20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.

“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

 Life in the twenty-first century is a non-stop stream of miracles. We can move faster, communicate further, and live longer than our ancestors who lived just one hundred years ago. The gap that progress has made is even greater if you reach back two or three hundred years. In the 1720s, Europe was struggling mightily with food shortages for a population of less than 100 million people. In 2020, a global population of almost 8 billion people has the most reliable access to food in human history. 

Advances like this aren’t perfect, or complete, but they are amazing. In fact, human achievement is so amazing that we often forget that it amounts to nothing if we pursue it for our own glory.

Jesus taught His disciples about this conflict by describing both the world they inhabited and the world they were made to inhabit. The world they lived in – the world we live in – is a fantastic place. In our world it is possible to be rich. In our world we can provide for our families. In this world we can laugh. These are not small things. But this world is passing away. And if our wealth and fullness and laughter are tied to this world, they will pass away as well.

The world we were made to inhabit is eternal. God designed men and women to live with Him forever. Jesus is preparing a place for us right now so that we can do just that. But we do not need to wait for that work to be complete to see God’s kingdom. As much as it is “not yet,” the kingdom of heaven is also “right now.” Where? How? In you and me if we obey our king. Look closely at what Jesus tells His disciples about being poor, hungry, weepers who are abused for the sake of the gospel. Their reward is in heaven. More than that, the kingdom of heaven actually belongs to them! 

This is an upside-down reality for humans. Everything in our sinful flesh screams at us to take what we can right now. Society, too, says build yourself up and make yourself great. Satan even tempts Jesus that way. It is a very seductive offer. 

Don’t give in to the temptation. The upside-down kingdom God offers is better. Jesus is a better king than we could ever be. Jesus died and rose again and conquered death. He knows what our needs are before we even ask. He knows what it means to suffer when He asks us to do the same. He knows the joy of salvation that awaits those who accept His free and gracious gift. If you reject Him and declare yourself king, what can you offer yourself instead? Food? It won’t satisfy. Riches? They will betray you. Laughter? There is no joy in the grave.

Heavenly Father, help us to trust you more than we trust ourselves. Show us how service and submission to you is a greater reward than we could ever achieve by our own effort. Jesus, teach us by your life and words how to reject this world and embrace the next. Enable us to bring lost souls to your kingdom by living it out in front of them. We ask it in your holy name. Amen.