I don't know if a causal conversation last night triggered my urge to want to read, but I woke up today with a desire to read about Jesus' teachings. There are so many good things He had to say at the Sermon on the Mount, but in all that I caught attention to one small yet powerful verse. “And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.” (Matt 5:41) A little bit of background: in Jesus' day, the Romans had a practice that they had learned from the Persians and it was to overpower people who had been conquered through war. If a Roman soldier saw a Jewish man or boy, he could command the man or boy to carry his bags or burden for a mile. The Jewish boy or man was required by law to carry this soldier’s bags for a mile; however, most Jews would not carry their belongings one inch or one foot further than the law required. This law caused lots of resentment among the Jews toward the Roman government.
Think about how the Jews must have felt when Jesus said, “Go the second mile." Now, I do believe though Jesus was speaking to an audience in that time where things were set up differently and now we don't have to walk carrying belongings for anyone; (unless we so choose to) but I do believe the entire bible can be applied to our lives somehow or at least learn something from it. With that being said, I believe Jesus was essentially saying that it is a good thing to do more than what is required of us. Immediately, there were two different stories I pictured in my mind. If you've read my blogs before yuo know I'm a visual person. The first thing I pictured was this Roman solider commanding this young Jewish boy in a stern, loud voice to carry his bags and in response as the boy is walking this mile he's full of anger, upset at the treatment he's recieving and perhaps even questions what has this soldier done for me that I should be kind enough to do this favor? Ever acted that way towards someone?
Anyhow, at the end of the mile I could see this young boy throw down the bags, be completely exhausted and storm off as he's completed the mile that was asked of him.
Now the second thing I thought was what if the Roman soldier commanded the Jewish boy to carry his bags in the same stern unkind way, but the response from the boy was different? What if the Jewish boy responded with a warm greeting then as he walked maybe striked up a non threathening conversation? What if at the end of the first mile, the Jewish boy said, “If you do not mind, I would be honored to carry your bags for a second mile?”
Can you just imagine the look on the soldier’s face if he heard these words?! And what IF the Roman soldier replied with, “There is something different about you. Most Jewish boys become angry when I command them to carry my bags, why are you different from others? The boy then says, "There's a savior of this world and His name is Jesus, He's taught me how to live my life, He's been my example, He's healed me and my family, He's changed my circumstances, He's delievered me and freed me, He's..." and by the time they reach the end of the second mile, this boy has shared his faith with this Roman soldier!
I know, I know lots to imagine, but now just think what if that was US? Walking in that heat, doing something only because it's a law but never acting out of love...how would we really act??
Or rather how do we act? I don't live in a cave to know that this world is not cold and ugly and I'm not afraid to say that yes, sometimes it can be hard to turn the other cheek when someone does us wrong or treats us unkindly...but I truly believe it's not just about showing kindness because that's the first mile...what if perhaps God is asking you, me, us- to do a little more (go the second mile)? Can you just think of how different our world would be if instead of not talking to that cashier at the grocery store just because she/he didn't greet us or were unkind; yet, regardless we striked up a conversation and asked how their day was? Maybe even helped load our own sacks into our buggy? Or what if that same person at your job that you just can't win for losing with, you ask to take to lunch? <--Yes that's a little different, but so is going the second mile! What if... What would it look like if we left that action print of Christ in the lives of others?
We've all heard of the saying "Go the extra mile" I hope we can all say, we now have the best reason to do just that.
With love & prayer,
Est
