The Kingdom of God is a very odd thing compared to this world. Our King very specifically told us that love is beyond anything perceived by our flesh. We have a limited definition what we perceive to be love and then project this on our King. But the foundation of the Kingdom is something otherworldly, beyond our imagination, and sometimes beyond our acceptability. It is a love that says there is nothing special about loving someone who loves you and there is something perfect about loving those who hate you.
The apostle Paul was so convinced of this incredible thing that he said that unless it is the motivation of everything we do, the things we do have no power and are useless, having no value. The power is found in the love that provokes us into action because that love is sourced from Father himself.
Jesus was interrupted one day by a servant who said that his master needed his help. It turned out that this man's boss was a Roman centurion, the enemy that currently occupied and dominated the land of the Jews. They were cruel, hateful and often sadistic in the way they treated the enemies of Rome and there was no doubt the Jews considered themselves enemies of Rome.
Understand this : when Jesus showed preference for the Jews it was because they were the focus of his mission, not because he lacked any love for the other nations. Scripture said that salvation would come to the world through the Jews and Jesus had come to fulfill these scriptures. Paul repeated this often : first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. But Jesus made it clear that salvation would be for everyone who believes.
Now Jesus is faced with this need from an enemy of Israel, a worshiper of multiple gods. We would have considered him justified if he had ignored this need. But he didn't. He responded to the one who considered his people to be the enemy. Note that Jesus came to demonstrate what life looks like as a citizen of the Kingdom. He came to reveal the heart of Father. He came so that we could see the Kingdom in his actions. He answered the prayer of his enemy.
Consider his own prayer as these same Roman soldiers drove the nails through his body and hung him on a tree in public disgrace : Father forgive them, they don't know what they are doing. Love your enemy. Pray for those who persecute you. What's so special about loving those who can return that love. The real power is revealed in loving those who can't return that love because of the hatred or fear that blinds them.
It is easy to be prejudice against those who we perceive are hating on us, being biased against us, mistreating and denying us. It is easy to focus on our rights in this world. It is easy to decry the injustices and make demands on others. But as citizens of the Kingdom we have been called to something greater, something beyond ourselves, something rooted in our King, flowing through us by the Holy Spirit. You and I are not capable of this otherworldly love that would have us love our enemy, but we are capable because of Jesus who gives us the strength and power to live it.
Any of us can say we believe but faith is shown in our actions. Faith is living according to every word that comes from the mouth of our King. Faith is trusting that there is purpose and truth in Jesus' instructions even if it is contrary to our own thinking. Jesus says that it is possible to obey him because love empowers us. We cannot obey him from willpower. We cannot obey him from repetition. Obedience is empowered by love. That is how things work in the Kingdom and that is how we overcome our prejudice toward our enemies.
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