Sometimes I can’t make up my mind. Sometimes I think I am so poor. I get depressed because I don’t have never ending resources. Then other times I am amazed at how Rich I really am.
Sometimes, I can change how I feel about my situation in a flash. I believe that you know what I mean. I feel comfortable in my situation and someone asks me or hints I should share my resources.
Let’s take time for example. If I believe I have the afternoon free, and perhaps even plan a little study or rest. I am rich because time is valuable, I can’t make more of it. I have a little extra hidden away to use the way I want. When the phone rings I don’t even have to wait for the request and before I start feeling put upon and robbed. It is especially true when it has to do with normal job stuff. Something is broken and someone else could look at it but they call Me. The guy that can’t say no (another of my faults) I start to feel really poor. I will even complain because I feel like I don’t have enough to share.
Maybe you felt something similar last week when we had a Gideon Speaker. Awh, he is gonna ask for money. I don’t have any to spare. Tom Tricked us…I would have stayed home.
But you gave anyway, sometimes even when we feel poor or are aggravated, we will still give of ourselves. Perhaps it is out of duty, or maybe because we know it is the right thing.
The people following Jesus had come together on a mountain. Jesus prayed all night and the next morning he called al the disciples and named 12 to be apostles. Then we pickup on today’s scripture. We don’t know where they were. Maybe not too far from Jerusalem or someplace in Galilee. Luke records that there were people from Jerusalem, all of Judea and Tyre and Sydon. Looking at a map, you figure out that people came from every where including from outside of Israel. Sydon is on the coast 120 miles north of Jerusalem.
So where ever this is the people have come from all over to hear this guy. It seems like they would have had plenty of good teachers in Jerusalem, or in the bigger villages. But two groups of people have come out to hear this man. It mentions disciples had gone there with Jesus and been out there all night. Then when they came down into the valley or at least lower on the mountain there is the multitude of others. People that came out because they wanted or need something. They came out because they were curious.
So the scripture describes a lot of excitement, people just wanting to touch Jesus because were healings going on. There is power flowing and everyone is healed. It sounds like it was worth the trip.
We don’t know that Jesus gave a sermon to everyone that day, he probably did. We do know that he spoke directly to his disciples.
So what is the difference in the Multitude and the disciples?
The multitudes are the people that seem to just want something for themselves. They hear that he is in town and they go out to see the show. Hear the sales pitch and pick up the free stuff and most will head home with no change on their lives. No cost except a little time. No demands on their resources because they are making no commitment.
The disciples are people that are following the teacher. They like what he is saying, they believe he is right and they seem to be moving from place to place with him at this point. Their time and resource commitment is deep. They are paying their own way and sleeping in the open. There are more that 12 people because Jesus chooses 12. We don’t know the demands they have placed on themselves or have been asked for, but they are actively staying close to Jesus.
Scripture says that Jesus is speaking to the disciples. Perhaps the number grew a little today. Perhaps there are more disciples now than before, the healings and teaching have some step forward and make a commitment.
I believe that afternoon changed some of the people from multitude to Disciple. They joined in the faith Journey that we are all on today. I believe the easiest way to tell the difference is to watch who sticks around after the show and healings are done to hear the message.
The Multitude are satisfied with watching the show and moving on before commitment is asked for.
So Jesus speaks to those who are left. Disciples.
HE starts telling the followers bout who is blessed and who is Woe.
Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
Are any of you like me, when you look at this list do you say to yourself that you want to be blessed but you don’t wanna be Poor, Hungry, Sad or hated and insulted, but I do want the good stuff.
Jesus continues,
But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.
OK I still don’t wanna be any of the “Woe’s” Look at me, it is obvious that I am well fed. You have heard me laugh and be happy. I have a great family, I remembered valentines day and did not get in trouble. Most people say nice things about me and respect me.
What is this saying to me? It is obvious that my life and the way I live I am under the Woe Category. I take Jesus’ words as a level on my life and I don’t measure up to his standards.
I don’t wanna be a woe to Jesus or God. I want to be blessed here and in Heaven. Have I made my choice?
Are pretty much all American WOE Christians?
OK God is there another choice?
Why do we pray for God’s blessings if it turns us into Woe Christians when he blesses us?
Let me give you a little relief o this subject. The word blessed is probably a little different usage that what comes to my mind. The term blessed more accurately refers to a person that is the object of God’s grace and is happy because of it.
I have heard from many of you that times are different. That in the old days, a toy, Oranges and candy only came at Christmas. Sounds like a life without flavor or joy. But in the next sentence it is normally explained that it was the same for everybody. You took the joy at what you did have and savored it. The one toy was more precious, the oranges and candy tasted better. The understanding of where you were that Christmas and the anticipation of next Christmas was not all that bad.
So, when Jesus speaks to the poor and hungry and hurting and abused disciples he is reminding them that God cares. God is blessing them now and they have something to look forward to even though the times are hard now. We know that Jesus dealt with the people outside the normal religious groups. He was speaking to people with poor jobs, the folks that had to work on Sunday and sell beer and lottery tickets and long hours to put food on their tables.
We know that the Church people looked down their noses on these folks and assumed that God was not-blessing them because they made bad choices and were lazy and just did not try hard enough.
The church folks locked them out of the box but, Jesus called them “blessed” and pointed out that the kingdom of God was never in the box. He made it clear that the people in the bottom of the barrel that were just getting by had a place in the kingdom.
Now we move to the ‘WOES”. My first thought is Woe, wait until your dad gets home. The woes make me look at my life and worry that automatic punishment is coming. That only happens because I believe in Jesus as the Son of God. I guess I would feel differently if I just thought of him as some country preacher with no formal education, that what he said were just words and not coming from God.
But as a Christian, I start to worry as I place the level on my situation and see the bubble is obviously off center.
I believe Woe in this context is also a little different than first appearance. I also have an understanding of God the father as a loving grace giving God. When he looks at my life and sees the bubble off center. He uses WOE as a term of disappointment. Woe, I thought I taught you better than that. Woe I expected you to represent me better in that situation.
When God looks at my wealth, My happiness and my respected position he gets disappointed when I don’t use all that for the good of the other disciples. When I don’t use it to reach out to the multitudes.
Do you recall a time when someone disappointed you? You really thought that they would help you or automatically react in the best way, but they failed or refused. Perhaps this was a promise or a commitment and they forgot or changed their mind. Woe you let me down!
I think Jesus was telling the disciples that there situations were not going to change that much. They were going to have to work at life and keep following the teacher. They would have to enjoy the small blessing of the day and look forward to the promises of tomorrow.
Not all the disciples were poor or hungry, All of them were blessed and had promises for the future. Some were better off and could give to support the needs but perhaps they would consider themselves poor or less than generous. If they failed to do what was right to be supportive with their time talents and service then they were not living like a blessed person.
It boils down to this. If you fail to share your blessings, no matter how you measure up on earthly scale you can disappoint God. You already received your reward and some how the future expectations will be different.
Here is a little irony for you. The multitude received blessings that day. There was no commitment or expectation put on them.
The multitude heard about something happening and came out. Some may have been wealthy business people but mostly the opposite end of the scale. There were there the laborers, unemployed, sick and hurting. Perhaps, there were some that were picking pockets, or were walking off a hangover. There was no judgment if they walked away after being healed and taught. God gave them the blessing for the day but they did not seek the promises for the future.
It is only the disciples, the ones who recognize the blessings from God who have higher expectations on their lives. The people that make a commitment and do what is expected and recognize the blessing also have the promise of the kingdom of God.
Where are we as individuals, families and even as a church?
Are we recognizing our blessings and faithfully living as disciples?
Faithfully living as Christ in our homes and community?
Are we willing to use our limited resources on the uncaring multitudes because we know we are blessed and we know what is expected as Disciples of Christ?
All Gory be to God!
