The Chosen + BibleProject | Season 1 Reading PlanSample

Fighting Evil With Love

Many have come to expect that God will save the world and establish his Kingdom by destroying his enemies and doing away with rebels and evildoers. It’s how the world operates.

The same assumption was popular in Jesus’ day, making it nearly impossible for people to recognize Jesus as the real Messiah, whom they expected to be the most powerful warrior king ever. This is how the people were interpreting the prophetic promises about Israel’s restoration. They thought the Messiah was supposed to wage war and destroy all their enemies.

Jesus was the most important and powerful king of his day, but he never harmed human beings for any reason. Instead, he teaches peace, showing all who will pay attention to him a profound way of love. He teaches people to pray for the well-being of their enemies, rather than asking God for the power to destroy them. He fights evil not with violence but with patient love, constant forgiveness, and generous healing. Without partiality or prejudice, he loves everyone, everywhere.

Consider also if the most important and powerful kings in our world spend quality time with children, listening to and respecting them as beloved and valued members of society. When Jesus invites the children to come to him, he is showing God’s impartial love for every human being. This is the way of God’s Kingdom—to love God and love all neighbors mutually, without exception.

We can find real encouragement by paying attention to Jesus, the infinitely powerful King who loves everyone without concern for their social status, even “enemy” status. To children, he says, “Come to me.” And on behalf of his enemies, including the misguided and malicious soldiers killing him on a Roman cross, he prays for their forgiveness. He loves them and seeks their good. May we embrace the same gentle and expansive kind of love for all people.

Reflection Questions

1. Do we hope for God to bless and heal his enemies, those who bring violence and corruption to God’s good world? Or would we rather see God eliminate his enemies?
2. What if you had been one of these children, learning from Jesus in your earliest years that God’s power to set the world right is seen in his love, forgiveness, and healing, rather than his ability to kill his enemies? How would your perspective on harmful neighbors and national enemies change?
3. What does Jesus’ willingness to spend time with young children tell us about the kind of person he is? What does it suggest about how he sees you?