Stranger ThingsSample

Reverse Justice We are hard-wired to appreciate simple, black and white justice. Someone hurts us, we hurt them back. Someone robs us, they pay it back. These are the rules of the playground, and – in essence – the criminal justice system. And yet, as is often the case, Jesus wants to flip that natural order of things on its head. “Do not repay evil with evil, or insult with insult” – how counterintuitive is that? Even if we can mentally see the wisdom in that approach, it flies in the face of everything within our human nature. But, Peter is not just handing out some good advice or a new trick for getting along with people. Peter points us right back to Jesus Himself as our model (are you noticing a theme, here?) for how to handle people who mistreat us. Ultimately, Peter points to the benefits we all received from Jesus’ willingness to endure evil and mistreatment on our behalf. He never returned the insults or repaid evil for evil, and He peacefully endured all of that to secure our redemption. Now, in case you might think, “yeah, that’s great for Jesus, but I’m not the Savior of the world…why shouldn’t I pay someone back when they wrong me?” That’s a fair question, and Peter covers that one as well. Essentially, he says that when someone talks trash or spreads rumors or even goes out of their way to make you miserable because you’re a Christ follower, they will be the ones who end up looking ridiculous because everyone else will see that you were in the right. When they attack you, and you respond with grace and blessings and “kill them with kindness” kinds of actions, they end up looking like a bully…and no one likes a bully. It is not weakness to take their insults or not fight back; it can often be the greatest sign of strength. Keep your head, control your temper, and treat them the way Jesus would – Peter tells us that in the end, you’ll end up winning.