Bitterness: The Painkiller Jesus Refused
33 And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, 34 they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink. Matthew 27:33-34 (NASB)
Gall: 1 a: especially : bile obtained from an animal and used in the arts or medicine b: something bitter to endure c: bitterness of spirit
As I have been studying the Scriptures dealing with unforgiveness, the Lord has been unveiling the “self-preserving” painkillers we as humans turn to in times of hurt and offence. The Scriptures are full of promises, including promises no one wants, such as the promise that we will get hurt and offended by those closest to us. I have found that I don’t get tempted to pick up an offense by people I don’t have close relationship with, no I am tempted to get offended with those that are the most beloved to me.
In times of hurt and personal offence, we have to look to Jesus as we are tempted to pick up the offence and thus tempted to pick up the painkiller called bitterness. Bitterness is birthed out of another soulish painkiller called unforgiveness. Only Jesus holds the healing to our wounded hearts and souls and only the CROSS holds the power of destroying these deceitful painkillers.
As we fix our eyes upon Jesus, we see that on the way to the CROSS, He was offered a painkiller of wine and gall. Upon what appeared to be an act of mercy, Jesus refused the drink. He willingly refused to take anything that would numb His pain. We live in a culture that “at all costs” escapes pain through all sorts of pain reducers. Go to the drug store and walk down the multiple isles of “pain relievers” that line the shelves.
Let me ask you some question: When the pain comes, how do you survive? What do you turn to in order to reduce the pain? Do you drink the soulish painkiller of bitterness birthed from unforgiveness or do you refuse to allow your soul the opportunity to escape pain. Do you operate in self-preservation and choke those around you until they pay you back? Do you let bitterness eat at the core of who you are and thus destroy the work of grace Jesus has done inside of you?
I suggest we go to the CROSS with Jesus. He refused the cup of bitterness as he drank the cup of His Father’s wrath. Imagine, he refused one cup (the painkiller) only to exhaust another cup (God’s wrath)! See Jesus desires us to bring to Him an offering…a freewill offering. He desires us to pour out our bitterness upon Him, because He already endured it. He knows that this painkiller will ultimately destroy us. He knows that this painkiller will only lead to others becoming spoiled by our bitterness. He knows what it is like to suffer to the depth of perfection in regard to having those closest to Him offend Him and turn upon Him. YET, He refused to drink the cup of bitterness, so that you and I would not have to drink this cup of poison.
As Jesus hung on that cross, He was able to strike a death blow to these painkillers of unforgiveness and bitterness as He cried out these words, “Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing!” As you read this, begin to refuse the cup of bitterness. Don’t drink from this inferior offer of pain reduction! Look to the CROSS and displace the bitterness by drinking from the cup of mercy and grace…forgive those that have hurt you! Release them from the debt they owe you. They will never be able to “pay you back.” Offer up to Jesus an offering that is acceptable to Him…take the cup of bitterness and give it to Him, certainly He will know what to do with it. Certainly it will be swallowed up by His grace and forgiveness!
Pastor Bryan
