This Fall, we’re going to sit at the feet of Jesus, and invite him to speak into our modern life. For these next months, we’re going to deep dive into one of the most transformative sermons ever preached. In Matthew 5:1:2 we’re told how, “When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them…” Could you imagine having such an opportunity? To sit at the feet of the Living God and be taught? What do suppose God might say?
One of the traits of modern life, was also a trait of those sitting before Jesus. Many of them just wanted “to be happy.” We Americans aren’t the first or only people to believe in the pursuit of life, liberty and personal happiness. We’ve just had the unique opportunity to “try” and “make it happen” on our terms. But we’re not so different. Personal happiness and fulfillment has been the longing of people across all ages and cultures. And that day on the mountain it was the longing of Jesus’ first followers.
Could I just ask? Are you happy? Are you fulfilled? What would it take to make you happy? What would need to happen, or change? There is always some “one”, or some “thing” standing between us and our dreams. For all the opulent excess that surrounds us—modern life would have been inconceivable to Jesus’ first followers. We can sit on our couch and order up the world with the flick of a finger. We’re RICH yet deep within we feel depleted, impoverished, poor in spirit. Would more make us happier?
Then there is sorrow. There is no greater saboteur of our happiness than mourning, or sorrow. Right when things seem to get good, some sad thing happens, and those dark clouds enclose back in upon us. Tears are an unwelcome detour in life, are they not? Sadness, depression.
A chapter earlier, in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus was taken to a mountainous vantage point, and tempted by the Devil. “Bow down and worship me”… and I’ll give you all the kingdoms of the world, and their splendor! We never truly feel at home in this world, that anything is really ours to own, possess, keep. We feel a sense of displacement, impermanence, even in our own homes. Our sense of security, of place, our assets are under constant threat. Our “rights” trampled upon by others. We’re always being put at a disadvantage while others inherit all the world.
Righteousness. We’re plagued by this sense that all is not well in society—that the government, even once trusted and cherished institutions, society at large, sanctity of marriage and family… it feels that perhaps even the churches have passed a point of no return. In every circle we traverse, we encounter not goodness but profound cruelty. People so selfish and evil so as to kill, steal, cheat and destroy at every turn.
Authenticity. How we long to follow God with a pure heart. But living in this world is like wearing white sneakers through a muddy field. No matter how carefully you walk, the world leaves you stained. How quickly we grow weary of even wanting to do good.
And anger. Anger is brewing all around us—people unhappy, as frustrated, as void of mercy as ever. People unable to control themselves any longer, anger spilling over into our streets, spewing hateful words, committing inconsiderate, uncivil acts. Fathers living in million dollar estates, with picture perfect families, turning upon and killing their own families (Have you seen those headlines of late?)
It’s true. Even among us believers. Are we not fed up waiting on this world to be set right and happiness to find us? In the pride of the flesh, we’ve turned to violence. Maybe not capital “V” violence, but violence none the less. Forget peace, give me power and control, give me my way, make my life great again, expel the wicked, the foreigner, those who threaten. Or if I can’t take what’s rightfully mine… give me recognition, give me special status, and give me the reparations I deserve. Consider me the victim. Woe am I—look how persecuted I am. Look at how profound my suffering and sorrow has become. The world owes me my happiness.
It’s a fair question: Are you happy? Are you fulfilled? Or maybe a deeper question: Are you sick and tired of trying to be happy? When Jesus looks out at the crowd, He saw modern souls exhausted from their relentless, idolatrous, pursuit of happiness. He saw modern souls depleted, grieving, feeling cheated by power dynamics, tired of trying to stay clean in a muddy world, tempted to grab power or otherwise nurse victimhood. Where the world says, "Happiness is found in power, self-preservation, control, and striking back!" Jesus steps into the noise and turns the tables on us.
Consider the invitation of our God and Savior, Jesus. An invitation to a whole other mode of YES, modern being. Matthew 5:3-12. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. [Oh yea, well When, How?]. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. [Oh yea, by who, who even sees me?] 5 Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth. [Don’t you see the thieves of my happiness encircling me?] 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11 “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Each statement is seemingly audacious in its own respect. Blessed are the Poor in Spirit? Some translations render “Blessed” as “Happy are those who…” Happy? What great lengths we go to avoid depression, to medicate it away, to distract ourselves from sadness, even entertain ourselves in face of death. Blessed are those who mourn? We moderns may suffer a visitation, but we avoid funerals at all costs. If given the choice, we’d much prefer a celebration of life over descending into grief or providing consolation to another in their loss. The quicker we can snap out of our depression, and get through our grief, the better. Blessed are the humble? There’s nothing gained being the world’s doormat, letting people tread on my rights. Blessed are the merciful? Well, I deserve mercy but “those other kind of people” sure don’t deserve it. No way. Blessed are the pure in heart? Blessed are the peacemakers? I’m wide awake to the world! Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness? I certainly have my principles. I certainly believe the truth of God’s word. But suffer for truth? Suffer for righteousness? Surrender my comforts, pleasures, personal happiness… take up cross? Just what kind of religion are you proposing?
Yet at every point of human misery, Jesus has the audacity to yes… 1) invite us to do good, and be salt, and be light, and be sons of God, and seek first the kingdom of God. But he’s also inviting us to 2) embrace the detour, the disruption, the sorrow. And even more deeply so… 3) seek, find, and even see God no matter how much darkness encroaches in upon us! The idolatry of happiness is that we see happiness as an end in itself. But it’s not the pursuit of happiness in itself—it’s inside the pursuit of God himself, in which true blessedness is found. More often than not, the clearest place to see the light of God is when the darkness is so dark.
I think Matthew 5:8 serves as a kind of anchor point for true blessedness, joy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God"). When our hearts are clogged… when our energies drained… by this idolatrous pursuit of personal happiness at all costs… All we see are mountains and obstacles, enemies standing in our way… losses piling up.
But when we turn our eyes to Jesus, and look intently toward him, seeking him with all our heart, mind, body, and soul…our sight opens up. Our landscape is transformed. Mountains are thrown into the sea. Paths are made smooth. Rest returns, love and righteousness prevails, even enemies are made friends. Jesus’ sermon is the inauguration of a whole new rule of life, and Kingdom. His words offer a grounding, liberating call to stop striving for an elusive, self-made happiness and to step into the quiet, unshakable reality of being blessed “by”, receiving happiness “from” God.
Happiness for moderns is a fragile emotional state of being—dependent upon circumstance, pride of flesh, the personal pursuit effort attainment, self-actualization, personal branding. The world promises us happiness but leaves us empty-handed, angry, bitter, disillusioned, disinherited. But to us moderns, if we have faith of even a mustard seed and trust God, God promises us his peace. A peace that passes understanding, that transcends place, circumstance.
Happiness depends upon what happens to you… but blessedness depends upon “who” is with you. Later in Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus gives that profound invitation that echoes what we see in Sermon on Mount (Beatitudes). “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Is there another mode of being in this life that promises true rest, and perhaps even joy? A kind of joy our “pursuit of life, freedom, and happiness” never overtakes. There's being in and of world… but then there is abiding in and with Christ. At every point of sorrow, God promises to not only be with us, but to raise us up, and give us what world can never.
>> EXPLORE HOPE. BAPTISM. GROUPS.