Text for meditation: Romans 8:31-39
Paul’s troubles
When we read the above text we understand the troubles that he went through -
8:31 – People were “against” him
8:32 – He was in need
8:33 – He was “charged against”
8:34 – He was “condemned”
8:35 – He suffered “tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword”
Remembering Forerunners
While writing these texts Paul remembers two forerunners and draws inspirations from their lives.
He borrows the words of the Psalmist David (from Psalm 44:22) and says,
“As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” (Romans 8:36)
The reading of Psalm 44 would enlighten us more on what Paul was going through and how it is similar to what we go through. From this Psalm of David we can understand the four phases of his life -
44:1 - “We have heard”; David talks about all the deeds that God did in the past of which he has heard
44:4 – “You are my King”; He personalizes God whose great deeds he heard of
44:9 – “But now”; He gives a list of all the troubles that he is going through
44:23 – “Awake, Lord”; Prays to God for deliverance
44:9 – “rejected and humbled”
44:13 – “reproach, scorn, derision”
44:21b – “he knows the secrets of the heart”
Troubled so much that he couldn’t express everything and prays to God with the understanding that He knows the secrets of the heart. Paul too realizing his state to be the same writes, “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:27 NKJV)
God not only knows the secrets of our heart, he searches the heart too! Because He is concerned of us.
He loves. He Provides.
While penning these words in his letter to the Romans Paul also remembers another forerunner. From David he drew inspirations to take his troubles to God or rather sing them to the Lord. And from this forerunner he sees God in a new perspective working right in the middle of his life, amidst his troubles. He is Abraham.
In the incident at Mount Moriah the Bible says in Genesis 22:16,
““By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son”.
Through these texts Paul sees God in a newer way and writes to Romans,
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
Paul was seeing God’s love in Abraham’s sacrifice! God allows sufferings in our lives so that His love may be expressed through our choices in life. Even as Paul was thinking over these from the life of Abraham he understood that he was being tested as “God tested Abraham” (Genesis 22:1)
He could not only see the God who loves Him but He who provides and that’s why he writes, “how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things”; since that’s the kind of faith inspiration that he draws from Abraham.
“Abraham said, “My son, God will provide…. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide” (Genesis 22:8a, 14a)
Like Paul, like Abraham, like David, we too can go through all troubles if we too would know intently the Lord who loves us and provides for us. And we will join with Paul in saying that nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39b) And we will be rest assured in Him because,
“If God is for us, who (or what) can be against us?”
During these Lent Days even as we spend more time specifically meditating on the sufferings of Jesus Christ, let’s be assured of His love for us. And let that assurance bring joy in us and make us to give ourselves for His service and other’s blessing.
The whole incident of Jesus being accused gives us insights to look at the various perspectives of accusations which will help us to understand the meanness and baselessness behind these and to apply them to our own lives. Were you accused falsely and suffered shame? This meditation for sure will help you see yourself in Jesus and be rest assured in Him, who took all our pain and shame upon Him.
First, the Romans had put up an inscription of the charge against Jesus as “King of the Jews”. Why did they put up this as the charge against Him when many other issues were brought against Jesus by the Jewish High priest and Pharisees? Accusing Jesus as a one who claimed to be the “King of Jews” would make the whole issue very much “political”. That is, it would give Jesus a “motive” to cause insurrection against the Roman power. (And this is what the Roman authorities feared would happen). 
What meets the eye is what most people believe. The Romans had not only put up an accusation seemingly political in nature, they also did one more cunning thing to be safe. Because there was always a chance for the Jews (the majority who suffered) to take sides with Jesus counting Him as a Revolutionist. So very cleverly they crucified Jesus between two bandits to make Him look like one among them – a bandit. So that the Jews may not take His side and accuse the Romans for a Political crime.
For these people their Temple and Tradition is more important than the Truth. Value for tradition has blinded their minds, that they are unable to see and understand the truth when it is presented to them; even though they are so close to the Truth. They fail to see Jesus as the One who came to fulfill all traditions; but they see Him as One who came to destroy them.
These are the religious leaders who are sound in their religious texts. And know what Jesus did and claimed. But still do not believe in the Personhood of Jesus, the Messiah. Though they had seen all the good things that Jesus did they did not believe in Him and they would not believe even if Jesus would have to come down from the cross for them to “see and believe”. Because these people are prejudiced. Any number of proof would not be sufficient to make them change their mind and accept Jesus.
What a terrible situation is this! When people falsely accuse us and use it as a means to defame us and rob us of all that we have, Jesus understands. In the world, people are waiting to take those things that belong us and are just looking for such an opportunity to grab our resources and responsibilities.
When you are accused falsely and are bearing the suffering, there will be a group of people who would misinterpret you and your claims. They would also point out to your promises, your plans and ridicule them, seeing your miserable state and judging that you will now never be able to fulfill them or do them.
These are the Roman soldiers and the passers by who mock at Jesus looking at the inscription. For them all that matters is what publicly seen and what everybody speaks about. They are not bothered about getting into the matter and finding the truth. And at every look at the accused they mock him. They also misinterpret the sufferers misery.
When someone is accused there will be some like that of this bandit who would want to save themselves through the one who is falsely accused. Even at that juncture all that matters for them is their life. You are not only abused at the hands of the accusers you are also used by real offenders! They would come to you not to comfort you or help you, but to see how they can benefit out of your state. 