J. C. Ryle writes regarding the cross:

Let us meditate frequently on these things: let us often read over the story of Christ’s cross and passion.  Let us remember, not least, that all these horrible sufferings were borne without a murmur; no word of impatience crossed our Lord’s lips.  In his death, no less than in his life, he was perfect.  To the very last, Satan had no hold on him…

These words challenge me.  As he stood in turn before the chief priests, Herod, and Pilate, he endured a mockery of justice without a murmur.  He endured the lashings without a murmur.  He endured the mockery with a murmur.  He endured the beatings without a murmur.  He endured the spitting without a murmur.  He endured the crown of thorns without a murmur.  He endured the nails piercing his body without a murmur.  He endured hanging on that cross without a murmur.  He endured the wrath of God for my sin without a murmur.  Without a murmur.

And yet these words also convict me.  They point to my own sinfulness.  He endured horrible suffering without a murmur, yet I can easily murmur at the smallest things.  A slow driver in front of me, an interruption while I’m trying to focus on a task, and many other small things in life can cause me to murmur.  In his perfect example I am confronted afresh with my own sin.  I simply don’t measure up.  And yet that is why he endured the suffering without a murmur.  So my sins could be laid on him.  So his perfection might be attributed to me.

As I ponder his sufferings for me, it moves me to change.  I want to be more like Jesus.  I want to face the trials of life without a murmur.  On my own, I simply can’t.  But with his help in the power of the Spirit, I can press forward, I can grow more like him, I can begin to face life without a murmur. 

Father, help me to face today’s trials without a murmur, as I remember Jesus who endured for me so much more – without a murmur.  Amen.