What does Jesus say about Revenge?

Jesus said, “But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27)

Justin Johnson always dreamed of serving his country. Sadly he only had his dream job for just twelve days. On Easter morning 2004 Justin was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. He was only 22. We have heard this kind of story over and over again. It has become almost a daily event that someone has been killed by a road side bomb in Iraq or Afghanistan.

What makes this story unique is that Justin’s father joined the National Guard so that he could avenge his son’s death. Of course Jan Johnson, Justin’s Mom, who was still reeling from the death of her son was not at all happy that her husband was going to join the fight in Iraq. In an interview with the Associated Press, she said that over a period of time she realized that going over there was what it was going to take for her husband to heal from his son’s death.

At age 49 Joe Johnson is on active duty in Iraq. The revenge that he sought was in his reach, but something unexpected happened to him on the front line; his urge for revenge faded. When he saw the terrible needs that the people of Iraq his whole motivation changed from how can I get revenge to how can I help these people. Perhaps it was his wife’s faith that caused this dramatic change. She said during the same interview, “Sometimes you have to trust the Lord and trust your husband.”

The death of a child is the ultimate challenge for any parent. Each person must choose their own path for healing. In Joe’s case he chose revenge, but by some unknowable Grace, his sword of hate was removed by compassion for the people he sought to kill.

God can work in mysterious ways. If Joe had heeded the teaching of Jesus he would not have had to risk his life in Iraq, but by pursuing his desire to avenge his son’s death he saw the tremendous suffering of the people of Iraq first hand. Perhaps this is what Jesus meant when he said, “Blessed are you that mourn for you shall be comforted.” It seems that Joe did avenge his son’s death with compassion for the people of Iraq. Maybe now Justin can rest in peace.

What do you think?