If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. –Luke 6:29
In our desire to be ‘holy’, all our actions can do for us is no different from what Adam and Eve did: make us fall further from God even more. As long as we live in the flesh, we can NEVER be like Christ, not with our best sacrifices and efforts. So what are these verses for? Aren’t they commandments and instructions the Lord has given us to follow? Hey, obey them all you want but I am not letting those who hit me on my left cheek hit me anywhere else ever again!
My beloved friend, these verses like Luke 6:29 may sound like commandments from The Holy One but they are not. They are proclamations of Christ’s love for us because they are prophecies of how far Jesus will go to have our sin blotted out. These painful and humiliating experiences are few of the requirements which The Lord Jesus Christ went through to redeem us; and He has accomplished all of them to the dot.
He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth. Isaiah 53:7
Let’s take up some prophecies which were reserved solely for the Son of God to fulfill (NOT BY US):
“If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also” (Luke 6:29). After being arrested, Jesus Christ was slapped, blindfolded and beaten and Jesus Christ did not lift a finger to defend Himself. (John 19:3, John 18:22, Luke 22:63)
“If someone demands your coat, offer him your shirt also” (Luke 6:29). Jesus Christ wore a seamless and expensive robe. In the end, He died on the cross stripped of everything that He hung naked. One of the last things He saw when He looked down were the soldiers gambling for his clothes. (John 19:23-24, Luke 23:34)
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13) I tell you the Bible is full of Christ’s love but people who read always think that it’s their love that matters. Did Jesus really want us to start having ourselves killed for our loved ones? Jesus Christ proved His love for us that even though He was without sin, He allowed Himself to be punished and crucified on our behalf (John 19).
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
Being Holy is not about our good works. All the good works and the works of the law have been fulfilled by Christ Jesus! Being Holy is all about having The Holy One, Jesus Christ, in us. All we have to do is to honor Him by believing in Him.
It was and it is never about you or me. Being Holy is all about beholding Jesus Christ and His glory on the cross!
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