Posted on by Lewis Braden

Fireside: Let Another Set Your Milestones

“And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.”

Matthew 5:41

It should go without saying that if you are the best you know at something, you are both telling and believing a lie. A person who proclaims to be the best at anything is showing how big an ego can fit into such a small brain.

It’s easy to default to comparison with those close to you. Paul warned, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” (2 Corinthians 10:12) We humans tend to sidle up to a weaker, slower, poorer example than ourselves to help boost our self-image.

Though that is a natural tendency, it is not at all a beneficial one. No great athlete- despite their natural athleticism- would ever think they were strong enough or nimble enough. A true athlete, when their present company has pushed them as far as they can go, will seek out a new trainer/routine/exercise to push them just a little more.

Greatness welcomes and demands increasing challenge. The Olympic chant is, “Citius, Altius, Fortius” -meaning, “Swifter, Higher, Stronger!” If a runner, a gymnast, a contender wants to be the best IN THE WORLD, he had better not let his opinion of himself in the mirror be his metric. A man who will wear the gold medal must be able to go the extra mile.

Ye have heard that it hath been said… But I say unto you

An oft-overlooked element, this ‘extra mile’ is constantly included in Christ’s dialogue during his First Coming. Israel had been flexing in the mirror (James 1:24) so long, their spiritual muscle had atrophied. They excelled only in the first mile. Jesus Christ moved the finish line with His teaching:

  • “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies,” (Matthew 5:43-44) Extra mile.
  • “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:19-20) Extra mile.

Of all the doctrinal reasons that these things are so, there is one giant spiritual logic: How does your faith compete when it’s pushed beyond its normal limit? How does your Christianity hold up when someone moves the goal? How do you respond when you’re not allowed to take a break?

Because what will ultimately prove your sincerity will be when that “whosoever” asks just a little more.

I have always wondered where the actual Biblical Golgotha is located. Certainly, it is not anywhere near the fraudulent ‘Church of the Holy Sepulchre.’ The Bible clearly states there was a garden near the place, and a sepulchre in that garden (John 20:41), and that it was outside the gates of Jerusalem (Hebrews 13:12). The Biblical trail of the Passion maps His trip from the house of Annas to the house of Caiaphas, to Pilate, then to Herod’s palace, back to Pilate’s judgment seat, finally to that high place outside the city.

How far was Jesus compelled to walk that final day?

I’d guess His journey went about a mile… and then an extra.

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