A Chastening

And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”

Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?” John 18:22-23

We know this story: Jesus has been arrested, and the party arrives in front of the high priest where Jesus is questioned and in this case He gives an answer. And our Lord Jesus is slapped for it by an officer of the court. We may draw back in shock at someone striking our Lord, but did the man feel the presence of those 12 legions of angels standing by for our Lord's call? But no, the man lives and receives a chastening from the Lord Jesus. In other places and courts, Jesus gave no answer. What an honor of love for this officer to receive a chastening from our Lord! How do we know this to be His love in action? We have this: As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. (Revelation 3:19).

Great and ever present was the love of our Lord Jesus in His trial,

Bucky