Impact?

Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. Matthew 27:11-14

It's amazing, and humbling, to think of the huge impact our lives have on the lives whose path we cross. Think about it, our character...who we are...our personality...our decisions...our reactions...our responses....our words...everything that we do and say and think that makes up who we are as individuals, has an impact on others. The shaping of our lives is now shaping the lives of those around us. And for the majority of us it's not a conscious decision we make to want to effect other people lives. But we can't help it...we just DO! That's why it's so sobering to read verses like the ones above. More often than not we live our lives in order to validate ourselves. Let's be honest! We are constantly, subconscioius though it may be, trying to stick up for ourselves, prove ourselves, have the right comeback, one up the next person, stand up for us, etc. But Jesus - the Creator of everything (let that sink in...He created the ground He walked on, the air He breathed, the people who accused Him and spit on Him and beat Him, the cross He hung on...the list goes on...) - our Jesus, stood in the face of lies and slander and accusation.....and said nothing. Don't you think that the God of the universe has a place to stand up for himself? Don't you think out of anyone it'd be Him who SHOULD stand up for Himself??!! NO! In Romans we're told to not repay evil with evil, to not take revenge...overcome evil with good. God is saying, "I have more important things for you to accomplish...let me handle the revenge part...you take care of the loving your neighbor part and returning any evil with good part....all for My glory." What do you think? Are we more concerned about our rights as human beings than to be concerned about loving our neighbors? Are our harsh words and responses impacting lives negatively? Do we stand in the face of persecution and respond in love like Jesus (he died so we could have life very soon after this encounter in the passage above)? Or do we stand up for ourselves, validate ourselves so people know we have worth? Should we? Also, how have you been impacted in life by others? How has this shaped you? What has it shaped the way you respond to others? Sorry for so much here...I'd love to hear responses though!