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.

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.

Ancient Jewish tales talk a lot about the smell of the Garden of Eden. It seems like a strange detail to get caught on, but they describe it as this incredible, beautiful aroma that fills the air with the breath of perfection.

If you’ve ever been to a non-industrialized country, you’ve smelled the smells of humanity. Every day in America we enjoy a cacophony of scents, from our body soap to cologne, perfume, hair product and air fresheners. Things smelling like things actually smells is frowned upon. There are too many easy, and cheap, ways to remedy those kinds of smells.

In the ancient Near East, things were not so. Fabricated scents were for royalty – or at least the ultra-rich. Each day was filled with common smells, normal scents. But every once in a while you would come across the smell of something sweet. A fruit, or some flowers, and it was beautiful. Almost indescribable.

So Eden, this perfect garden, was filled with everything that smelled pleasing in the world. Fruit, flowers, trees, grass – and everyone imagined how amazing a place like this must smell.

Also common in Jewish folklore was the comparison of Eden to Heaven.

So, pleasing aromas were lacking in the cultures that came up with these tales, and Eden was the place those aromas filled the air. And Eden is a model of Heaven. What if Heaven is an endless supply of all the beauty we’re missing on Earth?

Most of us seem to be doing fine on smells (most). But there seems to be a general lack of peace, hope, grace, forgiveness and love in our culture. What if the air of Heaven is full of the breath of peace, hope, grace, forgiveness and love?

And most importantly, what if it’s the Church’s job to fill the Earth with the aroma of Heaven?