The concept of going the second mile for somebody -- or doing more than is expected of you is well known, but did you ever stop to think where it came from?
If you answered: "Jesus" you're right. Remember in his Sermon on the Mount he encourages his disciples to do this with the words recorded at Mathew: 5:4l, "If someone under authority impresses you into service for a mile, go with him two miles."
It seems that Jesus was referring to the compulsory service that the Roman authority of his day could demand from citizens. Apparently they could commander anything they need to accomplish their tasks from animals to men.
Such demands were highly oppressive ( such as the time that Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry Jesus' torture stake) and of course highly unpopular amongst the Jewish people and naturally they would not want to go any farther than absolutely necessary.
But Jesus urged his followers to be willing to carry out such work willingly and without resentment when the ruling authorities had legitimate demands -- and not only that -- but to be willing to go that "extra mile" or do more than what was expected of them.
This no doubt created a good name for early Christians and the same attitude can also help us to create a good name when some friend -- or boss -- or government officials asks us to carry out some task.
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