The Sermon on the Mount is found in the fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of Matthew. It is a collection of Jesus’ moral teachings. That means our reading, Matthew 5:38-48, stands within that body of teachings. There is nothing easy about what Jesus said to the crowd on that day; they were challenging words. They are challenging words to us today, and they must be taken seriously. They are challenging because they run contrary to normal human behavior. If you use your sanctified imagination, you can imagine Jesus using his well-warn sandal and drawing a line in the sand. He is challenging them, and us, to step over that line and stand with him. This is the truth – few have stepped over that line. Most of us are more concerned about being accepted by the world than standing with Jesus. The heart of those teachings is the topic of Christian discipleship. Are you taking your discipleship seriously? In this blog I want to look at Jesus’ challenge; we find that we are challenged in three ways.
First, are you willing to love unconditionally? Most of us love selectively. Verses thirty-eight and thirty-nine says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” It is easy to love likeable people, who are just like you. It is not as easy to love unlikeable people, who are nothing like you. However, Jesus expects his disciples to love unconditionally.
Every American knows the name George Washington (1732-1799), the first President of the United States. Not many know the name Peter Miller (1709-1796), who was a friend of Washington and the German Baptist pastor in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Within Miller’s congregation was a man named Michael Wittman. He hated his pastor and did everything possible to discredit him. One day Wittman was arrested for treason and sentenced to die. History tells us, Pastor Miller traveled seventy miles on foot to Philadelphia to plead for the life of the evil-minded Wittman. The plea was heard by his friend George Washington. At first, Washington was deaf to Miller’s plea because he thought Miller and Wittman were friends. Then, Miller responded, “No, he is not my friend but my bitterest enemy.” Washington responded, “You have walked seventy miles to save the life of your greatest enemy? That puts the matter in a different light. I’ll grant your pardon.” Peter Miller took Michael Wittman back home to Ephrata – no longer an enemy, but a friend. Would you beg for the benefit of an enemy? Miller didn’t just beg for Wittman’s life; he accepted Jesus’ challenge and crossed the line in the sand. I hope you would do the same because that is what Jesus expects. If you are going to cross the line in the sand and stand with Jesus, then you must love unconditionally. Are you up to the challenge?
Second, you must forgive unreservedly. Most forgive reservedly. On April 25, 1958, a 26-year-old exchange student from Korea was killed going to the post office near the campus at the University of Pennsylvania. The news of the attack spread quickly. The entire city of Philadelphia was outraged. A teenage gang was accused. The District Attorney wanted them tried as adults, so they could be given the death penalty. Then suddenly, something shocking happened. A letter came from Korea that confused everyone. This is what the letter said:
To Whom It May Concern:
Our family has met and has decided to petition your government so those guilty of this crime may be treated generously within your law. To give evidence of our sincere spirit, we have decided to save money for a fund to be used for the religious, educational, vocational and social guidance of the boys once they are released. We have learned about such forgiveness from our Savior, Jesus, who forgave us.
A large part of Jesus’ mission was to offer forgiveness. Those Koreans were not just setting up a fund, they were accepting Jesus’ challenge and crossing Jesus’ line in the sand. Jesus Christ forgave unreservedly, and so did those Korean disciples. Would you be able to forgive those teenagers? If you are going to cross the line in the sand and stand with Jesus, then you must forgive unreservedly. Are you up to the challenge?
Third, you must serve unselfishly. Are you open to sacrificing for a stranger? Verses forty through forty-two say, “And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” It is not easy to serve unselfishly, but that is what Jesus expects from you and me. Jesus says we must serve unselfishly.
On a dreary winter day in 1943, nine hundred and three soldiers and four chaplains boarded the SS Dorchester. World War II was in full swing, and the ship was headed across the icy north Atlantic. At midnight on February third, the ship was hit by a German torpedo. The word went out that the ship was going down. One of the chaplains was a man named George Fox (1900-1943). A young GI crept up to Fox and said, “I’ve lost my life jacket. Fox said, “Take this,” and handed the GI his life jacket. Before the ship sank, each chaplain gave his life jacket to another man. The heroic chaplains then linked arms and lifted their voices in prayer as the Dorchester went down. Those chaplains were awarded posthumously the Distinguished Service Cross.
Those chaplains accepted the challenge and crossed the line in the sand. They were true disciples of Jesus Christ! Would you have given your life jacket away to save someone else? If you are going to cross the line in the sand and stand with Jesus, then you must serve unselfishly. Are you up to the challenge? Let me end with this story.
In 1992, the movie A League of their Own was released. I have watched the movie several times. It is about a women’s baseball league during the Second World War. Geena Davis (born 1956) is the main character in the movie and plays the catcher of the Rockford Peaches, Dottie Hinson. She is not only the best player on the team, but also the best player in the league. As the season drags on, Davis’s character gets tired and decides to quit the team. She tells her manager, Jimmy Dugan, played by Tom Hanks (born 1956), that she is going to quit because baseball is “too hard”. I love his response. Hank’s character responds, “Baseball is supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it.” Then he said, “Hard is what makes baseball great!”
It is not just true of baseball; it is true of the Christian faith. If it was easy, then everyone would do it. The challenge is what makes the Christian faith so great! Are you going to accept Jesus’ challenge and cross Jesus’ line in the sand? If you are, then you’d better be prepared to do the most unnatural things. The choice is yours. I hope you are up to the challenge! American philosopher Dallas Willard (1935-2013) once said, “Discipleship is the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you.”
Russ Adams 