Responding to our enemies? Some thoughts for Jesus followers.

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." (Luke 6:27-36)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? (Matthew 5:43-48)

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.'" (Romans 12: 17-21)

"Then Jesus said to him, 'Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?'” (Matthew 26:52-54)

"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." (1 Peter 2:23)

"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it." (Mark 8: 34-35)

The Prayer of St Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:

where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy. 

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive, 

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, 

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

They’ll Know We Are Christians by our Love

Jesus said something startling at the last supper, shortly before he died on the cross. As he prepares to send them out into the empire he says this: 

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13: 34-35 NIV)

The mark of the followers of Jesus living out the reign of God was love. In the midst of the empires of this world which are marked by fear and violence and hierarchy and consumption and acquisition and dominion and vengeance, they were to be marked as Jesus' disciples by their love and their unity (John 17).  

After their Passover meal is over, they walked to Gethsemane and offered no resistance when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus. Peter was told to put down his sword rather than fight.

We are to be known as a sign of the coming Kingdom by our love and unity -- the people of Jesus.

***   ***   ***   ***

We are one in the Spirit,

we are one in the Lord,

We are one in the Spirit

we are one in the Lord,

And we pray that all unity

may one day be restored:

And they’ll know we are Christians

By our love, by our love,

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians

By our love.

We will walk with each other

we will walk hand in hand

we will walk with each other

we will walk hand in hand

and together we’ll spread the news

that God is in our land:

Chorus

We will work with each other

we will work side by side

We will work with each other

We will work side by side

And we’ll guard each one’s dignity

and save each one's pride:

Chorus

All Praise to the Father

from whom all things come,

And all praise to Christ Jesus

His only Son,

and all praise to the Spirit

who makes us all one:

By Peter Scholte  

One Thing Remains

[Verse 1]

Higher than the mountains that I face

And it's stronger than the power of the grave

Constant in the trial and the change

This one thing remains

[Chorus]

And Your love never fails, it never gives up

It never runs out on me

And Your love never fails, it never gives up

It never runs out on me

And Your love never fails, it never gives up

It never runs out on me

[Verse 2]

And on and on and on and on it goes

It overwhelms and satisfies my soul

And I'll never, ever, have to be afraid

'Cause this one thing remains

This one thing remains

[Chorus]

And Your love never fails, it never gives up

It never runs out on me

And Your love never fails, it never gives up

It never runs out on me

And Your love never fails, it never gives up

It never runs out on me

Your love, Your love

[Bridge]

And in death, and in life

I'm confident and covered by

The power of Your great love

My debt is paid

There's nothing that can separate

My heart from Your great love

[Chorus]

'Cause Your love never fails, it never gives up

It never runs out on me

Your love never fails, it never gives up

It never runs out on me

Your love never fails, it never gives up

It never runs out on me

Your love

[Verse 2]

And on and on and on and on it goes

It overwhelms and satisfies my soul

And I'll never, ever, have to be afraid

'Cause this one thing remains

This one thing, it remains, remains

[Chorus]

Your love never fails, it never gives up

It never runs out on me

Your love never fails, it never gives up

It never runs out on me

Your love never fails, it never gives up

It never runs out on me

Your love

[Bridge]

And in death, and in life

I'm confident and covered by

The power of Your great love

My debt is paid

There's nothing that can separate

My heart from Your great love

[Instrumental]

Touched by an Angel | Maya Angelou (b. 1928)

we, unaccustomed to courage

exiles from delight

live coiled in shells of loneliness

until love leaves its high holy temple

and comes into our sight

to liberate us into life.

love arrives

and in its train come ecstasies

old memories of pleasure

ancient histories of pain.

yet if we are bold,

love strikes away the chains of fear

from our souls.

we are weaned from our timidity

in the flush of love's light

we dare be brave

and suddenly we see

that love costs all we are

and will ever be.

yet it is only love

which sets us free.

I pray that they will all be one

Can you picture Jesus standing up and drying his hands, having washed the dirty feet of his followers. 

It’s the night of the Passover, the same night Jesus would be betrayed and die a terrible death on the Cross.

So, this is his last conversation, his last opportunity, to impress on these fearful and uncertain disciples the most important things he wants them to understand. 

He washes their feet as a humble servant would, even Judas is included.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Later, he gathers them and says this:

“Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13: 33-35)

Jesus knew these guys often argued! He knew that those who would follow them would often disagree about all sorts of things. He knew that there would be many areas of Christian living where his disciples and those who came after them would hold differing convictions and would shake their heads at others who thought differently.

BODY BUILDERS -- BUILDING THE UP THE BODY OF CHRIST

I can remember thinking that the Christian faith was all about me getting myself forgiven and 'saved' so as to guarantee myself eternal life.

I thought the good news was no bigger than Jesus dying for me, so I might have my list of transgressions 'paid in full,' and live a meaningful life and finally make it into heaven.

Committing to a church community or serving other Christians or submitting one to another - these sort of things, I saw as 'optional extras' to be added on only if they 'worked' for me.