Sermon on the Mount
“War and Peace”
One moment Jesus is "blessing" the peacemakers; and in the very next breath talks about persecution. Not once - but twice! Things seemed to be going so well! It just seems to be such at odds. Peacemaking then persecution. War and peace. It is bewildering. Maybe the following DVD clip sums it up. To Louie Armstrong singing "What a Beautiful World" you have a clutch of zoo animals who, through a series of unfortunate incidences, find themselves set free in the wild. In addition to the lion struggling with the fact that now he is in the wild his predator instincts are emerging. It is torment. As this DVD plays - listen to the song and watch the action. It is a stunning contradiction. It is not a "Beautiful World"! Strains of "What a Beautiful World" drift through your heart and hardship is at every turn.
We have the words of Jesus hanging in the air - "Blessed are the peacemakers…" and then the jarring words of "Blessed are those who are persecuted…" Twice. There is a strong link between these three Beatitudes. There is an apparent contradiction - but actually it is wonderfully complementary. Very wholistic. Let's then begin with these Beatitudes and see their power. The title of this sermon is "War and Peace." In that order. The same order as these Beatitudes read. War first; peace second. War (peacemakers) first; peace (persecution) second. It's a paradox. It doesn't appear to make sense. But this is the Kingdom of Heaven breaking into this world; confounding; blessing; transforming; tipping the world upside-down.
1. War - "Blessed are the Peacemakers"
Why would we place the word "war" as the descriptor to the Beatitude about peacemaking? Because right there is the first moment we can misread this Beatitude. We hear the word "peace"; and our eyes get a far away look as we dream of peace in our lives. Of that idyllic state of being where all is well with my soul and the world. And we give a deep sigh of contentment. Do you realise what we have just done? We have read that Beatitude like this: "Blessed are the peace-lovers for they will be called children of God." It is "Blessed are the peace-makers…" Peacemakers? That means war.
If you want to broker peace between people or in a situation - you will have a battle on your hands. Not the kind of war that is about an invasion and conquering - but a war that defeats those things that hinder peace but doesn't cause casualties among the people. Although, when done right there is normally one casualty. The peacemaker. Ultimately the casualty is the Prince of Peace Himself. Here is how the Book of Ephesians puts it.
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father." (Ephesians 2:13-18)
"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross." (Colossians 1:19-20)
Drawing on this divine historical fact - a story (a retelling of the Gospel in a creative way) is told by a Jesuit priest who watch his parents executed before his eyes as little boy in the Spanish Civil War. One day the Jews came to Jesus and said "Can't you call down fire from heaven and obliterate the Romans? Just destroy them?" And Jesus didn't answer. Then the Romans came to Him and said "Can't you do something about these Jews? They are so stubborn and resistant? Can't you force them to co-operate?" Again Jesus said nothing. Instead He went to the walls of Jerusalem and became pounding His fists on the wall. And slowly they began to buckle and sway and crashed to the ground. When the dust settled the Jews and the Romans stood facing one another - and they talked. And under the rubble lay the body of Jesus.
Matt 5:9 is the only place in scripture that the name "Peacemaker" is used. It is primarily a term for Jesus before anything or anyone else. For those who are peacemakers - you are on a warpath. A warpath of love that is no less combative. A saying from a Rabbi has more than a little truth to it - "All commandments are to be fulfilled when the right opportunity arrives. But not peace! Peace you must seek out and pursue." Blessed are you when you do. You shall be called "children of God." Why? Well it is a promise and reward. But it is also the one time when "Oh doesn't she look like her Father!" is an ultimate compliment. You will be a son or daughter of God as a peacemaker, because in that ministry you are imitating the work and character of God. As one writer puts it (Carl G Vaught): Peacemaking must come from an empty self and an undivided self. Otherwise we might be engaged in pursuits for peace that are more about us trying to resolve our own internal conflict rather than attending to the work and call of God. Peacemakers need to be grounded in a self that has known and experienced peace first hand. Intimacy as a child with a parent. The peace of God. And then from that basis they enter into war and make peace. They are imitators of God. Obviously His children.
2. Peace - "Blessed are those who are persecuted"
438.
This is the number of Christians who will die today for the sole reason they are followers of Jesus Christ. They will be martyred. That figure of 438 can be difficult for us to comprehend. To "feel" the enormity of that. Consider the people you worship with each week. The people who you see week by week as you come here to worship. Consider those you know especially well. And who they are and what makes them tick. The figure 438 represents people not unlike us. And each day twice the number of our congregation dies for doing what we are doing now. Meeting in the Name of Christ to worship Him and follow Him. There are two causes for persecution mentioned here in the Sermon on the Mount.
Righteousness - advancing justice and doing the right thing.
Jesus - just being known as one of His followers is enough.
In fact - the actual language of the last Beatitude changes dramatically. Jesus addresses the individual and the source of persecution is centred on His Person. Very significant and very dramatic!!! And I entitle this point "peace"? Really shouldn't that have been linked with the previous Beatitude? "Blessed are those who are persecuted for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."
"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12)
Peace.
Because, as has been written by one author, the Kingdom is ours because in the moment of reconciliation and persecution it comes into focus and is a present reality.
Peace.
Because suffering is not in a vacuum.
We stand in a tradition; there is some reason for the suffering and persecution. Suffering is seen in a wider context. Chris Marshall (current lecturer at Victoria University in theology) puts the context like this:
" Past - prophets before you were persecuted
" Present - Kingdom of Heaven is yours
" Future - your reward in heaven will be great
Suffering seen in wider context. (cf Heb 11). In the beginning of the second century there was a Bishop in Antioch called Ignatius of Antioch. The Book of Acts tells us Antioch was the first place followers of Jesus were called "Christians." We don't much about Ignatius. It is believed that he was a disciple of John. And some claim that he was the child Jesus took and said that unless you change and become like a child, you'll never enter the Kingdom (Matt 18:1). We don't know why - but Ignatius was arrested for being a Christian. And all we have is what happened in the last month of his life. He was being taken to Rome to be martyred. He pleaded with the church not to intervene; not to appeal on his behalf for his execution to be stayed. His motto was: "The nearer the sword, the nearer God" In arguing for people to not intervene he said: "Suffer me to be eaten by the beasts, through whom I can attain to God. I am God's wheat, and I am ground by the teeth of wild beasts that I may be found pure bread of Christ." He died the most horrendous death.
Some question his determination to be martyred - but you can't question his devotion to God. Maybe in the midst of that - he demonstrates peace. We do not live in a country that whereby persecution is that the level of martyrdom or to that degree of violence. However, persecution still takes place as people - such as yourselves - live lives according to the ways of Jesus. From people close to you - you suffer scorn, indifference, teasing, coldness, hostility, slander and gossip. Blood may not be spilt - but wounds because of your faith are still inflicted.
This very last Beatitude is different to the others in this; all the others end with a promise, this one ends with a command.
Rejoice!!
On that day when you are reviled and spoken against, and persecuted. Rejoice.
It seems odd that such a beautiful passage of scripture with such heart-warming assurances should end in such a jarring way. How did we get from comfort, being filled, seeing God, inheriting the earth - to the chilling Beatitude about persecution? Not a very happy ending. Yet "rejoice" is the command. And it is not a fake "praise the Lord anyway!" Or enduring persecution as a result of silly Christianity that has generated opposition through a lack of insensitivity or lack of wisdom. It is a genuine rejoicing that has at its heart deep peace - because you have faithfully followed Jesus; faithfully attended to advancing that which is right - and you suffer for it. But you know the pleasure of God; you stand in the tradition of the prophets; the Kingdom is yours; and your reward is great in heaven.
Rejoice!
" Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name. For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinners?" Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God's will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good." (1 Peter 4:12-19)
Conclusion
War and peace.
Peacemaking and persecution.
Seems a paradox. Even unfair. Consider by way of an example - an example to follow - a garden. Gethsemane. Where peacemaking and persecution come together. And there Christ kneels and prays. Battling and warring as He begins to make peace. And then they arrive. The mob. A skirmish breaks out and Jesus tells His disciples to put away their swords.
"Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?"
…and later Hebrews 12 says He endured that persecution which had been spawned by His peacemaking because of the joy and rejoicing set before Him.
Presented By: Rev. Geoff New