It was Christmas in 2002 and I was in West Virginia with family. We were having a great time and enjoying each other when I realized I was in the wrong place. I had to go to see my fiancé in Wisconsin. So I told my dad and he said, “Heath, that is the dumbest decision of your life. It’s the dead of winter!” But before he could say ‘winter’ I was already out the door and on my way to the Cheesehead State. I love my Dad—but that was the best ‘dumb’ decision I’ve ever made. It was crazy. It was risky. It was an opportunity. It was out of the ordinary. It wasn’t part of the plan. I couldn’t help it. I was in love. And so I went the extra mile…
Does our love for God cause us to go the extra mile? Even when we are tired? Even when we are busy? Even when we aren’t sure if there’s a benefit for us on the other end? Even if it causes us to get messy? Even if it interrupts our day and our plan?
God calls us to go from good to great, from ordinary to extraordinary, from predictable to unpredictable, from selfish to selfless…
In Matthew 5:41, Jesus provides a picture of what it looks like to go to this whole new level. “If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” Now, this verse is ‘loaded’ so let’s ‘unpack’ it together. At this time, if you are Jewish and you are hearing this statement from Jesus, it would make total sense to you.
Jesus is referring to a pesky practice implemented by Roman rule—where Roman soldiers could order Jewish boys to help them carry their pack a whole mile. Roman soldiers were known to carry from 60 to 80lbs worth of weapons and supplies—so this was no easy task for a Jewish boy. And oftentimes, if Roman soldiers were seen close by, the Jews would hide or clear out of town to avoid having to carry their pack.
So, in order to make sure they just did what was required, Jewish boys sometimes put a stake out a mile from their house to insure they just went one mile. They would carry the pack to the stake, drop it on the other side, and that was it…no questions asked, nothing more was expected, and both parties would carry on with their day.
But can you imagine that moment when a Jewish boy arrives at the stake—and he keeps going, and going, and going? I can just see the reaction on the Roman soldier’s face. Bewilderment. Surprise. Shock. Confusion. “I don’t deserve this!” and “What does this kid think he is doing?” and “Doesn’t he realize he has gone the mile?” I’m sure the soldier demanded an explanation. And the Jewish boy carried on grinning because He was driven by something bigger, larger, and deeper than life. Jesus here revolutionizes the way we are called to live.
Love lives beyond the stake. It carries our pack when we don’t deserve it. Loves serves with no benefit in sight. Love surprises and shows up at just the right time. Love forgives. Love listens. Love waits. Love hears our cries. Love rescues and delivers. Love helps us up off the ground.
Love is born in a manger. Love pursues us. Love moves into our neighborhood. Love forsakes power. Love makes the blind see and the deaf hear. Love hugs the downtrodden, the oppressed, the disenfranchised, and the outcast. Love prays. Love heals. Love gets righteously angry. Love is willing to fall so others can get up. Love is ready to die so others can live. Love takes the blame for others’ guilt. Love lays down its life. Love conquers death. Love always lasts.
This is Jesus.