Repaying Evil with Good

Psalm 41:9-10

Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. 
But you, O Lord, be gracious to me,
and raise me up, that I may repay them!

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At first glance, Psalm 41 appears to endorse revenge - you hurt me, now I will hurt you. Many of the psalms lament the injustice of bloodthirsty men and include prayers for God to bring relief and repay the evildoer. In this case, the evildoer is a said to be a close friend of the psalmist, adding further insult to injury. The writer is clearly asking for God's help so that he can repay his betrayer. So, what makes this different than the typical Tarantino movie? Is the Bible allowing or even encouraging revenge?

First, we should remember that the Psalms are poetry. And while that doesn't mean we can reinterpret them however we want, it does mean they are often very honest and personal in nature. Not everything uttered by the psalmist is necessarily an example for us to follow, since he too is a sinner struggling with faith in the midst of great trials. With some statements, we should mimic the honesty before God, but also mimic the overcoming of doubts, fears, and hate with patient faith in the One who will act on our behalf.

Second, this particular verse is actually referenced much later by Jesus himself, during the last supper.  Jesus gives us a bigger picture and a clearer example to follow when it comes to betrayal and revenge:

And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me." They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me.  For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." (Mark 14:17-21)

When faced with betrayal by one of his closest friends, Jesus conveyed the psalmist's honesty and emotion. He stated that this man whom he trusted will indeed see vengeance. But that revenge doesn't come with an immediate show of force from Jesus, though he had every right and the power to do so. No, Jesus held his peace, accepted the will of God, and trusted that God would bring the vindication he so powerfully desired. Rather than draw his sword, he washed his disciples' feet, wore the crown of thorns, and hung on the cross, while praying for those who killed him. What a display of trust in the justice of God!

Thirdly, and similarly, the early church gave specific instruction on the topic of revenge, apparently because it was a common temptation we all would face:

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “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 12:17-21)

Do we see how this does not contradict what we read in the psalms? Both parts of the Bible are actually conveying the same truth: vengeance belongs to God. After we make our honest prayers for God to bring justice, we must trust God completely. Then, we must overcome evil with good and even be willing to bless our enemies rather than curse them. That is the fullest expression of trust in God's timing and justice. And that act of trust may even turn that enemy into a friend.

The psalmist takes the desire for revenge and redirects it to God in honest and emotional prayer. The Savior modeled for us the patience and trust we will need to overcome evil with good. And the early church fleshed out these truths in direct application in the midst of injustice and trials.

Lord, see the injustice that we face each day, especially in cities and nations where your Word is forbidden and your name is dishonored. Look upon your children who are victims of violence and persecution. Have mercy and bring justice, for your glory and for the good of those you love. For only you have the wisdom and patience to respond to evil and overcome it with good. Fill us with that same spirit as we face today's temptations to take revenge into our own hands.

The Way, The Truth, & The Life

John 14:6-7

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

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Verse six is easily the most familiar verse in this chapter. It is the clearest statement of the exclusivity of the Christian faith - that there is only one path to know the true and living God. In the 1st century then, and in the 21st century now, this statement continues to shock and confound. How could a poor Palestinian man claim to be himself the only way to God? This is ludicrous! How could millions of people believe this?

The short answer is: the empty tomb and the witnesses thereof. The only way that such a ludicrous claim could be justified is if it was true and proven true by the public defeat of death itself. There are many arguments I could dive into to defend this narrow belief - the sacrificial martyrdom of the disciples, the journalistic quality of the four Gospel accounts, the simple beauty of the God-made-flesh offer of reconciliation. And I strongly encourage you to research further, for these questions are worth far more time than this space affords.

But, what I want to meditate on here is to take this verse a step further than the question of exclusivity. There are three obvious questions that are begged from this verse:

1. The Way, to what?
2. The Truth, about what?
3. The Life, how?

The first question might be the easiest to answer, since the verse itself explains: no one comes to the Father except through me. The goal of this way is to get to the Father. Likewise, verses 2-5 preface this statement by describing the Father's "house" where Jesus is going to prepare a place for us.

So, beyond the topic of exclusivity, where is this "way" taking us and why do I want to go there? Simply put, the end goal of this "way" is reconciliation with our Maker and entrance into his presence, with no more sin separating us - this will be the fulfillment of our hearts' deepest need. The idols we have craved will pale in comparison to the vision of glory that awaits us. And Jesus himself is the way to this reunion, because he is in the Father and the Father is in him, as the chapter goes on to say.

The second question is not as obvious, but it too is answered in this chapter. For Jesus to call himself the Truth, he must embody the truth itself. This should remind us of John 1, where Jesus is referred to as the Word, the "Logos." He is claiming to be the message of God in the flesh. And what does God want to tell us? What is this truth we need to hear and believe?

The message is that God has come to be near to us, so that we can then be brought home to him.

Verses 23-24 further elaborate, stating that the word, the commandment, that Jesus gives us will be our guide on the path to restored unity with the Father:

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

The third question is closely connected to the last: what is this Life that Jesus offers? We know from John's theme verse that he wrote this whole book so that we might know that Jesus is the Christ and that we might have "life in his name" (20:31). We also know that Jesus offers a "new birth" after hearing his conversation with Nicodemus in chapter 3. So, what is the nature of this new life? Why should I want it?

Again, the context provides the answer. Jesus is here comforting his disciples, who are starting to realize that their leader is leaving them soon. He tells them that he will not leave them as orphans - that he will send a Helper. And here we start to understand what is meant by the Life that he offers.

Jesus is promising that his very spirit will live inside of us!

We may be familiar with this idea, but have you really just stopped and thought about that? The life that I could not find or create for myself, Jesus is offering to put into me. And not just any life, but his very own perfect, loving, God-glorifying life. This includes reminding us of his own message, the truth of his words resounding in our hearts (v 26). And this includes comforting us with his very real presence when we feel abandoned, never again to be orphans as we so deeply fear.

The Way home to be with our Father.

The Truth that is a message of love embodied in Jesus.

The Life that is fueled by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus offers these to us in his very nature. When we get lost, he himself becomes our way home. When we doubt, he himself reminds us of the true message of God's heart. And when we feel dead to the world, his Spirit within us makes us truly alive!

By This All Men Will Know

John 13:12-17, 35

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?  You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.  Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

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There has truly been no greater teacher. Having walked a hard road and now facing the hardest trial of his life, Jesus spent a last night together with his closest friends. Knowing he would be betrayed by one of these friends, he bends down to wash their feet. And, as if this tangible act of love was not enough, he explains what he is doing in some of the clearest words imaginable.

"Do you understand?" He cares not only that his words and deeds are true, but also that we are getting it. He is going to any lengths to get the message across. I love you. Now go and share my love.

"I have given you an example." A truly great teacher will give examples. Not just catchy illustrations, but personal testimony of how God's truth and grace are active in their life. A great teacher shows you. But the implication is that the learner is willing to watch, willing to get close enough to the teacher to be led firsthand. We must know him closely in order to live like he did.

There is also an implication here that we should be actively pursuing mentoring relationships with fellow believers. By seeing how an older brother or sister has applied their faith to real life situations, and hearing their specific advice for our own situations, we will drink deeply of the most potent source of strength available. Don't hesitate - find a mentor!

"If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." Zing! It hurts to realize when your knowledge of truth far outweighs the examples in your life where you are living it out. But Jesus didn't just guilt us into walking in fear of our own hypocrisy! He promised we would be more blessed (happy) if we put our knowledge of his love into practice regularly, rather than sit on it and let it fester unused. Hide it under a bushel? NO!

"By this all people will know." True knowledge occurs in both the heart and the mind. We hear propositional truth and give mental assent. But we must also know the One who is the Truth and let his love touch and shape our hearts. And other people will see the truth only when both realities are present. If they only get preached at, that is a half truth. If they only get physical care, that is also a half truth. Jesus displayed both and people will know we follow him by doing likewise.

I pray that we can take active steps to seek wise mentors, that we seek the personal guidance of the great Teacher himself, and then take active steps to love one another today. Grab the towel. Wash someone's feet today. Pursue what Schaeffer called the "final apologetic":

“Yet, without true Christians loving one another, Christ says the world cannot be expected to listen, even when we give proper answers. Let us be careful, indeed, to spend a lifetime studying to give honest answers. For years the orthodox, evangelical church has done this very poorly. So it is well to spend time learning to answer the questions of men who are about us. But after we have done our best to communicate to a lost world, still we must never forget that the final apologetic which Jesus gives is the observable love of true Christians for true Christians.”

Francis Schaffer, The Great Evangelical Disaster, pgs. 164-165