JESUS AND HIS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

(I wrote the major part of this post as a comment on a long pro-Israeli, Zionist article published in a well-known Christian publication. My initial comment was withdrawn. I was instead emailed by the author of the piece, asking me about my problem with it. This is my response to her. My comment has not yet been published.)

The phrase “an eye for an eye” appears in three Old Testament passages as a legal standard for fair punishment, (Exodus 21:23–25; Leviticus 24:19–20; Deuteronomy 19:21). “Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” (Deuteronomy) When Jesus came, He showed a better way. He reinterpreted the above in in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5) to teach personal forgiveness and non-retaliation.

Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” (Matthew 5:38-39)

Through His life and death, Jesus taught us to live a life of forgiveness. And in fact, history has shown over and over that His love can overcome evil.

Have a look at the lives of people like William Wilberforce and Nelson Mandela. These champions of history stood up for what was right. They recognized injustice, yet fought the evil they saw with hearts that Jesus had taught them to have. And through His example, they brought justice to bear. Even Mahatma Gandhi who was a Hindu, believed that Jesus was the greatest teacher to have lived.

In Matthew 43 – 45, Jesus is quoted saying, “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, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

During the three years of His ministry, Jesus and His love overcame many injustices—too many to start listing here.

In recent decades, certain theological frameworks have shaped how many Christians interpret the modern political realities in Palestine-Israel. Most prominently, Christian Zionism has weaponized Scripture to legitimize Palestinian suffering.

The following might help broaden your views: For nearly two thousand years, Palestinian Christians have worshiped, prayed, and followed Jesus in the places where the gospel first took root. Yet their voices are often absent from Western Christian conversations about the Holy Land. Why? To learn more, check out Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice.

Their website welcomes visitors with:

“From Bethlehem To the World: Walking ALONGSIDE the global church in the pursuit of Justice and Peace.”

Their pastor, Munther Isaac’s statement: “The MAJESTY of the incarnation lies in its SOLIDARITY with the marginalized.” reflects the character I have known Jesus to have. This love for the poor, the sick, and disadvantaged is what I most appreciate about Him. And this is why I’ve learned to have great compassion for the Rohingya people.

The world has discriminated against the Rohingya more than anyone else I know. I have great empathy for them and I’ve found that they eagerly accept my message of Jesus and His unconditional love. In my work of amplifying their voices for the world to hear, I’ve come to feel very close to them. In many ways I see them as my people.

I’m a woman, born to have Christianity as my faith. And my Rohingya friends are all men, born into the Muslim faith. And yet, we understand each other well. They trust me and my message. When we talk one on one, we end up having warm conversations, celebrating the love of Jesus together.

Those who believe in Jesus and want to follow His ways need to make up their minds: Do you want to follow an ideology that supports hatred towards others? Or will you follow the love taught by the One who has for centuries shown Himself to be the best example for the world to follow?

marja