The
phrase which we heard over and over again during the American Presidential
campaign by Donald Trump and in his inauguration speech was “make America great”.
And
he said that the way he was going to do that was by “putting Americans first”.
Making
America Great – Putting Americans First.
Basically
he is saying that if something is not in the best interests of Americans then
he is going to scrap it including any trade deals with other countries.
It
spoke to a lot of people because it’s the fundamental thinking of human beings
and it is used by marketing quite frequently.
Make
your life great by putting yourself first.
That’s
the basic message of marketing.
It’s
the underlying human condition as we seek the best for our lives.
Jesus
tackles this type thinking as he sits with the people and preaches to them his
first sermon which has become known as “The Sermon on the Mount” or the
Beatitudes.
It
was a sermon that challenged the “me first” thinking that goes right back to
Adam and Eve and the “you will be like God” promise made to them by Satan:
You
will be great – your eyes will be opened and you will be like God – was the
trick Satan used.
It
was the same trick that Satan tried on Jesus when he tempted him to put himself
first:
Turn
these rocks into bread – put yourself first and eat if you’re hungry.
Throw
yourself from the temple and see if God loves you enough.
Bow
down and worship me and I will make you great by giving you all the kingdoms of
the world.
Jesus
turns this around and says that greatness is found in very different places:
Jesus
says that there are blessings that are found outside of ourselves and highlights
qualities that would normally be associated with weakness and defects.
Being
poor in spirit, mourning, meekness, those who hunger and thirst for the needs
of others, not themselves, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peace makers,
the persecuted and reviled.
These
do not look like symbols of greatness but they are where true greatness can be
found.
And
the reason is because we are led to understand that our help comes from God.
As
Paul said when he needed to look outside of himself and discovered – when I am
weak then I am strong.
And
he said that because in times of weakness, in times of suffering he realised
that it wasn’t about him making himself great but about God’s greatness being
revealed in him.
And
as a result he said he wasn’t going to boast about his own greatness but about
the greatness that is given to him when he lets go of his self-greatness.
When
he stops boasting about his own greatness:
He
said: I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s
power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses,
in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak,
then I am strong.
What
both Jesus and Paul are trying to highlight is that human greatness is always
limited.
It
is limited by availability – someone greater will always come along – or something
may happen to take away our greatness – a sickness – an accident – or an
external influence like a recession in the economy that can wipe away our
possessions.
Human
greatness is artificial – someone will take our place like a sporting champion
who is defeated by a younger, hungrier, up and coming star or because of age we
are forced to retire.
But
greatness bestowed by God cannot be taken away.
But
it can be ridiculed, it can be made to look weak, it can be made to look
foolish.
But
we don’t worry about what others say.
Instead
we remain focused on where God has shown his power and strength and that is in
the cross of Jesus Christ where his power and authority was revealed in death
and defeat.
In
Jesus’ death was where God revealed his power by raising Jesus from the dead.
And
so Paul keeps directing us there as he says:
The
message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who
are being saved it is the power of God.
The
cross looks like weakness – it looks like failure – but it is where God has hidden
his greatness.
People
will make fun of what we hold dear to our faith.
They
will mock us in the same way they mocked Jesus while he was hanging powerless from
the cross.
But
it was only powerless in human terms not in Godly terms.
So
what Jesus and Paul are telling us is that we are blessed when - whatever our
circumstances - we know our need of God.
And
sadly, our need for God is often when we can no longer rely on ourselves to
provide for our needs.
In
times of suffering when we cannot find healing, God comes to remind us of the full
and final healing when our time comes to be called home to heaven.
In
times of grief when we lose a loved one, God comes to us to comfort us by
reminding us that Jesus is the resurrection and life and that whoever believes
in him shall never truly die. (John 11:25)
In
times of poverty God comes to us as he came to the poor man Lazarus where we
see the reversal of fortunes as Lazarus is comforted by Abraham. (Luke
16:19-31)
In
times of persecution and ridicule God comes to us to remind us that our Lord is
going to return and everyone will see him— even those who pierced him.
(Revelation 1:7)
Our
comfort and assurance doesn’t come by human effort, they come through a
relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Knowing
our need of God allows us to endure the bad things of life knowing they cannot
utterly destroy us.
And
so as Christians we are called to go through this life trusting God’s plan for
us.
And
even if in this life we go through those experiences that Jesus speaks about –
Poor
in spirit, those who mourn, showing meekness, hungering and thirsting for
righteousness, being merciful and pure in heart, being the peacemakers, being
persecuted, we know that we have God on our side and that he is going to turn
these around and ensure we receive justice.
As
Paul assures us – if God is on our side who can be against us (Romans 8:31)
The
world doesn’t operate under those principles.
You
only have to read the letters to the editor and read people’s suggestions as to
what should happen to the person who drove down the Bourke Street mall killing
and injuring innocent bystanders including children and babies.
As
Christians we are called in those situations to speak about mercy and being
peacemakers.
That
doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be punished.
But
it means we are careful about the words we use and the judgments we make
publicly.
There
are enough calling for punitive justice – and there is a place for that.
But
there is a different sort of justice that Jesus preached.
It’s
the justice that we have been shown by God in that while we were yet sinners Christ
died. (Romans 5:8)
It
is the justice Jesus showed when he was ridiculed because “he eats with sinners”.
(Matthew 9:11)
It
is the justice Jesus showed to his executioners when he cried out “forgive them
Father – they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34)
And
this is the difference that Jesus is trying to teach – to look outside of
ourselves as it is God’s will that all people be saved – not just the people we
believe should be saved.
When
I see the atrocities in the world – the violence, the crime, the injustices –
my initial response is very worldly:
I
want them punished severely and I even feel at times that there’s a special
place in hell reserved for them.
And
that’s when I need to stop and think again about the sacrifice Jesus made not
just for me but for all people.
And
that’s when I need to remember what Jesus said today:
Blessed
are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
That’s
when I need to remember the message of the cross which is the power of God for
those who are saved.
And
if we limit to whom that grace can be shown then we must ask ourselves whether
we deserve God’s grace.
And
the answer is – we don’t.
For
it is by grace that we have been saved so that none of us can boast.
And
so we are constantly called to look outside of ourselves and put the salvation
of others first,
And
by looking outside of ourselves to the salvation of others we shall be truly
blessed.
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