I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.

Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? … Nazareth! Can anything good come from there? … Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed? … It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons. … We know that this man is a sinner. … He deceives the people. … This fellow is blaspheming! … Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.

It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! … For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. … If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Ps 69:20; Ps 69:20; Mt 13:55, Jh 1:46, Jh 8:48, Mt 9:34, Jh 9:24, Jh 7:12, Mt 9:3, Mt 11:19; Mt 10:25, 1Pe 2:19-23, Is 53:9, 1Pe 4:14

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.