"Feeling Abused?"

Dealing With Abuse

The first thing that I would like to address is whether or not there is any situation when abuse would be acceptable and excused to continue. I know that it can be confusing sometimes when you really and truly care about someone but the abuse of another person is not acceptable by anyone, anytime, anywhere. There have been people all through history that have convinced their victims that they don't deserve to be treated with the love and affection that is normal and pure. Many times people who are abused feel that they are doing what is right by catering to this abusive behavior. I want you to know today that there is no way that God would ever plan to put you into a relationship where you would suffer repeated abuse whether it be mental, physical or emotional abuse. The attacks by any human being that are meant to hurt or oppress another are under the direction and control of satan. The best thing that I can tell anybody that has been through this treatment is, "Would someone that loves somebody really treat them this way? Is this the way you would treat someone that you love?".

We have all experienced some kind of abuse in our life or we wouldn't have grown up around people. It is the human nature to control and mistreat people. It is the grace of God that keeps us from this behavior. If you have been abused in your life when you were young or maybe even as an adult, I am very sorry that you had to go through an experience like this, but I want you to know that Jesus understands how you feel. He went through this also.

Jesus was physically abused by the crowds when they smacked him with their palms. He was abused by the high priests when he was whipped with the cat of nine tails and when the crown of thorns were pushed down into his brow and the salt of His sweat ran down into those wounds made by the thorns. You know how it feels when you prick your finger or scratch yourself and then a little salt gets into the wound. This was just added pain to all of the other stress that Jesus experienced this last day of His life. You see, He experienced it all that day! He was tortured, spit on, called names and mocked, stripped of His clothes to hang naked as a raped victim of humanity nailed to the cross where He remained until His last breath. As he hung there his robe was of more importance than His condition to the centurions who stayed there that evening. When He asked for water, He was given vinegar to drink. We don't even do this to our enemies today in prison!

Jesus gave Himself so that we all may be forgiven and it was through His suffering that He knows our feelings and hurts. It is because of this that He can speak on our behalf to the Father in Heaven and see that we are healed when we come to Him ready to forgive others as He did that day before He took His last breath on the cross and gave up His life for all who have sinned. He understands your hurts from the past, present and the future.

Let's read Mark's record of this,

Mark 15:15-20 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

You can see in that passage the physical abuse and now I want to read a few verses showing the mental abuse that He sustained. He does understand your hurts.

Luk 23:35-39 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

You know that Jesus could have freed Himself but it wasn't why He had suffered and given Himself up to those who wished His death. Those people that were there that day were the representation of the people Jesus had come to save. Those people were lost in their sins and in need of His forgiveness, just as those who have abused you and I in this life also need our forgiveness. Jesus miraculously gave His life for those who were lost and in His last words forgave the very people who were taking His life. Can we say as He did that day, "Father forgive them"? We must, in order for our healing to take place and to experience a NEW Life in Christ! It may seem hard but you only need to tell God and He will do the rest as you begin to see the blessings in your life. Let's see what Jesus said about the people who were mocking and abusing him physically,

Luk 23:33-34 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Will you follow His perfect example today and allow Him to heal those holes pierced through your heart by the abusers in your life?