Jesus’ Third Way
AM Psalm 107:33-43, 108:1-6(7-13) • PM Psalm 33
Num. 20:14-29 • Rom. 6:1-11 • Matt. 21:1-11
In the verses just prior to our gospel reading for today, Jesus lets the disciples know that he will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and will be condemned to death when he arrives in Jerusalem. And then Jesus instructs two disciples to go into a village and bring back a donkey and colt that will be tied for him there.
Imagine that on one end of Jerusalem there’s the imperialist Pontius Pilate, travelling with his troops and their weapons and war horses – a powerful display of the signs of empire to meet this one whom he feels challenged by. On the other end of Jerusalem Jesus enters riding a humble donkey, wearing simple traveling robes, followed by a rag tag band of followers.
This is another example of Jesus’ Third Way that Walter Wink writes about in his book Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way:
“...Jesus did not advocate nonviolence merely as a technique for outwitting the enemy, but as a just means of opposing the enemy in such a way as to hold open the possibility of the enemy’s becoming just as well. Both sides must win. We are summoned to pray for our enemies’ transformation, and to respond to ill-treatment with a love that is not only godly but also, I am convinced, can only be found in God.”
With Jesus, Wink encourages us, a way emerges by which evil can be opposed without being mirrored.
Jesus’ Third Way:
Seize the moral initiative
Find a creative alternative to violence
Assert your own humanity and dignity as a person
Meet force with ridicule or humor
Break the cycle of humiliation
Refuse to submit or to accept the inferior position
Expose the injustice of the system
Take control of the power dynamic
Shame the oppressor into repentance
Stand your ground
Force the Powers to make decision for which they are not prepared
Recognize your own power
Be willing to suffer rather than retaliate
Cause the oppressor to see you in a new light
Deprive the oppressor of a situation where a show of force effective
Be willing to undergo the penalty for breaking unjust laws
Die to fear of the old order its rules
Those are some pretty hard principles to abide by! Wink concludes his book by giving us some breathing room:
“We know that nonviolence is the New Testament pattern. We can commit ourselves to following Jesus’ way as best we can. We know we are weak and will probably fail. But we also know that God loves and forgives us and sets us back on our feet after every failure and defeat.
Seen in this light, Jesus’ Third Way is not an insuperable counsel to perfection attainable only by the few. It is simply the right way to live, and can be pursued by many. The more who attempt it, the more mutual support there will be in following it.”
Amen!
Written by Kathy McGregor
...who is always searching for a way to balance her life in Christ by unbalancing the powers that be.