Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44
During World War II, US Navy medical corpsman Lynne Weston went ashore with the marines as they stormed enemy-held islands. Inevitably, there were gruesome casualties. He did his best to patch up wounded combatants for evacuation. On one occasion, his unit encountered an enemy soldier with a bad abdominal wound. Due to the nature of the injury, the man couldn’t be given water. To keep him alive, Petty Officer Weston administered intravenous plasma.
“Save that plasma for our fellas, Swabby!” bellowed one of the marines. Petty Officer Weston ignored him. He knew what Jesus would do: “love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44).
Jesus did far more than speak those challenging words; He lived them. When a hostile mob seized Him and took Him to the high priest, “the men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him” (Luke 22:63). The abuse continued all the way through His sham trials and execution. Jesus didn’t merely endure it. When Roman soldiers crucified Him, He prayed for their forgiveness (23:34).
We may not encounter a literal enemy who’s trying to kill us. But everyone knows what it’s like to endure ridicule and scorn. Our natural reaction is to respond in anger. Jesus raised the bar: “pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
Today, let’s walk in that kind of love, showing kindness as Jesus did—even to our enemies.
Luke 22:63-65; 23:32-38
The Guards Mock Jesus
22 V63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.
23 V32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
INSIGHT
1. How do you respond to those who despise or misunderstand you?
2. How does God want you to respond?
By word and example, Jesus teaches us not to lose sight of what’s ultimately important when we find ourselves in uncomfortable situations. Just as Christ wouldn’t be diverted on the front end of His earthly ministry by the temptations of Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4; Luke 4), He passed the integrity test and was faithful to His mission when He was mocked and mistreated (Luke 22:63). The one who said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you” (Matthew 5:11), didn’t get sidetracked. His prayer “Father, forgive them . . .” (Luke 23:34) was consistent with His teaching: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (6:27-28). By His Spirit, all who claim to believe in Him can be empowered to do what He taught and modeled.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, please help me love others the way You love me. In Jesus name I pray and believe. Amen.
Read: Luke 22:63-65; 23:32-38 | Bible in a Year: Jeremiah 50; Hebrews 8
