WWJDSample

Jesus Loves His Enemies

As we go through life, we get hurt. It is inevitable, but it is what we do with that hurt that matters. In Luke 22, we witness Jesus choosing the right response to hurt – love. To give context, Jesus is getting arrested and Peter, out of his anger, cuts off someone’s ear. Now what is amazing is that Jesus, with full knowledge that His death was going to come from this arrest, knew that fighting back was not the solution. “‘No more of this!’ And he touched the man’s ear and healed him” (Luke 22:51 NIV). Jesus could have chosen to not heal the man’s ear. He could have chosen to respond in anger like Peter. Instead, Jesus taught us the right response:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matthew 5:43-44 NIV).

This is probably one of the hardest things to do as a neighbor: to love your enemies. But as we find in this story, Jesus instructs us that love will cover the sins of others (1 Peter 4:8). The greatest example of this is Jesus' death on the cross. He sacrificed himself and died for sinners like you and me. To truly follow Jesus, we are called to do the same:

• Jesus does not leave us in our affliction, and we walk alongside the afflicted.
• Jesus teaches us kindness, and we extend kindness to others.
• Jesus doesn’t overlook us, and we ask for eyes to see those who are unseen.
• Jesus welcomes our questions, and we respond to questions with grace.
• Jesus loves His enemies, and so do we.

This is what Jesus would do.