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Monday, January 10, 2005
It's a really funny scene in a Monty Python movie. I've referenced it many times before. They are doing a comedy bit about a bunch of people who are at the back of the Sermon on the Mount, and they can't hear what Jesus is saying. By the time the words like, "Blessed are the peacemakers" get whispered back through the crowd to the folks at the back it's been translated, "Blessed are the cheesemakers."
What makes the scene funny is that they begin to question each other about theology, like, "I wonder what's so special about a cheesemaker?" The intellectuals are saying things like, "It isn't just ONE cheesemaker. Jesus is referring to all workers in the dairy industry."
The reason the scene resonates with movie watchers all over the world is because Jesus' Sermon on the Mount is familiar to almost everyone in the world. It is often studied by people who aren't religious at all because of it's beauty and idealism.
Unfortunately, that idea of beauty and idealism is likely very far from what was really going on up on that mountain when that sermon was delivered. If you've ever done any reading on the nature of 1st century Judaism...
...okay. You probably haven't done any reading on the nature of 1st century Judaism, but suffice to say that the listeners of that sermon were likely outlaws and revolutionaries with their eyes open for the Messiah, who would help them overthrow the occupying Roman government and establish His kingdom. Of which, this bunch of ruffians could hope for, on the basis of having been a part of the movement from the beginning, an abundant life in the Kingdom.
It wasn't at all uncommon for people to go up in those hills and try to start revolutionary movements (read the writings of N.T. Wright for very detailed descriptions of these). They were there that day to hear Jesus' plan to overthrow the government and what they had to do to help out.
And then Jesus blessed all the wrong people.
The meek.
The persecuted.
The gentle.
The hungry and thirsty for righteousness.
and among other things, the peacemakers.
Then His manifesto actually gets more offensive. In 13-16, he not only blesses the "wrong" people, but he tells the listeners that they're supposed to be salt and light to the world.
And they were doing it oh so very poorly.
They were hidden. They were a light under a peck-measure basket.
The rest of chapter 5 is Jesus reiterating The Law, and the problem is that they were holding the letter of The Law, and completely missing the "intent" of the Laws. He finished by saying they were even supposed to love the tax-collectors.
What a lousy manifesto, right? His big chance to give the political speech of His 30-year life to date, and he offends his audience. Told them that the Kingdom may be coming, but not at all like you think it's supposed to be. In fact, there won't be revolution today. Nope. Just love those who work for that government. The only revolution that's to happen today is then one in your own heart and mind.
And who among us hasn't felt that way? That we've tried so hard to do things for God. To do things that will help out in some small way. That we've tried to do all those things that will make us spiritual and walk with God and it isn't "working" for me. That we really would like a revolution in our own heart and mind.
We would like to walk with God in all honesty and integrity and...
...well...
...reality.
Then, in 6:1, Jesus gives us a clue as to what that's going to look like in His Kingdom:
"Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise, you have no reward with your father who is in heaven."
An important step is to avoid practicing our righteousness before men to be noticed by them. Hmmmm. I wonder why this is so important. I wonder how much of my day is spent concerning appearing righteous before others instead of simply "being" righteous in the eyes of God.
So think about that as you go about your day today. How much of what we do is for the audience of the world around us instead of the Unseen Audience of One?
Brent 8:45 AM
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