Matthew 5:38-48
From our knowledge of what Jesus was doing while He hung on the cross, we know He must have had a lot of things on His mind. He might have remembered one day:
“I was talking about how to treat your enemies. I said, ‘If someone hurts you, don’t hurt them back.’ Wow that was different!
On another day I said, ‘Everyone says, ‘Love your friends and hate Your enemies.’ I say love your enemies and pray for people who are mean to you. This is what really makes God happy.’”
I wonder as Jesus was dying on the cross, did He think of His former disciple and friend, Judas? I wonder did Jesus love Judas even though he hurt Him by betraying Him and by bringing this pain and suffering upon Him?
In Luke 23:34 Jesus prays,
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they are doing.”
I believe that Jesus was praying for His friend and former disciple who had become His foe. I believe Jesus loved Judas even though Judas’ actions had brought so much pain and suffering on Jesus.
It is not easy for us to love our enemies and to pray for people who are mean to us. Jesus teaches us to do that and by His example you and I can take courage to love our enemies and to pray for those who are mean to us.
Prayer
O God, we thank You that Jesus was the One who practiced what He preached. We thank You for His fine example of loving His enemies and praying for those who were mean to Him. I believe when we succeed at loving our enemies and praying for those who are mean to us, it makes You very happy indeed. In the name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord, we pray. Amen.
