“Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me’” (Mark 10:21).
What if we truly loved everyone we meet? How would that change how we interact with people?
Let’s review the story we call “The Rich Young Ruler”. A young man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus reminds of the more man-focused commandments: “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother” (Mark 10:19).
He replies, “All these I have kept since I was a boy” (v20).
Mark’s account includes this interesting comment: “Jesus looked at him and loved him” (v21).
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28).
This may be the Lord’s hardest command. “Do not commit adultery” comes naturally to a lot of people, but loving your enemy? That is completely unnatural.
Who’s my enemy? Whoever I don’t want to do good to. Whoever I don’t like. Whoever I feel is trying to harm me, ruin me, or mistreat me. Your enemy is the one trying to damage your reputation. Your enemy is the person who’s always asking for a very reasonable inch so they can take a mile.
What do I do with these people? “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well” (Matt 5:39).
That’s not how the world treats their enemies. Our world says, "If you disagree with me, you must be ruined." That is not the way of the cross. Christ’s followers do not slander their enemies, vandalize their homes or businesses, or try to destroy their livelihood. Rather than acting out of anger, we’re supposed to treat them as if they were friends:
“If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it” (Ex 23:4-5).
“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink” (Prov 25:21).
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (Rom 12:14).
Why should you do this? Do it “that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:45-48).
We follow the one who, while hanging on the cross, said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1Pet 2:23).
The way Jesus died is the way we’re called to live.
Image via Pixabay
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).
Christ’s people are to show each other a special kind of love. You’re supposed to do for other people whatever you’d want someone to do for you. You’re also expected to do for your brothers and sisters in Christ what you’d never dream of asking anyone to do for you.
Our model is the kind of sacrificial and humble love demonstrated by Christ Jesus
“Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!” (Phil 2:6-8)
That’s a high standard, but that’s the life to which we are called. What does that look like in practice? It is what some call the New Testament’s “one anothers”. For example:
Wash one another’s feet. (John 13:14)
Honor one another above yourselves. (Rom 12:10)
Serve one another in love. (Gal 5:13)
Carry each other’s burdens (Gal 6:2)
Be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Eph 4:2)
Be kind and compassionate to one another. (Eph 4:32)
Forgive each other. (Eph 4:32)
Bear with each other. (Col 3:13)
Spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Heb 10:24)
Encourage one another. (Heb 10:25)
Pray for each other. (James 5:16)
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (1Pet 4:9)
It’s the high calling of humility where you “value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Phil 2:4). This attitude pleases God who “opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
When we live like this, we not only honor Christ, we proclaim Christ to the world. As Jesus prayed to his Father, “Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23).
In giving us this command, Christ Jesus did not ask us to do anything he hasn’t already done himself. When we live this out, we honor him, we build each other up, and we show to the world around us that the gospel is true.
