September 6, 2024, 8:00 AM
38. "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'39. But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
As we have been looking at personal offenses toward Christ’s followers it seems this passage is pointing prophetically to Himself. We think of our rights, but more so are the rights of the Messiah. When we yield our rights to God we can expect that He will allow situations to develop in which these rights will be taken from us. If those who wronged you do not repent, they will experience the vengeance of God, which is far worse than anything we could think of doing anyway.
Both in Isaiah and 1 Peter there is a prophecy and explanation of Jesus suffering wrongly. He could have called 10,000 angels to take him from the cross to annihilate the entire human race, but through love and patience His love goes beyond my understanding. We know His suffering on the cross was for your sin and mine. Who of us can in that moment of suffering unjustly and slanderous lies, could ask for the forgiveness for the very ones who were persecuting us, but the Son of God did? When there are times that we undergo unjust treatment, how do we feel? What is the response? What advice can we give to those believers mistreated? Christ is our example. He prayed, “Lord not my will but Thine be done." He prayed, “Father forgive them they know not what they do."
Jesus understood there was a larger issue at stake than the human one. It was the task of salvation and calling a people to eternal life by faith in trusting Him. Most of the prophets were persecuted for the sake of righteousness. They proclaimed God's message and in so doing were rejected. In that situation we should rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is our reward in heaven.
An oyster gets a piece of sand in the shell and develops a secretion that surrounds it and produces a pearl. They can make that which hurts into something of value. What do we do with our irritations? Many aggravating people need the love of Christ more than what we might realize and maybe you are the only one who can give it to them. Can you let God's love flow through you?
After one harsh and hardened soldier commanded yet another crucifixion to take place, he watched one who was struck and turned the other cheek. When his prisoner was slandered, He kept silent; when abused and beaten He blessed and loved in return. After this treatment the prisoner cried for their forgiveness. This soldier, a centurion, looked upon the lifeless body of the Christ and exclaimed, "Truly this was the Son of God."
In these wrongs, His identity was revealed.
