The messenger Jeremiah suffered the disrespect of a night in the stocks at the hands of the regime priest Pashhur, and Jeremiah's response was to rename him Magor-Missabib, Terror-all-around, and to pronounce vicious curses against him. But the messenger Jesus suffered a lot more disrespect than that! He suffered the disrespect of his friends, who disowned and deserted him. He suffered the disrespect of the regime priests, who concocted a death sentence for him out of nothing. Jesus suffered the disrespect of the people, who were talked into rioting to secure his death. And Jesus suffered the ultimate disrespect of hanging on a cross, subjected to taunting and ridicule, until he breathed his last. Did Jesus respond with calls for children to be given over to famine, for youth to be slain by the sword in battle, for wives to become childless and widowed, for the marauder to avenge his death? Precisely the reverse! Jesus FORGAVE his friends, the people, and even the regime, and through his death, Jesus turned back the wrath of God that threatened the nation of Judah. And through his resurrection, Jesus brought to his followers the opposite result to destruction by the marauder – disciples will live with the Father, forever. Jesus secures for his disciples what their disrespect could never merit – forgiveness and eternal life.
And that means, we have a new basis for respecting God – not authority, but gratitude. Thankful for the opportunity for forgiveness, we can listen. Thankful for the wisdom his messengers have given to us, we can learn. Thankful for the promise of eternal life, we can serve.
Heavenly Father, we repent of those times when we did not behave towards you respectfully. Help us to treat you, your people, and all your creation with the appropriate respect, in Jesus' name, amen.