Do traffic jams frustrate you? Don’t you wish you could avoid traffic jams altogether? You’ll be impressed that, in a cryptic way, Jesus solved this problem long before the invention of the automobile. In the Sermon on the Mount, He revealed subtly that, “There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.” Moreover, Jesus knew the term “impressed” meant “to be put to work against your will”. With these things in mind, many people, including Christians, conclude the traffic jams are tolerable.
“If someone forces you to go one mile, go two miles.” (Matthew 4:41). These are Jesus’ actual words; the traffic jam phrasing comes from former NFL quarterback Roger Staubach. Either phrasing indicates the extra mile is a lonely road – bumper-to-bumper traffic is non-existent and those who take this road often seek an early exit.
In occupied Israel, Roman soldiers could force Jews or others to carry burdens one Roman mile, a distance of 1000 paces or slightly less than our modern day mile. Roman law also stipulated that soldiers could commandeer your personal property, including horses, donkeys, camels, carts, wagons, or other items to assist in carting luggage and equipment for the troops. If you were selected for service, you were impressed.
The concept of impressment, that is pressing someone into involuntary service, originated not with the Romans, but with the Persians. Cyrus instituted a system whereby a person’s horse, even his best or only horse, could be impressed for the king’s service at a moment’s notice and with total disregard to the owner’s convenience. Such impressment extended to boats, carts, and other vehicles of conveyance. In more modern times, British ships during the American Revolution boarded ships of other nations to glean American citizens, whom they impressed for Royal Navy service.
Unlike the Romans, Jesus exhorts us to carry the burden not just the mile demanded by law, but to carry it a second mile. This is a tough pill for most people to swallow. No one likes to be impressed against their will, much less perform above and beyond legal or contractual requirements. This type of attitude thins dramatically the traffic along the extra mile.
The extra mile concept struck a raw nerve in Jesus’ day. Jews hated the Romans who occupied their land. The Jews taught that the disciples of the wise and the students of the law were not to be impressed, as others might, by the Roman officers. Jesus rebelled against this Jewish position – He refused to have His disciples given preferential treatment. He wished them to comply rather than offend the government. In other words, give to Caesar what is Caesar’s (Matthew 22:21).
Subtly, Jesus’ command increases the obligation of the Christian put into service over that of the non-Christian. Notice how Jesus never mentions Roman soldiers, He simply says someone. Thus, He does not restrict going the extra mile to military or governmental situations. Jesus wants us to go the extra mile for anyone – family, neighbor, church member, co-worker, or stranger. We should be willing to do twice as much as others would in a situation of need.
Jesus’ upping the ante raises questions – What about a third mile? Or a fourth? When does it end? Some will claim that flesh and blood should resist such an egregious affront. Let them remember, however, that flesh and blood do not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Unlike the first mile, the second mile is more than 1000 paces; in fact, it never ends. Take heart, though, as Jesus is there on the second mile. The second mile is not joyful unless we do it for the LORD. Thus, the extra mile provides a glimpse of eternity because you are traveling with our eternal Savior and Priest (Genesis 22:17, Hebrews 7:17, 24). You can’t see the finish line, but it will end with the shout of an angel and the blast of a trumpet!
It is normal to be impressed with the second mile because your impressment and obedience will please Jesus. As Christians, we should not want simply to comply with a government mandate, we should want to do our utmost for the One through whom we receive salvation. Jesus went far more than the extra mile to save our souls. Leave the traffic jams behind and travel joyfully with Jesus along the road He chooses. There will be no traffic jams along the way.
In His love and service,
Jeff Myers
A servant of Jesus Christ
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