Radical Jesus... A Continuation.

In my previous post, RADICAL JESUS, I shared with you guys on how Jesus came and was on the side of no man except God. During the time of Jesus, the five political parties were among the most prominent and for a normal person; we would carefully watch our mouth so as not to hurt any group. We will normally be on the fence and siding for every political group so to keep our life safe. But Jesus was radical, he came and he spoke against every political party and their different beliefs. He went against the Zealots, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes and the Herodians. He was for no one except God and God alone. That’s radical!

Today, I am going to share about the following verses,

Matthew 5:38-42
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. 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.

One may read in dismay thinking, “Does Jesus want us Christians to be weak and powerless?” I do not blame the person who says this. I once thought that it was rather ridiculous to do what Jesus told us to do. How could I let someone slap me on my right cheek and give him my left cheek to slap as well? Ridiculous! How can I be like a dog and carry my friend’s bag for a mile and I have to add another mile to it? What?! And if someone sues me for something, I have to give him more?! Huh?! This doesn’t make sense!

But if you are of the Kingdom of God, you will understand the simple message of Jesus in this Scripture (Jesus’ message was never meant to be hard to understand, it is either black or white, not grey). Read carefully the next paragraph and grasp it with a discerning spirit.

Of common sense, we would definitely go for appropriate revenge (an eye for an eye), but Jesus calls us to do the perfect opposite: reconciliation. Reconciliation is a new and radical way to approach injustice by a nonviolent resistance and active peacemaking. You may think of it like this:

1.
If a person strikes you on your right cheek, they have given you a backhand slap. During the time of Jesus, the Romans were the ones in power and the Jews were the ones under oppression. It would be normal for a Roman soldier to slap a Jew in those days. If you were to respond by slapping him back, that would reduce you to the same violent level as your oppressor. You would be just like him. If you were to walk away and leave him, this will make you seem weak, powerless and coward. This gives your oppressor the victory. The third choice is to turn your other cheek and let him have that too. Now if your oppressor were to hit you on your left cheek, he will most likely use the palm of his hand. This degrades him even more to the violent level. By doing this, you will have shocked him and shown yourself not weak, powerless or violent but rather strong, courageous and dignified. You have indirectly told him how violent he is. Now you are the victor and the stronger person. You have defeated him in a non-violent way.

2.
The rich people during the time of Jesus always oppressed the poor. A rich landowner would normally take a peasant to court if he has not enough money to pay his debt or tax. If you were take to court by the rich landowner and the landowner sues you for your garment, Jesus tells us to strip give the landowner our underwear as well! Your “generosity” makes you look defenseless and exposed. The other way round, your situation actually exposes the naked greed of your oppressor, making him look like a heartless person filled and clothed with greed. Again, by being radical you have defeated your oppressor the Kingdom way.

3.
If someone like a Roman soldier who forces you to carry his heavy backpack for a mile, you carry it another mile. By your willingness to carry it an extra mile, you have shown yourself to be a generous human being, strong, powerful, self-controlled and dignified. You have told him, “I am not dominated. I have free will.” Although the first mile may be forced, the second mile is done out of your gift from God – free will.

These do not necessary show you the exact rules you must follow if you face this kind of situation. Rather, they are the examples of the active, creative and transforming ways of the Kingdom of God. Jesus was radical in his speech and lifestyle and he calls us to be radicals as well.

We cannot afford to do as the world does; we need to be radical in order to make a change. Do you dare to be rad?