The Sermon on the Mount #3

It's not clear who invented the first microscope,

but around 1600, the Dutch spectacle maker Zacharias Janssen

is credited with making one of the earliest compound microscopes,

ones that used two lenses.

The development of the microscope opened a whole new world of discovery,

allowing scientists to make new insights into the body, disease,

and to see the intricacies of creation.

One such discovery, laminin.

Fun fact, laminin protein is the cell adhesive molecule

that holds our cells together.

Under a microscope, we see it is shaped like a cross.

Last week, we stood and declared what it is we believe,

based on Colossians 1 and verse 17.

Jesus is before all things, and in him all things are held together.

It's crazy how scientific discovery has allowed us to see God's blueprint

for holding the body together.

Laminin.

It's shaped like a cross.

And as we know, the cross connects us to God

and holds us together as one body in Christ.

Is that a coincidence?

Well, back to why I mentioned a microscope.

As Christians, we are under ever-growing scrutiny.

People are vigilantly pulling out the microscope

and interrogating Christians under a magnifying glass,

trying to catch us out.

People want to see our lives matching our faith and belief in Jesus.

And fair enough, really.

As soon as we slip up, people are ready to pounce.

I heard a Christian say this.

I saw a Christian do that.

You wouldn't believe it.

Of course we will fail.

Our human nature is sinful.

It makes me feel better when Christians fail.

I think possibly...

It doesn't make me feel better, sorry,

but it makes other people who aren't Christians feel better.

And I think possibly so they can justify their own disbelief

or their own sinfulness

or maybe feel self-righteous about their own behaviour.

But we are different.

We have a clear understanding and conviction

of the total depravity of our hearts.

We are drawn to God's irresistible grace

and unconditional love,

knowing that if we humble ourselves,

we are forgiven through Jesus.

Christianity isn't a club for good people.

It's a hospital for broken sinners

who need a life overhaul, healing transformation.

How is Jesus impacting our lives?

This new year, we've been looking at Jesus' upside-down kingdom

revealed in the Sermon on the Mount.

The last two weeks,

the Beatitudes, blessings,

or congratulations

go to those who have the complete attitude of Jesus.

We can't have one or a couple

who have the whole attitude of Jesus.

There's no escaping it.

We are under the microscope.

We need our lives

and our love for Jesus

to shine

and we need them to match our calling.

Today, we're considering Jesus' call

to be salt and light in the world.

Before I unpack this,

remember,

when Jesus spoke,

there were no verses.

It's one giant speech.

We can dissect it into fragments,

but we still need to see the big picture.

So while we may focus on a handful of verses,

we need to see what's going on around these

to build context and meaning.

In Matthew 5, verses 13 to 16,

Matthew 5:13–16

Jesus calls us to be different.

You are the salt of the earth,

but if the salt loses its saltiness,

how can it be made salty again?

It is no longer good for anything

except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

You are the light of the world.

A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Neither do people light a lamp

and put it under a bowl.

Instead, they put it on its stand

and it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way,

let your light shine before all people

that they may see your good deeds

and praise your Father in heaven.

Jesus uses the metaphor of salt and light

to describe how we should live in this world.

This follows directly after Jesus

has rattled off the Beatitudes.

In other words,

if we live with the beautiful attitudes of Jesus,

we will be salt and light in the world.

And after the salt and light metaphor,

Jesus continues taking the Ten Commandments

to the next level

and concludes actually with a phrase

in verse 48 of chapter 5,

be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Jesus is presenting to those

who are willing to participate in his kingdom

a very difficult task,

a standard in the way we relate to one another,

and it's not being a good person,

it's perfection.

So before we panic,

remember the Christian message

is not about work salvation,

about doing things to be saved.

The good news is stop trying

and start trusting.

Jesus did what we can't do.

He alone meets God's impossible standards.

Jesus who did not come to abolish the law,

but to fulfil it.

Then, once we're right with God,

we're then to be salt and light in the world,

with Jesus as our foundation.

Motivated by love for Jesus

and love for others,

what follows is good works.

And Jesus later goes on to say,

this is the fruit of what you believe.

So the significance of salt and light,

the imagery,

let's draw that out

and let's start with salt.

Salt is essential.

Our bodies require salt

as an element in our diet.

Salt was a vital necessity

for everyday life.

Taken in this way,

Jesus indicates his followers

are vitally important

to the welfare of this world

with their daily presence

and their message.

Salt preserves.

Before people had fridges and freezers,

food was salted to preserve it.

The salt stopped decay.

Jesus wants his followers

to work to preserve

all that is good in our world.

As the world turns even more rotten,

Christians are to have the effect

of delaying moral and spiritual decay.

Salt is valuable.

It was extremely expensive

and labour-intensive

to harvest the mass quantities of salt

necessary for food preservation

and seasoning.

Salt was used as currency

in Jesus' day

and for centuries.

What value can we place on our soul?

Jesus alone

has the words of eternal life.

Salt has value.

Salt is pure.

Many people in ancient times

thought salt was pure

just because of its colour.

It's pure white.

Jesus wants his followers

to have hearts that are pure.

There's high standards

in our thoughts,

our speech,

and our actions.

Salt is seasoning.

Salt enhances the flavour of food.

It makes it taste more interesting.

Try eating chips without salt

to get it.

Knowing Jesus gives life.

It's life to the full

and makes it meaningful.

Jesus wants his followers

to make life more pleasant

for others.

Salt protects.

Salt scattered on roads

melts ice

and makes conditions safe.

In biblical times,

salt was even put on manure heaps

to stop the spread of germs.

Jesus wants his followers

to spread the good news about him

to everyone they meet

and so offer the protection

of God's love to everyone.

Salt was actually used

in small quantities

as a fertiliser

when applied to certain types of soil.

Jesus' disciples

will enhance

the growth of God's work

in this world.

Jesus likens his followers

to salt.

Essential,

valuable,

pure,

preserving,

seasoning,

pleasant,

protecting,

bringing growth.

If our lives

are like salt,

Christians cannot help

but be an influence

for good in society

and history shows this.

Hospitals,

schools,

aged care facilities,

care of the homeless,

orphanages,

abolition of slavery,

worldwide literacy programs.

Christians have been

at the forefront

of these initiatives.

The second metaphor

Jesus uses

to describe

the Christian witness

in the world

is that of light.

Have you ever been

in a place

that is so dark

you actually can't even

see your hand

in front of your face?

When I was in year nine

we were taken

to Currie Currie

on a geography excursion

and I was one of a handful

picked to go down

a mine.

We were in a few

kilometres underground

and we had the

safety helmets

with the torches on top.

At one point

they asked us all

to switch the torches off

and it was eerie.

I'd never been

in something so pitch black.

We left them off

for a while

even as our eyes adjusted

we couldn't see anything

and then further down

in the mine shaft

some other miners

were coming

and just a glimpse

of their light

before it actually

the full blown light

appeared

was enough to start

to illuminate

the darkness.

If we're to be

light in the world

the implication

is that the world

is actually shrouded

in darkness

thick darkness

blind to Jesus' identity.

We are witnesses

for Jesus

we need to shine

God's light

so that those

stumbling through life

in spiritual darkness

can come into

the safety of the light.

Jesus talks about

two sources of light here

the light from

the city on a hill

and the light

from a lamp.

You are

the light of the world

a city on a hill

cannot be hidden

neither do people

light a lamp

and put it under a bowl

instead they put it

on its stand

and it gives light

to everyone

in the house.

We should be able

to picture these images

if you've done

some long driving

stints out in the country

it can be really dark

but before you get

to the next town

you see it coming

from a distance

because of the glow

reflecting onto the sky.

In ancient times

darkness and light

would have been absolutes

there was no electricity

but you could still

make out the glow

of a city

when navigating

the deserts.

Imagining a world

without light

we can understand

how darkness

can be a terror

and a symbol of evil.

Imagine walking

through a park at night

and I've actually done this

I've actually put the keys

between my fingers

feeling worried

for myself.

The same goes

for hiding a lamp

under a bush.

By modern standards

a lamp doesn't cast

a great amount of light

but if the alternative

is pitch darkness

to distinguish

or cut off the light

it seems ludicrous.

Darkness

things can be hidden

but in the light

things are revealed.

A light

is a guide.

Like in the tunnel

of the coal mine

we needed light.

Lights are used

to guide people

and indicate

the safest direction.

Jesus wants

his followers

to act as guides.

He wants them

to point others

to Jesus

the way

the truth

and the life

and show others

the best way

to live.

A light

is a warning.

Many lights

act as warnings.

Flashing lights

on ambulances

fire engines

the police

lighthouses.

Christians

need to warn

the world

the judgement

is coming

and without Jesus

there is no

prospect

of eternal life.

Light is effective

illuminating darkness.

Without light

there are many things

that we would not

be able to do.

Drive at night

read in bed

and there's all kinds

of accidents

and mischief

that take place

under the cloak

of darkness.

Crimes tend

to happen

at night.

Light increases

our enjoyment

of life

but more importantly

it chases away

the darkness.

Without Jesus

the light

of the world

we shipwreck

our lives.

Jesus wants

his followers

to chase away

sin and darkness

in their own lives

and around them.

Light

is essential.

Plants

need light

in order to grow.

People also

need sunlight

for health

and strength.

We need a good

dose of vitamin D.

They also need

to know

the light

of Christ

in order

to live life

to the full.

Jesus wants

his followers

to shed

the light

of God's love

into the lives

of those

they meet.

A light

should not

be hidden.

A light

that is hidden

is of no help

at all.

Imagine what

would happen

if a set

of traffic lights

were under

a blanket

or a lighthouse

on the clifftops

was extinguished.

Lights

are meant

to be shown

to good advantage.

There is no place

for a quiet

shy

hidden

personal faith.

Jesus wants

us to be open

about the fact

that we follow

him

otherwise

we are of no

use to others.

Be salt

and let your

light shine.

Jesus then

takes it to the

next level

and we glimpse

how upside down

God's kingdom

really is

while further

drawing out

the implications

of what salt

and light

really look like.

Referring to

the Mosaic

law

Jesus says

you've heard

it said

long ago

do you remember

this?

You've heard

it said

long ago

and then he

lists off

a handful

of commandments

do not

murder

most people

can say

great

that's not

me

I haven't

murdered

Jesus

then declares

that anyone

who harbours

anger in their

heart

or even

calls someone

a fool

receives the

same judgment

as a murderer

okay that's

pretty much

everyone

and it does

seem a bit

extreme

do not

commit adultery

you've heard

it once said

do not

commit adultery

everyone goes

yeah we've

heard that

well we may

be hearing

more of this

in society

it is still

frowned upon

by most people

no matter what

their belief

system

and so

you hear this

and if you've

never done this

you go

well good

I'm a good

person

tick

I haven't

done that

but Jesus

then goes

to the next

level

he says

if you've

looked at

someone

lustfully

you've

committed

adultery

in your

heart

now that

seems pretty

extreme

and I'm

pretty sure

that covers

most everyone

so they're

starting to

think well

murder

anger

adultery

lust

oh hang

on Jesus

this is

an impossible

standard

let's go

up a level

love your

enemies

say what

Jesus

now you've

gone too

far

Israel

was under

Roman

occupation

this was

God's

promised

land

and you

want us

to go

to extra

mile

you want

us to

turn the

other

cheek

you want

them to

us to

give our

tunic

you want

us to

lend

willingly

this is

outrageous

Jesus

and when

you give

to the

needy

he goes

on

don't

make a

show of

it

do it

humbly

in secret

no giant

checks

and big

TV coverage

do it

in humility

and don't

boast

you need

to forgive

as your

heavenly father

has forgiven

you

that's

unmerited

it's

unconditional

loving

others

but hang

on

God

please

there's

some

people

that have

just

rubbed me

up the

wrong

way

they've

just

pushed

it too

far

they're

just

too

hard

to

forgive

don't

worry

as

God

looks

after

the

birds

in the

air

and the

flowers

in the

field

how much

more

will he

look

after

us

so

don't

worry

but hang

on

Jesus

I've

just

lost

my

job

and

we've

got

this

huge

mortgage

how are

we're

going to

pay

that

off

don't

judge

others

in the

same

way

you

judge

you

will

be

judged

we're

in such

a

judgy

age

at the

moment

people

just

desperate

to get

likes

on

insta

the

big

pile

on

that

takes

place

when

people

are

cancelled

that's

a

judgment

and

people

are

ruthless

Jesus

standard

is the

next

level

if

we're

going

to be

genuine

followers

of

Jesus

we

need

changing

Jesus

presents

us

presents

us

with a

very

difficult

task

a

standard

in the

way

we

relate

to

one

another

and that

standard

is

100%

reliant

on

God

caring

for

the

poor

and

needy

being

humble

pure

in

heart

meek

peace

loving

persecuted

for

righteousness

loving

enemies

forgiving

not

worrying

not

judging

not

boasting

about

giving

basically

being

salt

and the

light of

Jesus

in the

world

when

the

light of

light of

Jesus

and his

love

shines

through

Christian

deeds

they do

expose

darkness

for what

it is

evil

and

estranged

from

God

here's

another

reason

Christians

experience

persecution

just as

we

cringe

or cover

our

eyes

when a

bright

light

hits

us

in the

eyes

and

just

think

of

driving

at

night

and

someone's

high

beam

when

we

are

salt

and

light

in

the

world

it

can

draw

attention

to

sinful

behaviour

biblical

Christianity

doesn't

win a

popularity

contest

I

could

think

of

times

when

I've

been

at

parties

and

I've

been

talking

with

someone

and

eventually

they say

oh so what do you do for a living

I say I'm a minister

and they go oh what political party are you with

and then when I say I'm a Christian

there's this awkward pause

sometimes a bit of an uncomfortable silence

some discomfort

and then it's almost like you can see in their mind

they're going through

what have I just said

oh I've just been swearing

or blaspheming

and a lot of people start to apologise

for me

to me

and

some even sort of politely go

oh

the others

just got to go and make this

yeah they excuse themselves

Jesus

and by association

Christianity

spotlight things

and actually this is Jesus' verdict

light has come into the world

but people love darkness instead of light

because their deeds are evil

everyone who does evil hates the light

and will not come into the light

for fear that their deeds will be exposed

whoever lives by the truth comes into the light

so that it may be seen plainly

that what they have done

has been done through God

Jesus warns

the world

does not like the light

it likes the darkness

but don't sell out

don't lose your saltiness

and don't hide your light

can salt lose its saltiness?

well because salt by its very nature

cannot be anything other than salt

it cannot lose its property of salt

but it can be sufficiently ruined

rendering it useless

for example if you mix it with sand

you won't discern the salt

and so it loses its saltiness

likewise

when Christians conform

to the immoral

materialistic patterns

of this world

our witness can be rendered ineffective

we can lose our saltiness

the purpose of salt

is to fight

deterioration

the worse the world becomes

the more corrupt

the more it stands

in need of Jesus' followers

when we fail

and it happens to all of us

remember there is grace

we all need God's grace

the Sermon on the Mount

is challenging

it's an impossible standard

that's why we desperately

need Jesus

we all sin

Christians sin

ministers sin

I know colleagues

who are now no longer

in public ministry

due to their sin

Romans 7 reminds us

we don't always do

the good we want to do

so until the new creation

we battle

but in the strength

of the Holy Spirit

and by God's grace

we can be conquerors

don't lose your saltiness

don't hide your light

the answer to living in this world

is not imitation

be like everybody else

fit in

do what everyone else is doing

that's not the answer

and the answer is not isolation

don't be like anybody

don't have any association

with the world

in fact remove yourself

become a recluse

and maybe live in the hills

the answer is not

imitation

the answer is not

isolation

the answer is

insulation

and D.L. Moody

expresses it this way

Christians should live

in the world

but not be filled

with it

a ship in the water

insulated from its surrounds

like a ship

lives in the water

insulated from its surrounds

but if water gets into the ship

she goes to the bottom

so Christians may live in the world

but if the world gets into them

they sink

Jesus concludes

in the same way

let your light shine before others

so that they may see your good works

and give glory to your Father

who is in heaven

believe it or not

the composer

Johann Sebastian Bach

was obscure

for a century

after his death

until he was rediscovered

by Felix Mendelssohn

as a result

many of his compositions

were lost

no one knows how many

but of those

that do survive

on each manuscript

the interesting insertion

in Bach's own hand

of the letters

J.J.

at the beginning of each

and S.D.G.

at the end

they are abbreviations

for the Latin

Jesu

Juva

Jesus

help me

and

Soli

Deo

Gloria

glory

to God

alone

Bach recognised

that his ability

to compose

was not natural

or normal

and was in fact

a gift from God

as a result

his desire

was not to make

a name for himself

but rather use

his gifts

to honour God

and give God

the glory

there needs to be

something different

about us

we are under the

microscope

we need to be

like Jesus

Jesus wants us

to be open

about the fact

that we follow him

otherwise

we are of no use

to him

at all

not only no use

to him

but no use

to others

we need to be

salt and light

in the world

as followers

of Jesus

he wants us

to have an effect

on those

around us

like salt

and light

does

on everything

they come

in contact

with

we are to

have one

motive

like Bach

Soli

Deo

Gloria

glory

to God

alone

in Jesus

upside down

kingdom

being salt

and light

will point

others to

Jesus

and our

motivation

is clear

let your

light shine

before others

so that they

may see

your good

works

and give

glory to

your father

who is in

heaven

let's pray

heavenly

father

we thank

you for

Jesus

witness

and example

how he's

shown us

how to

live

and to

love

help us

to follow

in his

steps

to be

salt

and light

in this

world

for your

glory

and your

glory

alone

in Jesus

name we

pray

amen