Matthew 5:1-2

When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down 2 and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said: 

I was ready to go straight to verse three this morning and discuss how blessed are the poor, but something else caught my attention.  So I'm actually starting with verse one...novel concept I know.

Jesus has just begun his ministry, but has seen his ministry "draw huge crowds."  When he sees this, he does something that we might not expect.  We would expect to see him putting up billboards, getting a TV deal, opening more campuses, building bigger buildings, writing books and letting "Christian retailers" make everything from journals to leather bound editions of his book on how to be a better...God.  Surely that's what he would have done.  Isn't it what we do when our ministries draw huge crowds?

Obviously, Jesus didn't have all of this at his disposal, but the question that hangs in my head is, "Would he have used them if he did?"  Here we see that when Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hill.  This could have been a method for amplifying his voice so more people could hear him, but there might be another explanation also.  It seems that most of Jesus' mountainside/hillside experiences were more intimate moments than public proclamations.  He went on the mountainside to pray in Matthew 14 and in John 6.  Even here, the 'committed' were the ones that went up with him on the hillside.  It seems clear to me that this was not so more people could hear, but rather so fewer people could hear.

Jesus is about to deliver his manifesto to those who have committed to him.  He is about to show them the uniqueness of his mission on earth.  He is about to unload the details of his revolution and show them the picture he envisions.  He doesn't make it easy for them, either.  After a day of walking, he then climbs a hill - not a large hill, but an ascent nonetheless.  I can hear them whining now, "Oh, c'mon Jesus, can't we just gather here at the bottom!"  What he is about to tell them is so important that he pulls them away from the crowd, so they don't miss it.

Once they get up there, Jesus begins to teach them.  This is not a discussion about possibilities.  It's not a brainstorming session.  Jesus is teaching them the inside truth of the Movement...the Revolution he is leading.

For me, this understanding changes the way I hear the next several verses, commonly referred to as The Beatitudes.  When I was growing up, my picture was Jesus standing on a hill preaching to a huge crowd - and Jesus looked a lot like Billy Graham.  Now, my picture is much more intimate.  It's as if he is calling me to come up the hill, when my legs are tired from following him, and he wants to tell me what it's all about...and all I am to do is listen.

Sometimes you just need to shut up...

Over the course of the fall, I have had a blast writing and commenting on the social activity of our current day.  I will continue to do so because it helps me process some of the things I am going through and I hope it gives you a second perspective sometimes.  However, there comes a time when it's time to stop writing and just listen.  The past couple of weeks have been that for me.  I needed to just shut up...the computer and listen a little.

I haven't received any big revelation, but I do feel rested.  I feel energized and I feel like this Christmas season just might be the best I've ever had.  Sometimes the body just needs a break.  Am I smokin' weed here or can you relate?  

As I mentioned a couple of posts back, I am currently reading "The Secret Message of Jesus."  I assure you this is not some sort of DaVinci initiative to re-orchestrate the gospel.  However it has been sobering for me to read through the book and view Jesus' message in the secrecy that he most often delivered it.  He spoke in veiled parables that often confused the listener.  He would speak about the "clear rules" of Judaism, then re-interpret those for his message.  It simply wasn't what they were familiar with or what they expected.

I would like to take some time over the next few posts to comment on Jesus' most famous of teachings.  The most lengthy of his messages found in Matthew 5-7.  I'm not sure about my pace, but I would like to dive into the teaching and make comments and ask questions.  Some of you may have journeyed this road before and your input could be vital to the rest of us.  Others of you may have just passed over some of this, like I did for years.  Either way, it could sure be an experience for us.