The phase “going the second mile” has found its way into our modern jargon. It has its roots in first-century Palestine. The Romans had conquered much of the known world. One of the marvels of their conquest was a vast system of super highways which they had built to and from their conquered territories. There were over 50,000 miles of these Roman roads throughout the empire. At each mile was a stone marker. The New Oxford English Dictionary calls them “guide stones.” These guide stones pointed direction, determined distance, warned of dangers and each one of them had the miles to Rome etched upon them. This is where we get the phrase, “all roads lead to Rome.”
If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one mile, carry it two miles. (Matthew 5:41)
A Roman soldier could compel a Jewish man or boy of one of the conquered lands to carry his backpack or burden for a mile. The Jewish boy or man was required by law to carry this soldier’s burden for a mile. The origin of the mile comes from the Latin word for 1000, mille, because originally a mile was the distance a Roman soldier could march in 1000 paces. Most Jews wouldn’t carry the burden one pace further than the law required them! This law caused terrible resentment among the Jews toward the Roman government
Can you imagine how the Jews felt when Jesus said, “Go the second mile?” No doubt, the audience said, “He must be jesting.” “Does he really expect us to do more than the law requires us to do?” In essence, Jesus was saying that his disciples need to do more than what the law is required of them. No one likes to be made to do the work of others, at the very least; we are apt to complain, argue, or simply refuse to be so used. Being compelled to engage in “community service” by law or by might is demeaning and perhaps unjust. But Jesus tells us to take the sting out of the situation by being willing to carry such a burden an extra mile in a cheerful attitude.
If we call ourselves Christians, then we need to understand that we are required to live in the second mile. when we chooses to carry the burden for a second mile, then we take control of the situation. When we live in the second mile, it moves us from slaves to masters. The first mile is the “have to” mile, but the second mile is the “I want to” mile.
• To love your neighbor is the first mile – to love your enemy is the second mile
• To bless those who bless you is the first mile, – to bless those who curse you is the second mile
• To do good to those who do good to you is the first mile – to do good to those who hate you is the second mile
• Praying for those who pray for you is the first mile – praying for those who despitefully use you is the second mile
The first mile is that which is required of us. It is the mile that is mandated for us. We live in a world where many do not even make it to the first mile marker. That is, they do not even do what is required of them. Jesus went the second mile for all of us. What does it mean Living in the Second Mile? It means to rise above the instinctive desire to strike back, get even, or settle the score and to meet evil with good. It means to swallow pride and abandon self-interest. It means to be slow to anger and quick to forgive.It means to live by grace in the face of the unfair.
Jesus went much farther than the second mile for you, He went as far as anyone could go. He went all the way to the cross to be our sin bearer and died for you and me.
Redeemed 