Jesus teaches us that, to...
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Jesus teaches us that, to be his followers, we must be caring, even
toward those who consider us their enemies. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor who
was martyred by the Nazis in World War II, wrote:
Love for our enemies takes us along the way of the cross and into fellowship with the Crucified. The more we are driven along this road, the more certain is the victory of love over the enemy's hatred. For then it is not the disciple's own love, but the love of Jesus Christ alone, who for the sake of his enemies went to the cross and prayed for them as he hung there.
In the face of the cross the disciples realized that they too were his enemies, and that he had overcome them by his love. It is this that opens [their] eyes, and enables [them] to see [their] enemy as a brother [or sister].
(From Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship [New York: Macmillan, 1963], pp. 166-167)
Love for our enemies takes us along the way of the cross and into fellowship with the Crucified. The more we are driven along this road, the more certain is the victory of love over the enemy's hatred. For then it is not the disciple's own love, but the love of Jesus Christ alone, who for the sake of his enemies went to the cross and prayed for them as he hung there.
In the face of the cross the disciples realized that they too were his enemies, and that he had overcome them by his love. It is this that opens [their] eyes, and enables [them] to see [their] enemy as a brother [or sister].
(From Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship [New York: Macmillan, 1963], pp. 166-167)
