Split Together
Date: May 5th, 2024
Canvas: 18” x 24”
Cost: $700
Last night I had a nightmare of nuclear war, vivid and horrifying, it seemed to last for hours. I woke up looking through the eyes of fear…war…the 2024 election. So, it was jarring right then to read Doug’s text about today’s theme…loving your enemies. “No way,” I thought, “We need to get in a bunker!”
Then, after listening and waiting for an image to come, I saw Jesus humbly accepting the unjust Roman torture of the crucifixion. Then, I saw a Roman centurion on his left, and a member of the Sanhedrin on his right bowing in prayer.
Just a few minutes later Doug started his sermon by ‘coincidentally’ addressing the political divide in the United States and how both sides see the ‘other’ as an enemy of freedom and democracy. Republicans and Democrats hate each other almost as much as Jews and Gentiles did 2,000 years ago. When Jesus told them they must love their enemies in order to be his disciples, everyone got extremely uncomfortable (and confused).
Jesus showed us what loving your enemies looked like…drenched in his own blood, bound in chains, he held out his hands to offer love to both sides. His blood broke open their stony hearts…many Jews and Gentiles broke free of their hatred and eventually bonded together as one people united in Christ. His lifeblood continues to flow in the veins of his followers, today, empowering them to overcome evil with good…to set their enemies free.
If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. —Romans 12:20-21