By Dave Sims
Luke 6:12-49
A large crowd gathered to see Jesus, drawn by reports of His remarkable abilities. On this occasion, He healed many among them and, as was His custom, taught them (vv. 17-20). Jesus’s teachings were set against the backdrop of His compassion for suffering, demonstrated through healing.
A common theme in all of Jesus’s teachings was the present availability of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:15; Matthew 4:17; Luke 10:9). Jesus’s declaration stirred hope among the Jews because the ancient prophets had spoken of God’s rule, which would one day bring restoration, wholeness, justice, reconciliation, harmony, and peace. They also spoke of a Messiah who would usher in these realities (Isaiah 11:1-9). Jesus’s healings and teachings reminded His listeners of Israel’s great prophets and His words were captivating, though sometimes difficult to understand. Everything about Jesus aroused this hope (Matthew 4:23-25; 7:28-29).
This sermon consisted of the counterintuitive message: the blessedness of loss—poverty, hunger, and sadness, likely due to death or injustice (vv. 20-21). Jesus was not glorifying these painful conditions but showing that they can cultivate a posture of dependence and receptivity to God’s rule. Loss can cause us to recognize our need for God and motivate us to seek him. Jesus pronounced this posture as blessed, emphasizing that God’s presence can satiate hunger in ways that even the greatest riches cannot and that God’s rule offers a hope that, if Tolkien is right, will one day make all hurt become untrue.
The hope Jesus spoke of was not focused on improved circumstances but on an inner transformation now and a reformed society in the future—a better hope (Hebrews 7:19). These challenges we strive to avoid, Jesus was saying, can provide conditions for inner reformation.
Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of God as if it were untouchable by thieves, tyrants, or loss. From our post- resurrection perspective, we understand that God’s Kingdom first takes residence within us (Colossians 1:27), making His abundance continually accessible (Galatians 2:20). The presence of the triune God within us can empower the poor to experience joy and love, and His presence can grant resilient endurance in the face of persecution and slander, resulting in a glorious reward in the coming Kingdom (Luke 6:22-23).
God’s Kingdom provides the abundance needed for a person to flourish internally—with joy, peace, andhope—leading to a transformed outlook, motivation, and lifestyle, regardless of circumstances. His rulewithin enables us to live and love as we were designed.
Next in His sermon (v.24ff), Jesus switched to talk about the woeful condition the rich are in—not due to their wealth, but because their riches insulate them from God’s Kingdom. Their wealth dulls their awareness of their need for God’s rule; their full bellies silence their hunger for God, and their good fortune shields them from longing for the world to come. This might have reminded some listeners of Ecclesiastes, where the author speaks of the vanity of having everything yet being unsatisfied.
In summary, Jesus wanted His listeners to recognize how their inverted value systems were truly upside down compared to the right-side-up values of God’s Kingdom—losses leading to God’s abundance, hunger to satisfaction, and inevitable losses that cannot diminish a person’s hope. Jesus further emphasized that while riches provide many things, they do not provide the ultimate things. The good things of creation bring comfort and pleasure, but only the Creator can fill the deeper void within. No one is immune to loss, and a life anchored in the avoidance of loss will eventually lose hope. The critical question not being, “Can I avoid loss?” but, “Am I equipped to deal with loss?”
In the remainder of the sermon, Jesus taught how God’s rule would shape His followers’ lives. He called them to love the unlovely—those who offend and even those who are enemies. He warned against assuming moral superiority that leads to unjust judgment and exhorted them to examine their own faults before criticizing others. He encouraged living generously and hospitably from God’s abundance. By embracing humility, generosity, and hospitality as a lifestyle, our lives can be rich with meaning, anchored in hope, motivated by love, empowered by joy, and filled with peace.
Jesus concluded his teaching by declaring that those who live according to His teachings are wise. Their lives will withstand the inevitable storms of life.
By: Dave Sims
For 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. 1 Cor. 1:18 NIV
The letter we call 1 Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul to address concerns within the church at Corinth. One of the primary issues he addressed in Chapter 1 was a petty disagreement over which Christian leader was the greatest, leading to disunity and unholiness. These disagreements likely started innocently enough, with one person claiming allegiance to Apollos, another to Peter, and still another to Paul. However, as the arguments continued, each claimant became more convinced of their stance, resulting in an irreconcilable division.
In response, Paul appealed to them (v.10) to protect their unity, implying that their supreme loyalty belonged to Jesus. By invoking Jesus’s name, Paul reminded them of Jesus's teachings and actions, characterized by humility and self-sacrifice.
Paul reminded them that they had stepped out of a culture where the biggest, brightest, most beautiful, most resourceful, and most privileged were most admired, while the least were consigned to pitiable misfortune or contempt. They had entered a new culture where greatness was measured in humility and sacrifice for the benefit of others. He used the phrase “the foolishness of the cross” (v.18) to describe this transition. Following Jesus included the shameful stigma associated with crucifixion, but Paul knew that this stigma was not merely a social misfortune. It was the means by which the church could experience transformation, resulting in the glory of God expressing itself from within them.
Paul reminded them that it was through this “foolish” preaching that they found freedom and hope in Christ. When Christ found them, none of them were influential or of nobility. Despite their low standing, Jesus humbled himself to the point of a shameful crucifixion to afford them the privilege of knowing him and being birthed into his royal family. The challenge then became whether they would be satisfied with the great privilege of being part of God’s nobility or seek Jesus merely for his benefits.
Paul described the “foolishness of the cross” as God’s wisdom. Of course, God possesses no foolishness, but Paul used this play on words to communicate that if the way he chose to save us is regarded as foolishness (a shameful crucifixion), then his foolishness is wiser than the wisdom of the world (v.25). Additionally, God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the worldly wise (v.27), and the weak things of the world to shame the strong (v.28). Through the crucifixion, God demonstrated both wisdom and power by triumphing over the powers of darkness and setting us free. Paul said that God did this so that no one could claim the blessings of God were the result of their wisdom or power (v.29). In fact, he said that because of the incredible blessings we possess in Christ—righteousness, holiness, and redemption—the only thing any of us could boast in would be Jesus (v.30).
Embracing the foolishness of the cross has been my greatest life challenge but, ironically, the more I embrace it, the freer I find myself becoming. God has met me in my most challenging life experiences, exchanging beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, and praise instead of heaviness (Is. 61.3). I began to learn this backward way of viewing life after complaining to God about how he was not answering my prayers. He responded by showing me my heart and how I wanted God’s blessings more than I wanted him. This conviction enabled me to see my self-centeredness, leading to frequent repentance.
Since then, when life has been challenging and beyond my control, God seems to use these times to expose something else that’s out of my view. Once I see it and can repent of it, my freedom increases, along with my faith, hope, and love.
One caveat worth mentioning: when God speaks in personal and sin-exposing ways, his grace accompanies it. When God delivers bad news, I have found that it’s still good news because the transcendent one is interacting with us—the one my soul longs for most.
When What You’re Called Won’t Matter
By: Dave Sims
…the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you’re called will not matter... John 4:22 MSG
These are Jesus’s words to the disreputable Samaritan woman he met at the well at Sychar. John tells us that the time was noon. Given her multiple failed marriages, this suggests the woman had come to get water at a time she could avoid the other women of the village, who customarily fetched their water in the morning hours. Jesus’s disciples had left him behind so that they might acquire food in the local village. Jesus struck up the conversation by asking the woman for a drink. She was surprised by Jesus’s request because he broke at least two social taboos. Men, and especially rabbis, did not speak to women, and Jews detested Samaritans. The verbal banter that ensued indicated the woman was not intimidated by Jesus’s maleness or his Jewish identity.
When she expressed curiosity about how he was going to draw water from the well, Jesus told her that he possessed living water, which when consumed would permanently quench one’s thirst. The woman asked for the water.
Jesus then changed the subject, or so it seemed. Seeing that the woman was intrigued, he asked her to go get her husband. Unaware that Jesus knew her story, she said she had no husband. Jesus then revealed his knowledge of her life, acknowledging that she had had five husbands and that the man she was currently with was not her husband.
Yikes! Busted! How did this man know her story? And, if he knew her story, why would he treat her as an equal?
Despite being exposed, the woman did not emotionally cave in. She maintained her composure and showcased her own conversational skills, attempting to “one-up” Jesus by changing the subject herself. She did this by speculating that Jesus must be a prophet, then adding a controversial theological question sure to divert the conversation away from her marital history: Where can we legitimately worship God?
Jesus responded very directly, saying that salvation is of the Jews and the Jerusalem temple is the place for worship. However, he included a caveat. He spoke of a time when those who worship God will not do so in a temple but in spirit and truth.
Then Jesus spoke these words, “…the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter.”
She must have wondered: Where and when could there ever be a time when what you’re called does not matter? In what place or among what people would her past not define her? She didn’t know that acceptance from God is the work of God, that He must make us acceptable to Himself. She had not heard John’s previous story in which Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about God’s Spirit brooding over us to birth us by His Spirit. However, she did hear Jesus’s claim about the living water. Could this somehow be connected to how worship will break free from a geographical locale?
Not fully comprehending Jesus’s words and not completely buying his viewpoint about salvation coming exclusively through the Jews, the woman expressed her hope in the long-awaited Messiah, saying that when he arrives, he would set the record straight.
Jesus calmly and gently responded, “I AM he.”
What? Are you kidding me? She couldn’t believe her ears. And yet, it made sense. How else would he know her story? But he doesn’t fit the profile. And yet, he’s better than what I expected.
They were interrupted at that point by his disciples returning with the food. Likely sensing their disfavor, the woman dismissed herself and returned to her village, full of enthusiasm, telling the other villagers that she believed she had encountered the Messiah.
John then records a short conversation between Jesus and his disciples and concludes the woman’s story with an epilogue. Her experience had provoked enough interest in the other villagers that they sought out Jesus for themselves and consequently committed themselves to him. In a demonstration of faithful love, Jesus stayed with them two days longer.
John’s inclusion of the interaction between Jesus and his disciples after they returned with the food seems to have been so Jesus could address the disciples’ racial prejudice.
He began the conversation by responding to their desire that he should eat. He said, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about”, referring to his “doing the will of his Father” as this food. The Father’s will was the redemptive work that was taking place through Jesus’s every action and interaction. Included in his redeeming action was his intent to include the Samaritans in his kingdom. He described them as fruit, ripe and ready for harvest Their readiness was evident by their response to Jesus’s invitation to know him and follow him.
The disciples then watched as Jesus interacted with the Samaritan converts for those two days. They saw these people they despised being filled with delight and awe at Jesus’s teaching. Though outsiders their entire lives, this hated race of people had become insiders, holding onto the same hope the disciples were holding onto. They had been given the water that quenched their thirst.
When the villagers said their goodbyes to Jesus and the disciples, in spite of their many unanswered questions, their souls were pervaded with a sense of well-being and hopefulness. And even though they were still Samaritans, what they were called didn’t matter anymore.
But the Lord sits enthroned forever;
he has established his throne for justice,
and he judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with uprightness. Ps. 9:7-8 ESV
By: Dave Sims
Psalm 9, like many Psalms, is filled with praises to God for his judicious rule. When I was a kid, I appreciated the idea that a God who is all-powerful would choose to be just. (Of course, God acts justly because he is just.) My youthful prayers reflected my admiration and thankfulness for his just nature, likely because I’d seen so much abuse of power by humans.
Psalm 9 also includes numerous praises for God’s compassion toward those who experience injustice, like God intervening and causing the failure of those who would do injustice to his people (vv.3-6, 15-18) or God’s righteous judgment (vv. 4, 8, 16) in response to his enemies’ wickedness (vv. 5, 16-17).
Placed almost near the middle of the Psalm is a plea for help, “Lord, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death…” (v. 13).
This verse causes me to wonder. In a psalm filled with praise to God for his righteous judgment and faithful deliverance (17 out of 20 verses), if David’s intent was to seek God’s intervention why so many effusive praises compared to so few interceding words (3 verses)?
For someone who doesn’t know David’s life, one might think his numerous praises are an attempt to “butter” God up so he could get God to act. I don’t, however. Here’s why.
Samuel tells a story about David during the time he was running for his life from Saul. David and his men arrived at their encampment weary from travel to discover their families had been kidnapped and their settlement burned to the ground (1 Sam 30:1-6). Their first response was to “raise their voices and weep until they had no more strength to weep”(v. 4). David’s men then considered stoning him (v 6a). What happened next is unusual and interesting. David didn’t defend himself. He didn’t fly off the handle with retaliating anger. Nor did he rush off in a panicked pursuit of his family. Samuel says, “David strengthened himself in the Lord” (v. 6b). That sounds like a mature thing to do, but what does it mean? My guess is that it means David spoke affirming words of truth to himself regarding God’s covenant promises. Psalm 9 might be an example of this skill.
The battle we experience between faith and doubt is no more intense than when we experience injustice. During those times, we often ask ourselves, where was God? Is he going to avenge me? Why would God have allowed this? David may have experienced these same questions, but my sense is that he had learned that, to allow himself to dwell only on these kind of thoughts, would lead to a downward spiral of distress and despair, insulating him from the source of his strength and hope.
David’s strengthening himself in the Lord led to his ability to a reorient himself from the emotional flooding that likely accompanied his initial awareness. As the emotions began to settle he was able to regain access to his wisdom. His wisdom then led him to seek discernment from God for what to do next (vv.7-10). God gave him the “go ahead” to pursue his enemy. God then led them to the camp of the abductors at a time and place when they were vulnerable and that allowed David the advantage to overcome them (vv.16-20).
There are numerous places in Scripture where David’s words might qualify as “strengthening himself in the Lord”. Here are three quotations that I believe bear witness to that reality:
"I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my
deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of
my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:1-2
"One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house
of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to
seek him in his temple." Psalm 27:4
"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh
faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have
looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because
your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you
as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands." Psalm 63:1-4
If we could talk to David today, I think he would affirm the critical role justice plays in every community and the deep commitment we should have to uphold justice and resist wickedness. However, I think he would also tell us that the experience of injustice is not the death of meaning. I think he would tell us that even though injustice can take precious possessions, experiences and people from us, it does not have the power to rob us of what most anchors our lives: the one who is our security, strength, hope and love.
African-American Methodist minister Charles Albert Tindley (1851-1933), no stranger to injustice, wrote a hymn entitled “Some Day”. He was likely a man who knew how to strengthen himself in the Lord, evidenced by this stanza:
Harder yet may be the fight,
Right may often yield to might,
Wickedness awhile may reign,
Satan’s cause may seem to gain;
There is a God that rules above,
With hand of pow’r and heart of love,
If I am right, he’ll fight my battle,
I shall have peace some day.