Remember how as a kid you could hide behind your mom's leg, biting your thumb, glaring at someone you didn't like, and you could get away with it (sometimes)? I do. I would come up with the most ridiculous reasons as to why I didn't like them either: "I do not like that man, Sam I am, but I laugh when he hits the fan. I think his ears are too big and he's skinnier than a twig. I don't like the way he smells, I don't like the lying tales he tells. I think his nose is too long and his face looks like a fat, ugly gong. I do not and will not like him, Sam I am, I do not like this mean ol' Jim."
While we have matured enough to no longer hide behind our parents [or perhaps you are like me wishing you could, but you're six inches too tall to hide behind your mom], some of us still come up with reasons as to why we don't like someone. Or perhaps they know how where your "push-this-if-you-want-me-to-blow-up-self-destruct-in-yo'-face" button is and they push it repeatedly. For example, you're back in high school, and once again the teacher has assigned the dreaded group project for science class. To rub salt into the wound, it is also one grade for the whole group. And, of course, you get your friend-we'll call him Johnny-who's a great friend but terrible team player. It's the last project of the year and you want to keep your A average which will only happen by getting an A minus: Bring on the pressure.
Two weeks before the project needs to be finished and assembled, you and your friends are almost done with your portions and everything is running smoothly. You repeatedly ask Johnny in school and via texts to make sure he does his part, which of course is the easiest part. You, on the other hand, take the hardest parts to ensure they are done to the highest standard and A+ quality. The day before the project is due you have a group meeting, the project is almost finished except for one teeny, tiny detail: Johnny has done NOTHING. Instead he has sat back, doing what those lazy kids do, and now the project is only B- quality which means your A average can be chucked out the window! Now what?
You have three options: 1. Do Johnny's portion to ensure your A average. 2. Bribe Johnny into doing his work the right way pronto. 3. Threaten his life by any means necessary-you are NOT going to miss out on your straight A's this semester because of some punk, lazy kid! Well, option 3 is illegal, option 2 wouldn't be any better because he would take the bribe and still not do his work, and 1 is the only way to keep your straight A's.
While Jesus may have never had to deal with Johnny's in school group projects, he had bigger fish to fry: the Pharisees. Talk about pushing the self-destruct button! One must remember that Jesus was just as much human as we are, he is just invulnerable to sin. But he still carried emotions and got angry. The Bible talks of how Jesus had a "righteous anger" in which he overturned the tables of the vendors who were selling things in the tabernacle as well as when he was saddened by the Pharisees hard hearts. (Mark 3:1-5, Matthew 21:12-13.) But, it never says anything about Jesus bringing the beat-down on those who frustrated him. It does, however, talk about Jesus saying we need to love our enemies. (Matthew 5:44)
The Pharisees would be like every Johnny on planet earth x 10 on annoyance-holier-than-thou-steroids. These guys thought they knew the laws of the Old Testament and Moses better than anyone. What they never realized [or perhaps they did which is why they hated him so much] was that Jesus was there to bring in the new law and to atone for mankind's sins once and for all. The Pharisees did everything in their power to see Jesus blow up, lose his cool, hurt someone. But he never did. Jesus only brought peace, miracles, truth and love. So, they plotted to kill him using one of his very own disciples. And even though they succeeded in his death, they failed to keep him there. Regardless of how hard the Pharisees tried, they could not stop the Lord from doing his will. They could not keep Jesus from loving them and getting his A+ on this assignment.
As I lie in bed last night, trying to fall asleep, Jesus knocked me over the head with this revelation: "If you want to live like me you have to learn how to love like me. This includes your enemies, and especially your frenemies." For me, I try to like everybody and be their friends. In my past, there has been very few times when I really don't like them. But in my mind, if I am their friend, I am loving them. There is a huge difference between being friends and actually loving someone as Jesus loves us. I need to love the Pharisees in my life because Jesus loves them just as much as he loves me, and he calls me to love them as I love myself. Talk about a mental rubix cube.
God never called us to befriend everyone, He calls us to love everyone. It's hard as heck, but it is most definitely possible. If you're struggling with this, may I suggest asking the Lord to break your heart for them as His does? Ask God to show you how HE sees them. Because in his eyes, they are made in His perfect image.
Mental Rubix Cubes are "fun",
Saint
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