Why Do You Strike Me?

ohn 18:22, 23 And when He has 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?” 

Have you ever tried to be friendly to people only to be rebuffed? Have you simply walked into a room and felt the disdain as others turned to stare? Have you ever lent a helping hand only to have it smacked away? Has your happiness and good fortune been a trigger for hateful deluge of conversations amongst friends? Why do you strike Me? 

Here in this text, I can feel the pain of our savior as He speaks truth to those that have detained Him. It is this truth that the officers have ought with. Not everyone can or is willing to live a life of truth. Even if they do not verbalize it, it is felt in their inner being. To deny the truth causes an unrest that shows itself in so many unrighteous ways. Why do you strike Me? The strike is the denial of His truth. The strike is the defense against accepting and acknowledging the truth. Often the anger, the display, is not the element to address. It is the means of cover up. It prevents us from addressing the foundational cause of such denial of truth.  

Why do you strike Me? Learned behavior to conceal the pain. Carried from generation to generation, from mom and dad, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and even friends Why do you strike Me? I strike because I am afraid. I strike because this is what I know. I strike because it is familiar. I strike because I do not want healing. I strike because it is so easy. I strike because I have been taught to conform. I strike because I have allowed the enemy (inner me) to take dominion. I strike because it is learned behavior. I strike because hurt people, hurt people. I strike because I strike. 

Why do you strike Me? The encouragement is in the asking of the question. The intentional query opens the door to healing. Questioning the cause of such hurt and pain, begs one to question their motive. To look in the mirror and find the truth. The ask brings awareness to the issue. It acknowledges the wrong that has been done. It is timely in that it addresses the injustice. The question makes redemption and correction possible. So, let us ask, why do you strike Me? So, we can bask in the healing of God’s great love.