Genesis 45: 3- 11, 15 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition)
Luke 6: 27- 38 (Common English Bible)
This past week I heard an excellent sermon by a United Methodist minister on YouTube. His warning is that many American Christians are having a Jesus problem. In other words they are ignoring the teachings of Jesus from the gospels. They believe the gospels make Jesus look too meek and weak. They want an Americanized version of Jesus with the Cross of Christ wrapped around the American flag with Jesus as a pro-war and pro-rich deity, something he never was. And this same group of people in power now, want to rewrite American history. Real history tells both the good and the bad and does not hide it. The minister's sermon touched me, because it fits in with today’s gospel lectionary reading on how to confront evil without violence or submission.
Why does Jesus preach something that goes against human instinct, which is retaliation against violence? The reason is that it makes us more like God. God does send the beneficial rain on the just and unjust. God is kind to the person who brings God joy and equally kind to the person who grieves God’s heart. God’s love embraces both saint and sinner alike. Remember that Jesus forgave his executioners from the Cross.
Jesus' insistence upon non-violent resistance in the face of evil was not only something he taught or proclaimed, it was something he lived. Even on that dark night when armed soldiers came for him, Jesus refused to take up arms to defend himself. When one of his followers drew a sword to defend Jesus, he told his follower to put down his weapon and said, “Those who live by the sword, will die by the sword.”
Sadly, too many people today who claim to follow Jesus view his teachings as not relevant for today. If that is the case why be a Christian? Why even call yourself a follower of Jesus if you ignore his teachings? The gospels should take priority over everything else in the Bible. Generation upon generations of Jesus followers have confronted violence with only two choices, pick up a weapon and fight or drop the sword and submit. But there is a third way, which is the way Jesus taught about non-violent resistance.
All too often the various translations of the gospel texts have failed to communicate what the Greek, the language of the New Testament, really mean. King James 1st, who authorized one of the most famous Bible translations, was disturbed by what was written in the New Testament Greek. So King James insisted the words should be translated in such a way so the King could oppress and cause his enemies to submit. During this time the Presbyterians in the north were giving King James some trouble. King James was a member of the Church of England, otherwise known as the Anglican Church. He wanted the Presbyterians to submit to his rule. So the King ordered the Greek word “antistenia” to be translated as “resist not” so his Bible read, “That you resist not evil, but whoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
One of the problems with the King James’ Bible was the translation of antistenia in the text. The term antistenia in the first century was a technical term for the way the Roman Legions fought in battle. Antistenia means to stand against, to line up, adopt the military stance and shield up ready to march against the enemy. A more accurate word would read something like, “You shall not take up arms against evil.”
But Jesus made it very clear, “If someone smites you on your right cheek, turn to him the other cheek.” Most people view turning the other cheek as a meek act of submission. But, if we lived in the first century it would be an act of resisting oppression. Now I’m going to explain how that worked as best as I can. If we had a visual about that act, it would be easier to understand.
Servants and slaves during the 1st century in Rome and elsewhere would have the experience of being cuffed by the backhand of their master or oppressor. By turning the cheek, the servant makes it impossible for his master to use his backhand. The left cheek is often a perfect target for a blow with the right fist, but only equals fight with their fists. We know from Jewish sources from that time, the last thing the master wanted was to establish equality with his servant or slave. By turning the cheek the servant is saying, “I’m a human being just like you. I refuse to be humiliated any longer.”
Jesus goes on to offer other techniques of nonviolent resistance. New Treatment scholar Walter Wink offers a detailed analysis of Jesus's teachings of non-violence in his book, “The Powers that Be.” We need to know more about Jesus’ teachings when he said go the extra mile. That was also resistance.
In recent history many have chosen nonviolence and managed to defeat their oppressor. Mahatma Gandhi used nonviolent resistance to defeat the British Empire in India. In Denmark thousands of Danes resisted the Nazi occupiers without using violence and saved the lives of thousands of Jewish people. Rosa Parks began a movement on nonviolent resistance to end segregation on buses.
Unless we forget, we are the ones who follow Jesus and should embody his teachings of nonviolence, especially during these very dark times. We should applaud the courage of resisters who put their bodies front and center to achieve justice.
Canadians have a proud history of peacemaking, a history we should copy. What does a true 21st century peacemaker look like? What will it cost us to be keepers of the peace? Maybe our neighbor to the North should be our example. And Canadians do not want to be a part of the United States, for good reason.
The story of Joseph is one of my favorite readings from the Old Testament. It’s about betrayal, slavery, redemption, forgiveness and love.
Joseph could have told a story about his older brothers selling him into slavery. And his refusal to be seduced by Potaphor’s wife even though he still went to prison for many years.
Joseph could’ve boasted of his own cleverness and how even in a prison he interpreted dreams for high-ranking Egyptians. Even though he was a foreign nobody, he interpreted the Pharaoh's dreams and became second in command to all Egypt.
Joseph could’ve unleashed his anger on his brothers, but he didn’t. He refused to boast of his success in Egypt, but that wasn’t important to him. The important thing to Joseph was his brothers were alive and now in Egypt where there was no famine, unlike their homeland in Hebron in the land of Canaan.
One of the first questions Joseph asked his brothers was, “is my father still alive?” And the good news was yes, your father Jacob is still alive in Canaan. Joseph was overjoyed to hear that, and embraced all his brothers with a kiss.
Joseph seeks to make all things right not just with his brothers but pursues reconciliation through all generations of the Hebrew people. And his father Jacob is brought to Egypt to spend his last days with his family. Joseph tells his brothers, “Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourself for selling me into slavery.” God took the bad act and turned it into something good. It was to save the Hebrew people from starvation if they remained in the famine ridden Canaan.
God’s faithfulness to all generations is a story of God sending one generation ahead of another which turns into several generations of Jacob's descendants. And this is how the story is told, with God making all things right not by revenge, hate or violence but with the truth and justice wrapped up with God’s loving intervention.
AMEN
