Mar 15:29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
Mar 15:30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.
Mar 15:31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
Mar 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.

so, was Jesus weak for allowing others to heap such abuse on Him? did He have to struggle not to retaliate?

I had this little embroidered saying and it comes to mind here.

"If you think being meek is weak,
try being meek for a week!"

amen to that!!

Jesus didn't allow them to heap abuse on Him until the "time". No one laid a hand on Him until the "time". He regularly escaped imminent danger without incident. He said "My time is not yet come." Then later on He said, "My time is at hand." That's when He allowed them to torture Him. And, no, Jesus didn't have to fight back wanting to hurt them. He loved them in spite of what they were doing to Him. There was nothing weak or wimpy about it. Such love requires supernatural strength. I pray for it all the time.

Don't know if this is off topic - but is it God's will for us to fight for our rights or to fight to defend ourselves? Or, does He expect us to allow people to hurt us and take our stuff?

its amazing those are the only two options that come to our minds isnt it?!?

well it was for me, anyway, until incidents like these started registering on my mind.

check out the story of jehoshaphat.

it isnt singular.

or how about these?
Exo 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
Deu 1:30 The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;
Deu 3:22 Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.
Deu 20:4 For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

He didnt?

didnt His brothers abuse Him constantly because they didnt understand Him?

thats just for starters.

but then again, i guess, it all depends on how we define "abuse".
the less we know exactly what it involves the more we are likely to practice it.

it can only be a gift, thank God, because i havent been able to manufacture it yet.

and wouldnt give 2 cents for the love others might think they have.

There seems to be a fine balance between being meek and asserting one's rights.

When Christ was accused by the priests and Pharisees, he preserved his self-control, but he took his position decidedly that their charges were untrue. He said to them: "Which of you convinceth me of sin?" "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou me?" He knew that his position was right. When Paul and Silas were beaten and thrust into prison without trial or sentence, they did not surrender their right to be treated as honest citizens. When there was a great earthquake, and the foundations of the prison were shaken, and the doors were opened, and every man's bands were loosed, and the magistrates sent word to the prisoners that they might depart in peace, Paul entered a protest, and said: "They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? Nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. . . . And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city." Through the action of Paul and Silas the name of God was magnified and the authorities were humbled. It was necessary that the honor of God should be vindicated at this time.
At all times and in all places the Christian should be that which the Lord designs that he should be,--a free man in Christ Jesus. ... To be meek does not mean that we shall regard ourselves as in a servile condition; for Christ is our sufficiency. ... In the world the Christian will be slighted and dishonored, and will consent to be least of all and servant of all. He will submit to be injured, to be despitefully used and persecuted, but wearing the yoke of Christ he will find rest unto his soul, and the yoke will not be galling. {ST, August 22, 1895 par. 4, 5}

interesting points being brought up at this particular time! also interesting how the Lord works when one calls on Him.

notice in Jesus case, and multitudes of others, they went ahead and continued to disrespect Him specifically, by putting Him on the cross. with others they were burned at the stake. that continues to happen with others today who are in the right. events are twisted and made to look as if one thing happened when in reality completely different events happened. that is just one example. our words can also be twisted, as they tried to do with Jesus, but He knew what He had said and what the issue was.

we never know when God will allow us to go down in ignominy,

or when He will intervene causing the ones in the wrong to hang him/herself.

in either case it is to His glory. at all times we are to turn the other cheek in love and allow God to work out our vengence for His glory.

in the end He wants to save the one harming others, in whatever form that might be, as much as He wants to save the one being harmed.

Psa 119:126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law. i am always amazed at how He works when we call on Him to act! how he lets the perpetrators hang themselves leaves me with my mouth open.

Yes, since both Jesus' and Paul's behavior was beyond reproach, nothing could be said against them. This was the reason why they could assert their rights. And the same must be true of every Christian.