Jesus' Kingdom Message 2 Cor 9:6-15/Matt 5:1-16
“HOLY CITY LIGHT”
We need to talk... Before hearing from Jesus and of his kingdom vision, we need some context. In ancient days they had clever little slogans to express the ideals of the day, of their culture, like: “When in Rome....” Oh, you've heard of these? No doubt you know another, made famous by an academy award winning film: “carpe diem”,which means....: “To seize the day!”
Very good, but have you heard of this one: Tesco ergo sum? That means, “I shop therefore I am!” Or how about Julius Caesar's classic quote: Veni, Vidi, Visa – “I came, I saw, I shopped...”
I translated it to make it relevant to ours. Our culture, might be best expressed in a single word: 'consumerism'! Even in our approach to being the church, we are influenced by a consumer mentality. Ever talk of going church shopping? They don't in Africa! We look for a church that best fits our needs and if none do, well, hasta la vista...! One pastor, after hearing for years all kinds of reasons people didn't come to worship, decided to compare them with why he didn't like going to the movies. In the great tradition of David Letterman, he came up with a top ten list. I don't go to the movies because...:
10. It lasts too long. I can't sit still for two hours.
9. It's too boring. I always fall asleep.
8. They never play my kind of music there...and they don't even have childcare.
7. There's some pretty messed up people that go!
6. The shows are held in the evening, the only time I can be with my family.
5. I went so much as a kid, I don't need the entertainment any more.
4. Lots of people there don't live up to the high ethical standards of the movies.
3. I sat by myself last time and noone sat near me or talked to me.
2. The manager of the theater never called on me.
1. Every time I go to the movies..., they ask for money!
Any of those sound faintly familiar? Whether we realize it or not, we are under the influence of a consumer mindset that puts us at odds with the Gospel's biblical worldview!
The Consumer mindset makes decisions based on what's best for me. The Gospel motivates me to make decisions based on God's Word trusting that God knows best. The Consumer says I should get this because I deserve it. The Gospel says if you get what you deserve you're not going to like it! The consumer says I'll go to church as long as it meets my needs. The Gospel says I'll be the church to help meet the needs of others with the resources of God!
Do you see it? The consumer mindset that permeates and infects every facet of our culture, is diametrically opposed to the Gospel and vision of Jesus Christ. We need an anecdote – something that will set us apart from the culture in a way that we can in turn have a positive influence on it.
Enter Jesus who offers himself as the anecdote, sharing his vision for turning the world upside down. “One day,” Matthew tells us, “as the crowds were gathering, Jesus went up the mountainside with his disciples and sat down to teach them.” Don't miss the significance of this - his disciples sure didn't! It was on the mountain that God gave Moses the ten commandments. It was on the mountain that God spoke to Elijah! It's on the mountain that God reveals his will and his heart to His people.
(Matthew 5:1)
“God blesses the poor in spirit, (those who recognize their desperate need for him), for the kingdom of heaven is being given to them. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them. God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will receive it in full.” (Matthew 5:3-6)
-2-
The crowd stirs a bit. What in the world does he mean? People whose hearts are breaking are being blessed by God? Those being treated unfairly or barely getting by, are blessed? How so? We tend to think of the good things in life as blessings not hardship! But Jesus is just warming up...!
“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the King-dom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. Be happy about it!” (Matthew 5:7-12)
Wait – What?!! What did he just say? “Yes! Be happy about it! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.” (Matthew 5:12)
They were stunned! Jesus had just flip-flopped the values of the world on its head. This is so radically counter-cultural that many think Jesus was speaking hypothetically. This is radical stuff! He's casting vision for a new worldview – a new culture in which Jesus' followers are known for expressing the heart of God by caring about the poor & oppressed, & pursuing peace; but Jesus is just warming up.
Having shifted from the third person plural, to the first person plural, from God blesses those to God blesses you..., Jesus keeps the focus on 'you' with this concluding challenge...:
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has losts its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
You are the light of the world – like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
(Matthew 5:13-16)
His sermon goes on from there but here he lays down his vision for those who'd follow his lead. As the ultimate salty one, Jesus intended to stand out, to counter the God oblivious and God defiant elements in the culture around him, with the culture of God he called the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus invites us to imitate his salty stance, to bring the rich flavor of God's grace to the table that the people of God may come to savor it and in doing so, “taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)
As he once said of himself, “I am the light of the world”, (John 8:12), he now says of you: “You are the light of the world!” But remember, he's not just talking to you. The you there is plural. It's best translated: “Y'all are the light of the world!” Didn't know Jesus had a southern twang did ya? (Matthew 5:14)
But check it out, that's what he's saying, because the very next thing he says is: “Y'all are like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see!” (Matthew 5:14)
The image of being a light, as Jesus is light, is cast alongside the image of a city lit up at night in the mountains. You can't do that alone! We do that together. A city is made of many lights...!
- - - - - -
I recall how with the last light of dusk evaporating into an ominious, mountain pass, my brother and I rounded a curve and found ourselves suddenly driving along a cliff! It made my tummy flip! A deep valley was on our right, my side of the car, and it felt like a deep, dark abyss. There was no moon; only pitch darkness. Up the sister mountain, in the distance, glistened a small city. Just as Jesus describes here, it lit up the night sky. It was like a beacon in the mountains, and I remember being greatly cheered by the sight, as if that city was there just to let us know we're going to make it!
-3-
My friends, Jesus has planted us to be such a city on a mountain, that those who are hurting and hungering, or longing and fearing..., my come to know, by our example, our generosity and our witness that in Christ there is gained a great confidence, that we're indeed going to make it! As a city on a hill we seek to bring God the glory by drawing others' attention to The Light, “The one True Light, who gives light (and life) to everyone, who has come into the world.” (John 1:9)
Our initial impulse might be to draw back: “But I don't know the Bible!” Or, “I'm actually not very religious!”Or, “I'm still hurting!” But that's the beauty of it! Jesus' vision here, these references to those who are grieving, or under attack, or poor in spirt, desperate for some God-sign – it's ones such as these he tells us that God's glory shines the brightest, perhaps simply because others don't expect it! But also because it draws us towards the purpose for which we're here – to “let (our) good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise our heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16)
In his book, Crazy Love, Pastor Francis Chan talks about a fourteen-year-old girl in his church, named Brooke Bronkowski, and something she wrote...:
“I'll live my life to the fullest. I'll be happy. I'll brighten up (those around me). I'll be more joyful than I have ever been. I will be kind to others. I will tell others about Christ. I will go on adventures and change the world. I will be bold...and help others with their troubles.
You see, I'll be one of those people who live to be history makers at a young age... I'll be one of those people who go somewhere with a mission, an awesome plan, a world-changing plan, and nothing will hold me back. I'll set an example for others. I will pray for direction.
I will give others the joy I have and God will give me more joy. I will do everything God tells me to do. I will follow the footsteps of God”. (Brooke Bronkowski, from Francis Chan's Crazy Love)
During her freshman year in High School, Brooke was in a car accident while driving to the movies. Her life on earth ended when she was just fourteen, but her impact didn't. Nearly fifteen hundred people attended her memorial service. People from her public high school read poems she'd written about her love for God. Everyone spoke of her example and her joy.
Following an invitation over 200 students came up and on their knees prayed for salvation. Ushers gave a Bible to each of them, Bibles Brooke had kept in her garage, hoping to give out to all of her unsaved friends. Brooke was on a mission, an awesome plan, a world-changing plan – Jesus plan - and my friends so are we! “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16)
What can you do to bring God more glory? How can you more fully plug in your light on this city on a hill? Be creative, have fun, seeking to find more ways to praise God's Son!