Radical Disciples – A Remnant Revolution

But I say to you who are listening now to Me: [[a]in order to heed, make it a practice to] love your enemies, treat well (do good to, act nobly toward) those who detest you and pursue you with hatred,

Invoke blessings upon and pray for the happiness of those who curse you, implore God’s blessing (favor) upon those who abuse you [who revile, reproach, disparage, and high-handedly misuse you].

To the one who strikes you on the [b]jaw or cheek, offer the other [c]jaw or cheek also; and from him who takes away your outer garment, do not withhold your undergarment as well. Give away to everyone who begs of you [who is [d]in want of necessities], and of him who takes away from you your goods, do not demand or require them back again.

And as you would like and desire that men would do to you, do exactly so to them.

If you [merely] love those who love you, what [e]quality of credit and thanks is that to you? For even [f]the [very] sinners love their lovers (those who love them) And if you are kind and good and do favors to and benefit those who are kind and good and do favors to and benefit you, what [g]quality of credit and thanks is that to you? For even [h]the preeminently sinful do the same.

And if you lend money [i]at interest to those from whom you hope to receive, what [j]quality of credit and thanks is that to you? Even notorious sinners lend money [k]at interest to sinners, so as to recover as much again. But love your enemies and be kind and do good [doing favors [l]so that someone derives benefit from them] and lend, expecting and hoping for nothing in return but [m]considering nothing as lost and despairing of no one; and then your recompense (your reward) will be great (rich, strong, intense, and abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind and charitable and good to the ungrateful and the selfish and wicked.

So be merciful (sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate) even as your Father is [all these]. (Luke 27-36)

If you are looking for a nice, comfortable religion that doesn’t call for too many demands on your life, makes you feel better when you’re down, and will reserve luxury suites for you in heaven when you die, then you probably shouldn’t try to be one of Jesus’ disciples. He is demanding. He has the crazy notion that his followers should serve others rather than themselves. He expects them to show integrity when no one is looking. And he expects them to love. Not just people who only occasionally have a bad day. But enemies. Jesus expects you to love your enemies. Don’t follow him unless you’re ready to experience some discomfort.

The Radical Golden Rule (6:31)
Now Jesus moves from love of enemies and the radical way we are to exercise that, to a principal that can be applied generally. It’s been called the Golden Rule, and with good reason.

Scholars observe that it has been stated negatively by many before Jesus. The great Rabbi Hillel, for example, taught, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor: that is the whole Torah, while the rest is the commentary thereof.”[7] But that is merely prudent, a wise way to keep out of trouble with your neighbor. When Jesus turns this to a positive, it is radical. It states for us clearly how we are to exercise love. We are to treat people the way we would like to be treated. Not the way they deserve to be treated, but the way we would like to be treated. There is still the strong current of radical love of the Father. If Jesus had treated us as we deserve, we’d all be doomed. But he has shown us grace, and now expects his disciples to dispense that same grace and graciousness to the world in his name.

(Verses 32-34)

Now Jesus gives several examples to illustrate the difference between a selfish, prudent way of dealing, and his own radical love — looking out for the other person’s best interests. Even “sinners,” unbelievers, shrewd but relatively moral people, care about their friends. It’s good business. “What goes around, comes around,” so let’s all be nice. But that isn’t Jesus’ point. He tell us to show kindness, especially when we won’t be beneficiaries of it later. Unselfish, serving love — agape love — is what he is illustrating here. Self-love seeks repayment — the sooner the better. Agape love seeks no repayment.

But there will be a day when we will be repaid in full. In the Father’s Kingdom Jesus’ disciples will have the high status of sons of the King. There will be a payday, someday. But we are not to seek it now, in this life. The eyes of faith are trained to look beyond the seen, to the unseen. “For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

(Verses 35-36)

Jesus has digressed a bit and generalized his instructions about love to all mankind. But now he narrows the view again to enemies. Anyone can love friends — and we must — but the test of real love comes with loving enemies. And into that school Jesus thrusts his disciples. If they would follow him they must learn the Father’s way, the way of long-suffering, the way of love, the way of mercy. Jesus gives three commands as the elements of this pass-fail exam:
• Love your enemies
• Do good to them
• Lend to them without expecting to get anything back.

Radical in mercy!
Then, says Jesus, the Christians whom he is persecuting should ante up on his behalf and lend the money to get him released. No matter if the Christian is not repaid. Here is a wonderful test case for Jesus’ disciples, an opportunity to help a miserable insolent unbeliever purely out of love, with no hope of reward.

That, Jesus says, is real mercy. That comes closer to the Father’s style of mercy than any other possible repayment the Father can expect from us miserable sinners. We surely can’t repay enough to compensate for the precious blood of Jesus that was shed on our behalf, that atoned for our sins. Mercy to those who have no way of repayment? Jesus’ death for our sins is one such case.

And disciples of Jesus must learn to be merciful. Not when it is useful. Not when it is convenient. Not when the recipient is worthy. Mercy is never justified. It is given freely. That is what we disciples must learn.

” and then your recompense (your reward) will be great (rich, strong, intense, and abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind and charitable and good to the ungrateful and the selfish and wicked. So be merciful (sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate) even as your Father is [all these]..” (6:35b-36)

The cost of learning this costly mercy to enemies may be some insults and slander. Some blows to the cheek and stolen cloaks. But to learn this is to learn the essence of the Gospel — unmerited, costly forgiveness. And the reward is God-likeness, the most rarefied gift Jesus’ Spirit can bestow.

Most today have not radically surrendered their lives to Christ, nor have they been taught about the radical NARROW ROAD. Yet we must understand that Jesus Christ is calling us to surrender to Him and allow Holy Ghost to come into our lives, do a radical heart surgery, and to radically transform our minds that the no longer look to self preservation rather that they remain heaven-ward. In doing so our lives will be like the ladder in Jacobs life, a ladder from which the love of the Father can be poured out to the world around us.

For indeed we serve a Radically Awesome God!!!