Have you ever thought of yourselves as being a revolutionary? SLIDE
- Would you be at the frontline, or preparing leaflets for revolution out the back?
- Would you be the femme fatale, or Rambo?
Jesus was a revolutionary! At the beginning of his ministry, in his hometown synagogue, Jesus proclaims the words from Isaiah: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ (Luke 2:18-19). And in verse 21:’Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’
Those are fighting words! With these words, he declares he is the Messiah of whom the prophets spoke: I am He, and I am here!
Luke then continues to tell us of just how Jesus began to fulfil these words – healing the sick, delivering the demon-possessed, forgiving the sinner, mixing with the undesirables, flouting the Sabbath rules!
Jesus’ compulsion to preach the good news of the kingdom of God, to establish rules for an alternative kingdom, makes him – in the eyes of the existing religious leadership – a revolutionary, a threat. This man seemed determined to establish a new law of order – a new government!
We read in 5:21 that the Pharisees are becoming edgy – ‘Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’
And we come now to Chapter 6, when the revolutionary begins to gather his war-council. The Sermon on the Plain is effectively his Manifesto. But what a statement of belief! This surely doesn’t make sense!?
Please turn with me now to verses 20-31.
Jesus’ idea of the kingdom of God is made very clear now. This is the way he wants the citizens of his kingdom to live – against the tide of the prevailing culture. Upside-down, SLIDE, square pegs in round holes.
God’s people will prize what the world pities, and suspect what the world thinks desirable.
You don’t have to look too far to understand what our world thinks desirable (& please note, I’m referring to our 21st century Australian, very middle-class culture here). We can see our values through those we look up to as role models:
- The business execs.
- The ‘influencers’
- The athletes, sportsmen or women
- The media ‘stars’ – how many ‘superstars’ of anything are out there??? What is a ‘superstar’ anyway??
I might also say that the common factors here are youth, money, fame. These are the people who have ‘made it’ in our world. We can be fooled into thinking they’ve attained everything we aspire to.
Tim Keller says that the things the world values: beauty, power, comfort, success, recognition – received without God – become curses. Without God they will drive us and consume us.
And this is what our revolutionary Jesus means when he says: Woe to you who are self-sufficient, who live for your own comfort and self-satisfaction, who do not consider how your behaviour affects your neighbour.
Because you’ve missed the point. Today is not all you have. The choices you have made in your climb to the top will be judged in eternity – if made without God.
Now Jesus is NOT condemning money, or comfort, or even a full tummy & a good time! Of the men he was addressing, some were probably successful managers of the family fishing fleet; Matthew was a rich tax collector.
Jesus was addressing their attitude to these things, & the story of Zaccheus later on in Luke illustrates this. A rich man, but one willing to get it right by managing his money with accountability & justice. And Jesus joined in the feasting in this man’s hospitality!
No, it’s the attitude of self-centredness – the ‘rights mentality’ we see all around us – this is the value of an individualistic, sinful world. Woe to those who persist in their own self-fulfilment when their neighbour is hungry and homeless.
But those people who follow the way of God’s kingdom think very differently.
Luke’s gospel is different from the others in that he continually depicts how Jesus ministered at the margins of society. Jesus loved the poor, the destitute; those without agency – the widows, the women & the children.
So, should we be surprised when we read of the blessings of God for those people: for the poor, the hungry, the grieving, the outcast?
The nation of Israel wasn’t exactly a leading-light in the international political scene of the time. In itself, it was marginalised & disenfranchised. Its religion was only tolerated to the degree it didn’t threaten the Emperor Cult of Rome. And God chose this poor nation to be the centre of what Keller calls ‘the Great Reversal’ – bringing all creation back into his kingdom.
What does this alone tell us about God’s value system?
God’s people will value what the world despises & pities. They will see as God sees, & act as God acts. They will respond to the call of agape, seeking to do what is GOOD, not just what is right. And this will be irrespective of whether it is deserved or not.
How could a people who worship God – who IS gracious, and merciful, and loving, and GOOD – all of which is totally undeserved by us – do anything else? All of this we see exemplified in Christ – for us.
So, our revolutionary Jesus teaches his ‘band of brothers’ to look again. It is those whose hearts are open and needing God who are of value in his kingdom. Those who recognise that there is more to this life, and that it is only fully satisfied in the kingdom of God.
Did you know that it’s in the poor areas of our world where the Gospel is most active? Those who have nothing else but Jesus, or one page of the Word of God. These are the people who know what their treasure is, particularly when it’s under constant threat of being taken away.
I asked at the beginning if you knew you were revolutionaries. Perhaps it sits a little uncomfortably as I speak – it’s certainly not a recommended career move in some parts of the world! Revolutionaries know their life may be forfeited for the cause at any time – but it’s their valuing of the cause that keeps them keeping on.
Jesus never promised his people an easy time – on earth. Blessed are those who are ostracised, lose their friends or even their job, maybe even their life, because of me. Rejoice – be happy – because heaven awaits you! There is more to this life that what you see around you. This is only the prelude!
But if my words encourage you today to be bolder, to re-evaluate your priorities, to repent of your attitudes – then I ask you turn with me to Romans 12:1-2
‘Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.’
What then, can we do?
- Pray for our Lord God to change your heart to want him more & more. Seek first the values of the kingdom of God. Pray for the strength to stand up for his kingdom in the face of this world’s empty-thinking. Pray for his compassion to love, & to forgive, to to act where grace is needed. Allow the Spirit to transform you into fighting men & women – but with the weapons of grace, humility & generosity – the weapons of an ‘upside-down kingdom’.
Our example is Jesus, our revolutionary leader who made himself nothing for us, who served us with his life and death. Who took the judgement we deserved for our self-centred living, to be made anew by God to take his place again in heaven – as he promises those who believe in him & choose to follow him.
His revolutionary methods were service, humility, love – selfless love – treating others as we would want to be treated ourselves. Note, not as we are treated, but as we WANT to be treated! Loving and forgiving those who act against us.
Only God’s Spirit working within us to transform us into Jesus’ image can enable this revolution in our world. Our role is to surrender ourselves to be his people.
- Actions: Seek to be an instrument of God’s grace & love. Be proactive, love your enemies in practical terms – even if that simply means praying blessings for them. Don’t hold grudges, be generous with your time, your possessions, your words.
Make me a channel of your peace; where there is hatred let me bring your love. Where there’s despair, let me bring your hope, joy & light.
The story from Eternity … Do NOT do as the world would expect you to.
The example of Cassius Turvey’s mother … Do NOT do as the world would expect you to.44
Our world, our community, is desperate for the revolution of God’s people. United we stand against the kingdoms of the gods of this world. Will you join with me in praying for the renewing of our minds, our hearts, our strength, our vision – that God’s kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.
Amen.