If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Matt. 5:41

Jesus is referencing Roman legislation which stated that a soldier could give what he was carrying, his armour or labour, to someone under Roman rule and force them to carry it. The rule did state that the soldier could only enforce this for one mile, after that they were free to return to what they were doing beforehand. In this context, of an oppressive regime, Jesus said to go above and beyond the obligation and voluntarily do extra. We read passages like these, but what does it actually mean? Does anyone do this, I mean really do this? I think many think that they are doing this without realising that they are not. In evangelical circles we tend to emphasise grace, we talk about how we are saved by grace and not works. This is absolutely true, but it does not mean we are devoid of obligation, there are things we have to do to follow Jesus. Not that we contribute to our salvation in any way, that is a pure work of God’s goodness, but we still have certain duties to fulfil once we are saved.

As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. Luke 23:26

This story is interesting because it illustrates the roman rule we have just outlined. Simon was not voluntarily carrying the cross, He wasn’t taking up his cross to follow Christ. He took it up because Roman law mandated that he had to, but only for one mile. Consider how hard this would have been for him. He was possibly entering Jerusalem having recently come from Cyrene, a journey that spanned hundreds of miles. The last thing this weary traveller would want to do, is walk for another mile carrying a heavy cross. This was arduous, dirty and difficult. He would be close enough to see and hear everything Jesus was saying and doing. He probably got some of Jesus blood on his clothing and hands. This was not something he would have wanted to do; it was something he had to do. The first mile is the bare minimum requirements that everyone must fulfil.

The crucifixion site of Jesus would have been less than a mile from where Simon was required to carry the cross. So, we clearly see that Jesus is talking about going well above and beyond the expected effort, its going a lot further than mere obligation. Consider this, you would have to go two miles, carrying something heavy and then afterwards come back the same two miles you had just travelled. It would be a huge inconvenience to do it just once, but Jesus wants you to do it twice! It’s the principle of the second cross.

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:25-27

In a sense there are two crosses in the Christian faith. The second cross, ‘we’ have to take it up. ‘We’ have to do the second mile. There is a cross that Jesus carries, we cannot take that. But Jesus said we have our own cross that 'we' have to take up. Without doing this we cannot be Jesus' disciple. Often the gospel is presented in such a way that we are told Jesus does everything and we don't have to do anything. Yet Jesus said to the crowds, if you are really a disciple then you have to take up ‘your cross’. It is not the first cross, the fire mile, but the second mile that is the test. This isn’t the only time Jesus spoke like this…

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. Luke 9:23-24

'Daily', this second cross is not something you do once, not a decision you once made many years ago. This is something we must do daily. We don't want to do the first mile, we don't want to do the things we must do. Jesus asks us to go above and beyond, and not occasionally, but ‘daily’. We cannot just do what is expected, we should go above and beyond. Some people think they are doing the second mile by turning up at church. This isn't fully doing the first mile. The Romans had this as a law, they HAD to do 1 mile, but Jesus said go well beyond the expected level of service.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

Martha has opened her home and was doing all the work. Which is a lot, especially considering there were at least 12 disciples and Jesus. She is serving at least 13 fully grown men, plus maybe others too. Martha has gone the first mile. The second mile would be to keep going and to listen to Jesus. Martha doesn't do this, instead she complains that 'it isn't fair'. How often do we complain to God or others saying, 'it isn't fair'? Though she has accepted Jesus into her home, this isn't the second mile. If Jesus came to our house, would you let him in? Surely this is the bare minimum we would do. Later we return to this family in the middle of John's Gospel:

Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. John 12:2

This is an episode that could have been a year later. This time there is no complaints from Martha, she is going the second mile! She is just glad Jesus is there, she isn't asking for help, remember Lazarus is laid reclining and Mary isn't helping either. Martha is working hard and getting on with it. This is where God wants us to be as Christians. She is glad just to be serving Jesus and she is doing ALL the work. There is a good question to ask ourselves, 'are we doing it for Jesus or for others'?

I think later in life Simon was glad he carried Jesus' cross, his children are mentioned as believers later in the New Testament (Mark 15:21 & Rom. 16:13). There was another Simon that should have been there, Simon Peter. He ran away at the first sign of discomfort, and many Christians make this same mistake.

When we first saw Mary she was sat listening to him. This is commendable, devoting yourself to hours of prayer and study can be very stressful work. We tend to think of this as being lazy, it isn't. Her first mile is being devoted to Jesus' teaching. This is expected. John goes on to tell us:

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3

Her second mile, she didn't have to do this. She paid a year's wages just to bless Jesus. In our context this is about £40,000. She didn't have to do this did she? Jesus said, 'No one can be my discipline unless they carry their cross'. Yet, we have facilitated in our thinking that disciples don't have to carry the cross because Jesus carried it, yet Jesus said to go the second mile. Martha and Mary decided that they were going to go above and beyond for their Lord. Did they have to do this? Wasn't it excessive?

When Mary did the first mile she was criticised, Martha complained about her. This is to be expected when someone follows Christ. We can easily say we will just do a little here and there but will we do more? While doing the second mile the criticism grew to be much more severe:

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” John 12:4-5

If you really give yourself to Christ others will rebuke and criticise you. You'll be labelled a fanatic, crazy or excessive. People will question you and complain that there are better uses of your time and your life. What is the base expectation of being a Christian, will we go above and beyond this and do the second mile also? Judas wasn't going to go the second mile, instead, he has a go at Mary. Often when we go the second mile others will be made insecure and might accuse us of having ulterior motives.

Going the second mile, it hurts, it's painful, it's not something we want to do but it’s what Jesus asks of us.

• Pastor Dave Jones