According to Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus moved from “unknown” to “celebrity” in a few steps. While we have no exact indication of time, Jesus navigated from being the eldest son of a working class son carpenter; challenged his entire being by fasting for forty days in isolation, capped with a writhing period of hand-to-hand, will-to-will, face-to-face temptation; and then, learning of his cousin John’s imprisonment, Jesus entered public life.
Jesus’ first announcement as rabbi-teacher-Messiah concerned the Kingdom of God. His first words were, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:17) In effect Jesus was saying, “Listen up, I am calling you to change your mind, change your heart!” The world’s promise is leadership, ownership, privilege and influence. Jesus called out to Peter and Andrew, “Follow me! Forfeit your share of the family business, your privileges as sons of the owner, and all the security you know. I will teach you to fish for men.”
As Jesus made his way through Galilee, He taught in synagogues, preached the good news of the Kingdom, healed the sick and paralyzed, and delivered those possessed with devils. When He arrived at His first hillside classroom, Jesus sat down and taught what has become known as “The Sermon on the Mount.” Jesus began with –
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5)
Using a sweeping panorama, Jesus was sharing that the Kingdom of God is radically different from anything the world had even seen. And, Jesus was enlisting His students to follow Him to live as a revolutionary.
Serious study of the sermon is a worthy exercise, but we must not overlook the big picture! The focus of Jesus’ teaching was a call to a new way of thinking, a new life enabled by the Spirit. The “blessed” or “happy” person chooses to reach for and embrace what the world’s system consistently scorns. Kingdom people quit elbowing their way to the front of lines and demanding their rights. They ache for righteousness, live mercifully, seek purity, and make serious efforts to secure peace. Persecution? That is a small price to pay for citizenship in Jesus’ Kingdom! Heaven will be worth everything.
Understanding Jesus’ call to follow as His disciple requires serious consideration of the radical nature of His Kingdom.
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