“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)

It's not just a suggestion; it's a way of life. Jesus didn't just give us this command; he is the prime example of how to live this way.

Jesus washed Judas' feet too.

Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. But Jesus more so than anyone lived this in practice. In the Gospel of John, before he announces that Judas will betray him, Jesus has a beautiful moment where he shows himself as as servant to all. The focus in this story is Peter, who tries to stop Jesus from washing his feet, but it can be overlooked that Jesus washed Judas' feet too. The same Judas that would betray him, ultimately causing him to be sent to death Jesus bent down to wash his feet. Even though he knew what would happen later that night, Jesus makes a point to wash his feet first. Jesus loved those who were is enemy first.

Jesus forgave those who killed him.

Perhaps the most heart-wrenching story in the whole bible (at least in my opinion) is when Jesus is on the cross, he forgives. The very people who sent him to die a horrific, excruciating death, Jesus didn't curse them or strike them down. Instead he prays that they would be forgiven and could be saved, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” Jesus offers forgiveness to the very people who caused him to die. How often do we hold grudges when people inconvenience us in minor ways? When someone cuts us off on the highway or when someone doesn't hold the door for us, how do we react? Jesus loved even to the point of death.

Jesus reformed Paul.

Paul, a persecutor of Christians, has a vision of Jesus, in which Jesus brings him into the faith. He does not strike Paul down or let him be blind forever. Instead, he reveals the hope and love believing in Jesus brings. He gave Paul a new identity, a new life: life everlasting.

Finally, Jesus died because he loves, and he rose because he loves not hates.

Jesus was the ultimate source of love by dying and rising so that he could give us the ability to have a relationship with God and eternal life. Very easily, God could've let us die because we are not perfect and are sinful. Instead Jesus died so that all of humankind could be saved even those who persecute him, mock him, curse him. Jesus allows us who are burdened by sin to have eternal life. He loves us despite our sins and helps to free us from our sin. He doesn't hate us because we sin, but he helps us to escape sinning.

Jesus didn't just say to love our enemies, he is the prime example of loving your enemies. We too are called to rise above hatred and to live in love.