Living Nonviolence
But the tenants seized the servants and one of them they beat, another they killed, and third they stoned. Matthew 21:35
How violently the tenants acted
Besides beating
Stoning and killing his servants
They also killed the owner’s son
This parable prefigures the brutal death of Jesus
But long before being killed by a barbaric crucifixion
Jesus felt the effects of human violence and harsh rejection
He received a hostile threats
Sarcastic barbs
and verbal taunts from those who supposed Him
He experienced the unnerving outcome of people whose fear turned on Him
Chased Him out of town
And yet
Jesus did not respond with similar violence
He walk His talk
Not only preaching non violence
but living it
When Peter sliced off a man’s ear in order to protect him
Jesus insisted the disciple put his sword away
Jesus then healed the man’s ear
I am reminded that too
must avoid revenge
If follow Jesus
I will ease desiring harm to come to those who insist on being an enemy
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