As Jesus launches into the Sermon on the Mount Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1) points out that Jesus is talking about his disciples, the twelve. If we revisit the “blessings”, we see a living example of Jesus’ words. I wonder if Jesus pointed to the Twelve as he spoke these opening words?
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
As we look at the 12 disciples we see that they are poor in every way. They have left their homes, their careers, their religious allegiance and their chance of security in this world. Bonhoeffer points out the stark contrast between the Jewish religious leaders and Jesus’ disciples. Pharisees and other religious leaders enjoyed power, position, and were firmly planted on this earth. Not so of Jesus followers- but it is them, not the high religious leaders, that are the receivers of the kingdom of heaven. “And in that poverty they are the heirs of the kingdom. They have their treasure in secret; they find it on the cross. And they have the promise that they will one day visibly enjoy the glory of the kingdom, which in principle is already realized in the utter poverty of the cross.” (2)
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
If Jesus is indeed talking about the twelve then they are the ones mourning. But why? What type of mourning is true of those who follow Jesus? Bonhoeffer concludes that Christ followers mourn for the lost world around them. You see, the disciple lives in the knowledge of the Kingdom and sees his few neighbor pursuing a life that leads to destruction. “He means refusing to be in tune with the world or to accommodate oneself to its standards. Such men mourn for the world, for its guilt, its fate and its fortune.” (3) No one will truly love his or her neighbor like followers of Jesus will and it is out of this love that mourning for the lost comes. The promise from Jesus is that they will be comforted. They will not be defeated by this sorrow because in Jesus we are lifted up, lifted up by the One who bore the sorrows of the world upon Himself on the cross.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
I know we have wrestled a little with what exactly this means and I think we have brought some good understanding to the table. I am afraid that I have “sugar coated” this idea of being meek. If Bonheoffer’s teaching on what it means to be meek is true, I think we will begin to see just how radical this message is beginning to get. This idea of the meek is Christians have no inherent right to protect themselves in this world, “nor do they claim such right, for they are meek, they renounce every right of their own and live for the sake of Jesus Christ. When reproached, they hold their peace; when treated with violence they endure patiently; when men drive them from their presence, they yield their ground… They are determined to leave their rights to God alone… Their right is in the will of their Lord- that and nothing more.” (4) Our pride or selfishness says “no way” I can’t live that way. But look at the life of the apostles and look at the life of Jesus- didn’t they live this way? Jesus declares that their blessing is the inheritance of the earth. Very interesting – it is the meek, the powerless, and the disenfranchised that the earth belongs to. Do you see the great contrast? Those who now own the earth- the powerful and those who have violently possessed it will lose it. The incredible thing is that here and now the meek are beginning their possession of the land. “The renewal of the earth begins at Golgotha (cross), where the meek One died, and from thence it will spread. “(5) What a radical call… an impossible call for anyone who is not desperately dependent upon the cross of Jesus.
Next post will finish out the intro to Jesus message. I want to close letting you know that Dietrich Bonhoeffer lived what he preached. He was a pastor in Germany during WWII and was committed to the Kingdom. He could have stayed in the US where he studied but left in order to love and serve his own people. He continued to teach and write even after he was ordered not too. His faithfulness to the Kingdom cost him his life when he was hung by the Nazis in 1945 shortly before the war ended.
God, may we be as faithful as those who have come before us. Help us to find our identity and residency in Your Kingdom and not our own or someone else’s.
Amen
(1) Cost of Discipleship- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
(2) Ibid, 108.
(3) Ibid, 108.
(4) Ibid, 110.
(5) Ibid, 110.
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Hi everyone,
Along the same lines, Matt and I read the passage that we discussed last week in The Message's translation. I thought it was very helpful in understanding what Jesus was trying to say. I've included it below.
Matthew 5 -
"When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
'You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule'.
'You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you'.
'You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought'.
'You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat'.
'You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full', you find yourselves cared for.
'You're blessed when you get your inside world - your mind and heart - put right. Then you can see God in the outside world'.
'You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family'.
'You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom'.
'Not only that - count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens - give a cheer, even! - for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble'.
'Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage'.
'Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven'.
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