What Does Jesus Christ Expect from His Followers?

When I was a teenager, I took a challenge to memorize the "Sermon on the Mount". It changed my life.

Memorizing this incredibly broad ranging set of life instructions from the Son of the Living God Himself created a thought process that still engages in my mind in certain situations to this day, even though I have long since forgotten much of the passage and can no longer recite it word for word.

Jesus gave the world a wonderful gift that day, a play book for earthly living and a foundation for every decision that faces us throughout our life. He had no speech writers, no teleprompter, just an impromptu sermon straight from his divine heart to his disciples.

Some of what he said flies in the face of human reason. Much of it I have failed to put into practice.

For example, I have been physically struck by an attacker on more than one occasion. I have never offered the other cheek under such circumstances. Instead, I followed my human instincts and defended myself, sometimes going beyond simple defense to administer a lesson to my opponent.

I wonder what would have happened in those instances had I followed the command of the God I profess faith in? Would I have received some immediate gratification or reward? I have certainly seen wonderful consequences and sometimes immediate gratification for my adherence to other commands.

Or would it simply be an act of obedience that stored additional treasure in Heaven for me?

Being a Christian is not an easy task. While some of Christ's teachings are simple to follow, others take great strength and will power. I cannot fathom how I could ever restrain myself from a violent response to an unprovoked literal slap in the face.

How can we successfully follow a command that says, "Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect." What?! That's not possible, is it?

No. But it is possible to strive and struggle to achieve that goal. Just as men have died for a hopeless cause, knowing it was hopeless, and knowing it would cost them their lives, it is a worthy enterprise to work toward perfection, even though we know we will never achieve it until we reach our Father in Heaven, who will make us so.

If there is any hope at all for me to achieve a feat of humility and obedience such as "turning the other cheek", it must start with embedding these words in my mind so permanently that they immediately come to mind if the situation ever arises again:

If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Many people claim to be Christians, but they're not, really. True Christians are those who accept the fact that Christ substituted his life for theirs and paid the penalty of our sins past, present, and future. An active, Christian way of life is to consistently strive to achieve the impossible task of following all the teachings of Jesus and maintaining a personal relationship with Him.

I know the best way to do that is to memorize and keep at the forefront of my mind the teachings of Jesus Christ. That way I know the right response to every situation I am faced with regardless of how much time I am given to react.

It is equivalent to the comparison between police officers and lawyers knowledge of the law I was given long ago during a police academy class: While lawyers must know a broad range of legal concepts, they do not have to posses a mental copy of the criminal code. Police officers, on the other hand, must have an up to date working knowledge of current law. Unlike an attorney, a police officer is not allowed the luxury of time to go look up and research the applicable laws to the situation at hand. He often has only minutes or second to decide whether a subject must be detained, arrested, or released. If he makes decisions that do not comply with the law, he becomes a criminal himself.

If we do not carry our Lord's commands in our hearts, we cannot know what He would have us do in certain of life's situations. While the Holy Spirit is here to comfort and guide, we are compelled to know the commands of our great Captain. I believe the greatest summary of those commands is contained in the following words of Jesus Christ, and that is why I am endeavoring to re-memorize the entire passage:

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

-Jesus Christ of Nazareth, "The Sermon on the Mount"