victim has become the victory. The one who died has become the survivor!

The cross is where Jesus entered into our suffering and we entered into His. The cross is where we unite with Him in death and the tomb is where we unite with Him in resurrection. The cross is a place for victims and the resurrection the hope of victory. “This is the hope of the gospel. There is hope beyond victimization, and the woundedness that it causes. There is real hope of genuine healing. And in this, the saving message of the cross becomes just as powerful for the sinned-against as it is for the sinner. New birth is offered to all. The resurrection does not undo the death of Jesus, just as it does not undo spiritual, psychological, and emotional “deaths” of the sinned-against. But the resurrection does offer new life and redemption as the declarative Word over sin, pain, violence, and abuse.” (The Backside Of The Cross – Diane Leclerc and Brent Peterson)
 
I pray you find hope and healing from the pain caused by others in your life and that you realize Jesus died and rose again for the sinner as well as the sinned-against.
 
In Christ,
Pastor Matt