How many times have you gotten mad at someone and decided you never wanted to talk to them again? What about that friend who you spent years with and all of a sudden they turn on you? What do you do when things like that happen? Think about how easy we get offended by people or things that happen. What’s going on there?
When we think about love and what it means exactly, would you think of beatings? Absorbing blows that don’t belong to you? Receiving rejection even from your closest friends and still finding a way to want to be their friend.
We (my students and I) talked a few weeks ago about being compelled by love. Paul tells us that Christ’s love is what compels us. What does that mean? I often look at that statement and ask what does being compelled really mean? But that is wrong. I should be looking and asking: What does Jesus love look like? For when I understand that and only then, will I be able to be compelled.
Jesus’ love looks a lot different than we think. We think about his ministry, his prayer life, his desire to see the lost found and his ability to heal. We also think of his great teachings about morality and justness, but have you ever thought about his absorption of abuse? His absolute rejection of hate and evil? What about his ability to forgive in the face of total rejection? The ultimate form of love for us was shown on the cross. Not just because Jesus died for our sins, but because he took all that evil (this world) had to give, absorbed it like a sponge and still looked down and said: “Father, forgive them.”
You see the most radical act of love is to forgive. It allowed Jesus to love his enemies. Really love them, everyday in every way.
In Peter’s letter, he makes the statement that Jesus left us THE example by which to live. Now in our world and our community is that possible? Jesus calls us to a radical way of thinking, doing and being. It requires us to let go of our right to retaliate when we are mistreated. Instead we are to trust God the Father to handle it and we are instead, to respond with Crucifixion Love. That is the love that drove Jesus to the cross in the face of his enemies, where he took all the evil this world had to offer and destroyed it by forgiving it. That is a very difficult assignment for us, but one we are called to. So what does that look like for you in your day to day life? Do you think it is possible to even do that today? Jesus faced the most vile and cruel form of punishment this world could come up with and he loved his executioners anyway. For the world to change we must practice this kind of crucified love. Its subversive and countercultural, but we are called to it nonetheless!
Some scriptural references:Matt. 5:38-42, Matt. 5:43-48, Matt 27:46, John 13:34-35 2 Cor. 5:14, 1 Peter 2:21-23
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