Day 13: No harm to attackers
Luke 22:47–53
While he was still speaking, a crowd appeared. He who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, do you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
When those who were around him saw what was about to
happen, they said to him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” A certain one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
But Jesus answered, “Let me at least do this”—and he touched his ear, and healed him. Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and elders, who had come against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you in the temple daily,
you didn’t stretch out your hands against me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
True Christianity 56
From these few points you can see how insane people are who think that God can condemn anyone, curse anyone, throw anyone into hell, predestine anyone’s soul to eternal death, avenge wrongs, or rage against or punish anyone. People are even more insane if they actually believe this, let alone teach it. In
reality, God cannot turn away from us or even look at us with a frown. To do any such thing would be against His essence, and what is against His essence is against Himself.
Reflection
Jesus healed a man who was wounded while attacking Him, following His own directive to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us. He fought hatred not with hatred but with love. How can we follow
His example in conflicts we experience today?
