Blessed to be a blessing
RUMC 10/26/14
The top of my head is sore.
I’ve spent all week studying the beatitudes and I feel like
I have been standing on my head looking at the world.
Up to this point in
THE STORY Jesus has really been pretty tame. He has said some odd things, but
the Sermon on the Mount is really the beginning of Jesus’ radical upside-down
theology of redemption and revolution.
(Animated slide)
The more I studied
this week, the more I asked which way is up? Let me be clear, it is not Jesus’
teachings that are upside-down. It is our world. Because of sin, creation is
turned all topsy-turvy from what God created it to be, and Jesus came to make
things right again.
In fact, as I studied, I discovered that the more I asked
the question the more convoluted the answer became. Because, not only do the
beatitudes turn the world upside-down, or right side up if you will. I had to
ask if maybe I have even been looking at the beatitudes upside-down.
I finally came to the very firm conclusion that everything
is upside- wrong side-inside- outside- down. Or is it up? Or is it out?
Let me try to explain without making your head hurt.
First, we have to consider the context of the beatitudes.
Matthew chapter 5 says, “When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain;
and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and
taught them.”
I have always assumed that the beatitudes were addressed to
the disciples. I have always assumed they were for kingdom “insiders.” Look at
the context however, “Jesus saw the crowds.” These are not the insiders. These
are the outsiders. These are the people who are still searching. These are not
the disciples. Now Matthew does say that the disciples came to him and he began
to teach. We can’t forget, however, that Jesus’ audience was very diverse.
Just like standing up here on Sunday morning… do I talk to
the regular attenders, the family that comes once a year, the guest, the leaders,
the followers? My answer is yes, to all of those. I suspect Jesus was talking
to all of the people who were present, but we can’t assume that they were all
faithful followers of Jesus.
I began to ask myself, what would an outsider hear when they
heard the beatitudes? What would someone hear if this was the first time they
heard Jesus speak?
• When they
heard “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
They might have heard, “Hey this kingdom isn’t just for the Pharisees, it’s for
us normal folks like us.”
• When they
heard “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” They might
have heard, “When life gets the best of me and I feel completely overwhelmed,
there is a place of comfort and hope in Jesus’ kingdom.”
• When they
heard “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” They might have
heard, that even if they weren’t the kind of person that stands up for their
self, they have an advocate in Jesus.
• When they
heard “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will
be filled.” They might have heard, “Even if I am broken by injustice, I am
welcome in this kingdom, where I will find justice.”
• When they
heard “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” They might have
heard, “If I have a soft heart and others sometimes take advantage of me, I can
be safe in this kingdom.”
• When they
heard “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” They might have
heard, “This kingdom is not like the world, where the best liar seems to win
the election.”
• When they
heard “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
They might have heard, “This kingdom does not belong to the warrior and the
conquering emperor, it belongs to those of us who just want to live in peace.”
• When they
heard “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.” They might have heard, “Even if your convictions
sometimes get you in trouble, you will be OK in this kingdom.”
The beatitudes can be heard as a proclamation of grace
saying, that no human condition, no matter how hopeless it may appear; no
matter how despised by the world; no matter how ‘unsuccessful’ or insignificant
others may deem it; disqualifies anyone from God’s grace in Christ. God’s
blessings are yours in Jesus no matter who you are!
See what I mean about my head hurting? If we turn the
beatitudes inside out, we see them from a whole different perspective and
realize how upside-down our world really is.
Seen this way, the Beatitudes are pronouncements of pure
grace. Like other great passages, such as Mary’s Magnificat, which we talked
about a few weeks ago, they announce the inbreaking of God’s upside-down
Kingdom. God is not bound by the current, fallen, corrupt value system that
expects him to shower blessings on rich, successful, and powerful people, on
“worthy ones” who are universally recognized and applauded by the world.
Those who follow Jesus may participate in this new creation
reality now, no matter what their present condition. God’s grace is available
to all; to everyone! All are welcome. All may come. The blessings are here for
all of us in Jesus.
I love that… because that takes the beatitudes out of the
realm of a to-do list. And makes them a to-da list, describing the wonderful
magic of the kingdom of God.
That doesn’t mean, however, that the beatitudes don’t have
anything to say to good church folk. I think this is a both //and kind of
situation. Jesus’ words heard by the crowds are a proclamation of grace. Jesus’
words heard by the disciples are words of transformation.
• “Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the
other a taxman. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: ’Oh, God, I thank you
that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid,
like this taxman. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.’
"Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not
daring to look up, said, ’God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.’ “Jesus
commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If
you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your
face, but if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than
yourself."
Luke 18:10-14 (MSG) That’s what it means when Jesus says,
Blessed are the poor in spirit
• “Blessed
are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Here Jesus is speaking about
those who mourn over their sin. This is a Godly sorrow that produces repentance
and leads to salvation. Do you remember the story of King David? How he sinned?
He had an affair with Bathsheba, which was wrong in the first place, but in
order to cover it up he had Bathsheba’s husband killed. David felt sorrow,
remorse, guilt, and shame for what he had done. He mourned over his sin. We
read about David’s sin grief in Psalm 51.
“(God) you’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen it all,
seen the full extent of my evil. You have all the facts before you; whatever
you decide about me is fair.” Psalms 51:4 (MSG)
David is an example of one who mourns, “Blessed are those
who mourn,”
• “Blessed
are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Here Jesus is calling us to be
teachable. Don’t think that you know everything there is to know. “Take my yoke
upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.” Matthew 11:29
(KJV)
We need to live our lives with an attitude that allows the
Holy Spirit to guide us as we deal with those around us. Blessed are the meek.
• “Blessed
are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
God is righteous and we need to have the same desires that
He has. When something is wicked, we need to call it wicked. When something is
sinful, we need to call it sinful. When something is pure and holy, we need to
hold on to it. We need to have a burning desire for it. We need to study it and
live it. Our driving passion – our driving hunger – needs to be on those things
that are pleasing to God. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”
• “Blessed
are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
We need an attitude of MERCY.
Forgiveness and mercy are what God demonstrates to the
undeserving sinner. That undeserving sinner is us. Did you know that the manner
in which you forgive people is the manner in which you will be forgiven? Look
at what it says in The Lord’s prayer:
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Matthew 6:12 (NKJV) “Blessed are the merciful”
• “Blessed
are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
We need an attitude of PURITY.
The Greek word for “pure” has a number of interesting
facets.
o It was
used for dirty clothes that had been washed clean.
o It was
used to describe grain and flour that had been carefully sifted – cleansed of
all impurities.
o It was
used when describing milk or wine that had not been mixed with any other
liquid. It is not diluted or watered down. It was pure.
So this beatitude could be translated, “Blessed is the man
who is genuine in heart, who is authentic, who is not a phony, because such a
man will see God.”
2 Timothy says, “Flee from youthful passions, and pursue
righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord
from a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22 (HCSB) That is what it means to be pure in
heart
• “Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
We need an attitude of PEACEMAKING.
God wants us to be a part of the solution, not the PROBLEM.
There are 2 kinds of people in this world: “thermostat”
people and “thermometer” people. A thermometer reflects the climate of the
room. If the room is cold, it’s cold. If the room is hot, it’s hot.
But a thermostat can change the climate of the room. By its
setting, a thermostat can change a cold room into one that is warm, or a hot
room into one that is cool. And a peacemaker is a thermostat person. A
peacemaker can change the climate of the room when he or she walks in. Have you
ever seen that happen?
God wants peacemakers, thermostats, change agents; in His
church, in the workplace, and out in the world.
Jesus was a peacemaker. He changes things. He has called us
to be peacemakers too. Blessed are the peacemakers,
• “Blessed
are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.
We need an attitude of ENDURANCE.
Folks we have all lived long enough in this world to know
that whatever you do - you will be criticized. Even if you do nothing – you
will be criticized and persecuted. I don’t know about you – but I would rather
be criticized for doing the right thing then for doing the wrong thing. I don’t
mind being called a fool for following God. It’s better than the alternative.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted
Do you see how the beatitudes turn everything upside down?
It turns the world’s expectations upside down. It turns the believer’s lives
upside down. Or do I mean right side up?
The beatitudes are a
picture of the kingdom of God. Righting the upside-down, turning over
expectations and showing us what the world looks like when it is right side up.
The beatitudes are a picture of the kingdom of God. If you
stand on the outside of the kingdom, they are words of grace and hope, that you
too might be part of this great kingdom. If you stand on the inside of the
kingdom, they are a description of the kingdom in which we live, and a
challenge to live into the glory of that kingdom.
To borrow a phrase from Jesus “Let those who have ears,
hear”
Hear the word of grace and hope from one side of the
beatitudes. And you will be accepted by God, loved by God, forgiven by God,
blessed by God
Hear the word of challenge and accountability from the other
side of the beatitudes and you will be
strengthened by God, shaped by God, transformed by God, and by God you will be
a blessing to all those around you.
Blessed to be a
blessing. Blessed to be a blessing. That is what the beatitudes are about.
Blessed to be a blessing. Go and bless someone.