echoes of redemption

The Sermon on the Mount is a radically subversive manifesto of the ways of Jesus’ Kingdom.

And it starts with the key message: blessed are those who struggle.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
– Heaven belongs to those whose spirits are broken, empty or hurt.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
– Because the only way to experience God’s blessing of comfort is to meet him in mourning.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
– Those who cannot stand for themselves will be given the most in the Kingdom.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
– Hunger and thirst both imply a total lacking. Those who have the least will find the most.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
– No the great leaders, dazzling personalities or  super gifted. The ones who have nothing greater to give but mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
– Those who are simple, without adding superficial layers of desire to their lives, find God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
– Those who have given up the most (pride, money, status) in their life to pursue peace – because sacrifice is the way of the Kingdom.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
– Those who have lost the most for Jesus name have the most to gain in his Kindom.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
– The momentum of the Kingdom is found in brokenness, and when you join it, you find yourself in the position where only the richness of God can bless you.

So blessed are those who struggle. Blessed are the people who can’t seem to get it together. Blessed are the spiritual losers.

Because when we find ourselves here – broken, hurting and lost – when we find ourselves in a place where only God can rescue – that is when we experience him at his best. When our lives are drenched in the richness of his grace. When we really start getting blessed.

Rome had it all together. Or so they wanted everyone to see.

That’s part of empire thinking. Making sure everyone knows you are the biggest, best, strongest, most together thing in town.

Empires don’t have problems. (System problems are hidden, people problems are cast out and anyone who talks about either is punished.)

Empires build energy and commitment through carefully selected stories. (Usually drawn from victories of the near past and the promises of increased greatness in the future. They are obsessive with size and power and tell their stories in a way that hides the collateral damage incurred by their unbridled pursuit of both.)

Empires are obsessed with appearance. (They look amazing… until you look inside them. There is meticulous detail to the outside of the pot, but the inside is filthy from neglect.)

But what you won’t find in an empire is brokenness.

Because to be broken you have to be humble. You have to admit you don’t have it together. That you can’t to it on your own.

Brokenness was how Jesus lived.

It was subversive to the way of the empire simply because it was so different.

Maybe, for us, spiritual maturity happens when we finally get to the point we stop pretending to have it all together. When we break from the ways of the empire and live in brokenness.

When we are no longer trying to impress anyone.

When we talk openly about the mistakes we’ve made and the journey of forgiveness we are traveling.

When our agenda is no longer our greatest priority.

When we stop obsessing over outward perfection as an escape to dealing with internal struggles and darkness.

It’s not the way of the empire. It is radically different. It is the path of the Kingdom of God.

Because blessed are the meek in spirit – the spiritual losers – the ones who just cant get it together – for they will inherit the earth.

Of course, to start this journey, we have to talk about how the Kingdom and the empire have become intertwined.

Jesus talked a lot about the Kingdom of God during his time on Earth. Which is pretty revolutionary in and of itself.

And it really starts to get interesting when you compare the Kingdom of God against the texture of the empire during Jesus day.

Because the message of the Kingdom was delivered in a context – and that context influenced the way everybody heard Jesus’ message – and, more importantly, what they saw in God’s kingdom that stood in contrast to the empire.

The empire, of course, was Rome.

They were the military might of the day – protecting their interests and growing their influence through military force.

People who were Roman found deep identity in their nationality. For through it they had protection, benefits and freedom greater than the rest of the world.

Rome’s technology was world-class. Their citizens were collectively smarter, faster and had a higher business acumen than anyone else.

And these benefits lead to certain rhythms of life.

Leadership was paramount. Except they didn’t call it leadership, they called it power. Any leader, worth anything, would flex his power – holding it over his people’s heads. He would squash opposition. Stand strong through force. And do whatever necessary to build his empire.

Money was central. Just as always in affluent societies, there were haves and have-nots. The more you could collect, the better your life went – indoor plumbing was even possible, for a price. People spent money decorating their homes, buying clothes and going to entertainment events (all three of these were new in Jesus’ day).

Tradition, things and growth were more valuable than people. And so systems were create to protect the traditions of the past, acquire more things and promote growth – and often those systems were oppressive to individual people.

Of course, Jesus message was different.

Servanthood is paramount. Because the best and strongest people were the ones who gave their lives up for others.

Love is central. Jesus never really showed people God’s blessing through material possessions, tangible blessings or keeping up with the latest trends in society. He showed people God’s blessing through revolutionary love.

People are more valuable than tradition, things and growth. And Jesus would sacrifice the large, shun fame and resist collecting things in order to minister to one person.

So, at some point we have to ask ourselves, do our lives look more like the Kingdom, or more like the empire? Because Jesus came to save us from the empire. And welcome us to the Kingdom.

…more soon, but I would love your thoughts now.