Eye, eye!

Human nature seems to err towards relentless revenge, have you noticed that?
Remember when you were kids and one of your siblings would punch you on the arm? Now don’t tell me that you didn’t attempt to lay a barrage of blows on them in return. Therefore the concept of ‘an eye for an eye’ was radical, and yet, despite its imperfections, we still struggle to keep that simple law.

"You have heard that the law of Moses says, `If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.' But I say, don't resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow.” Matt 5:38-42

Jesus is not saying here that we should act like people with no rights, not at all. He is saying that we should behave like people with the ultimate right, but choose to surrender it for the sake of those who do not deserve it. Now that is revolutionary!

But why should we bother; what do we get out of it?

Jesus is not simply telling us to grin and bear it; he is calling us to attack the enemy, to issue the death blow, to kick him where it hurts! In choosing to serve rather than retaliating we win a victory that is not available to us any other way.

As he is saying these words to us to us today, Jesus is [once again] exposing the enemy in our actions, but more than that; he strengthens us to take a decisive stand.
Our lap of honour is the extra mile, the kiss of [ultimate] victory is placed on the other cheek and our medals are on the jacket we give away.

WIN AS JESUS WON.