REFOCUS
The “Kyrie” is an ancient prayer that can be used to focus our hearts on God. The words are simple: Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
READ
1 Peter 3:8-9
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.
9 On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Romans 12: 9, 14, 17, 19-2
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good…
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse…
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil…
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.
1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Matthew 5:38-41
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 anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.
41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.
REFLECT
Lincoln and the Rabid Man
During the Civil War, someone reported to Abraham Lincoln that Edwin Stanton, one of the president’s cabinet members, had referred to him as a fool. Mr. Lincoln replied, “Well, I must check into that, for I have found that he is usually correct in his judgments.”
Compare that with the man who was told by his doctor that he had contracted rabies. The man thought for a minute and then with a big grin, asked for a pen and piece of paper. After a few minutes of frantic scribbling, he looked up.
“I’m making a list of who I get to bite,” he said.
How DO we respond to those who have wronged us in one way or another? It’s natural to want to strike back. In fact, we may not only want to exact vengeance but to see those that hurt us suffer even more than we have.
In the ancient world, such vengeance was expected and applauded. It was considered a matter of honor that if you insulted me; I should hit you. If you struck me once, then I should beat you thoroughly. If you took the life of someone in my family, I would be justified in killing your entire family. And so it went: a never-ending and increasing escalation of violence fueled by revenge. It’s easy to see how disastrous it could get. Greater and greater suffering resulted.
The Old Testament law put a stop to such escalation. It declared, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” (Exodus 21:24) The law provided that the response to a wrong would be equal to the wrong. One could “get even,” but no more. The focus was on fairness.
While this was a considerable improvement over unchecked vengeance, it stopped short of healing. As some have noted, an “eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth” is apt to leave all involved blind and toothless. Punishment may prevent wrong but does little to restore a relationship and to bring healing. The suffering continues.
That’s why Jesus goes farther. “You have heard it said, ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,’ but I say to you, if an enemy strikes you on the right cheek, turn the left to him as well.” In other words, while Jesus accepts the concept of fairness, he also moves beyond it.
At first, his words to “turn the other cheek” may sound idealistic, even naive. We might think that such fanciful teaching will only result in being taken advantage of. Yet Jesus shows no evidence of being either naive or unconcerned about the painful acts of humans. He doesn’t deny the seriousness of evil or make excuses for it. He treats sin and injustice with utmost seriousness, at one point declaring that Divine condemnation has come into the world because of it (John 3:18).
Since sin always involves hurting others, the creation or ourselves, it tramples what the Father loves. Such blatant disregard, in God’s economy, is worthy of nothing less than eternal punishment.
Yet as we have seen, judgment alone only increases pain. Healing can only occur when grace enters the equation. And so, God demonstrates His mercy through Jesus, who chooses the cross to die for our sins. Notice – HE dies for our sins. God is the offended party; we are the offenders.
We might expect vengeance. Punishment would certainly be reasonable. Instead, to all who will receive it, mercy is offered. The response, straight from the heart of God, is beyond what is expected or natural.
From time to time, I will hear someone wish that their offender would “get what they deserve.” Some insist on what is “fair” in dealing with pain dealt them. Others withhold relationships, waiting until “they apologize.” Still others refuse forgiveness because they confuse it with acceptance of the wrong. All fall short of the heart of God.
God has shown us a better way in the person of Jesus – it is the way of mercy. I, for one, am glad that HIS response is not to give me what I deserve or what is fair. I marvel that He reached out to me with forgiveness while I was “yet a sinner,” seeing me “when I was a long way from Him.” And I am also glad that He is clear on what is destructive to me and insulting and disgusting to Him – neither ignoring, accepting nor excusing my sins.
Instead, He suffers to show mercy and offer grace and in that act is supernatural power. It is mercy that changes the heart. It heals and restores. It cleanses. It produces a desire to extend love to others. It is the other-worldly answer to this broken world.
RESPOND
Questions to Consider
- How has the message of God’s grace and mercy impacted your life?
- Has someone recently provided you the opportunity to extend grace and mercy?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus,
You suffered the insults of many and the sins of the whole world.
Grant that I might respond to my offenders as You did,
recognizing sin for what it is and trusting in the power of your example of grace to bring change and reconciliation.
Blessings,
Rev. James R. Needham, PhD, MDiv