How Jesus Takes Away Our Guilt

Jesus said, "When a man hits you
On one side of your face
Turn to him the other cheek also"(Matthew 5.39)
Rather than fight back.
But this wasn't anything new.
Weak men (or women) already were
"turning the other cheek" on a regular basis,
Rather than provoke a beating by fighting back.
But they tended to feel bad about it afterward.
"Why didn't I hit back like I should have?"
They would be likely to say.

So by Jesus saying, "Turn the other cheek,"  
He doesn't change people's behavior,
But He does cause a change in perception.
For instead of feeling guilty of cowardice,
They now can say,
"Hey, I'm just doing what Christ said to do."