“If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (Matthew 5:41).
During the time of Roman occupation in ancient Israel, a Roman soldier had the legal right to literally force a Jew to carry his belongings for a certain distance. The Jew would not dare to say no because of the punishment that would result. What the Jew did have a choice in was the attitude he took in this outrageous yet lawful demand.
Roman soldiers were certainly used to Jews grumbling and complaining with hate in their eyes as they were forced to carry the Roman’s possessions. Seeing this Roman soldiers must have thought, ‘I’d be angry to, if this task was forced upon me, he’s just like I am.’ This gives some context for Jesus’ seriously radical and radically serious statement about going twice as far from what is asked of you; not out of it spite but love.
Talk about exploding the conditioned expectations of a Roman soldier. Seeing this Roman soldiers would probably think, ‘what kind of man is this, who acts in overwhelming kindness in a personally unjust situation?’ It may even provoke him to inquire the man about his life. At the very least it would be something he could never forget.
It is amazing how rarely our whole hearts are required of us in this world. It is easy to get by in mediocrity. But extreme is part of what it means to be salt and light in a dark and dying world. The truth is that no man or woman will go the extra mile out of their own humanity. That type of walk only happens by the power of the Holy Spirit experienced through a yielding to the Messiah Jesus.
As for the Sermon on the Mount, it is expanding to further texts and God is doing a deep and slightly painful work in me. I thank Him for it and trust Him in it. I’ve surrendered to this walk and I will persevere until it reaches completion going the extra mile with Jesus.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Saturday, May 3, 2008
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