Tuesday, 3 March Seeking the Messiah. Matthew 5:11–16
I've chosen to commence our section at v11, today, because it seems to me there is a natural break. In the Beatitudes which we read yesterday, Jesus speaks in a general way: Blessed are those who …But now, in v11, we read Blessed are you… We must note the distinction. These words are addressed directly to his disciples – including us.
The blessing promised is a grim one, however. We are to be blessed when we are reviled, persecuted and falsely accused for the sake of the name of Jesus Christ. Note, this is not a blessing just for being a general witness of Christ – that is taken as a given responsibility.
No, this blessing follows our serious loss and hurt incurred as a result of our witness. Such persecution yields great reward in heaven. We should not think here of gold crowns and so on. The reward will be of another kind, which we will read about in the next chapter.
You are the salt of the earth… Salt in the ancient world was very valuable. It was an essential preservative. People were actually sometimes paid part of their wages in salt; they received a salarium (Latin), a salary, if they were ‘worth their salt’.
Not only was salt a preservative, it was also valued as a way of enhancing flavour. Salt made food more enjoyable and gave it long life. In the same way, Jesus tells us, our Christian witness helps people’s lives to go better and leads them to eternal life.
But… If we fail to exercise our saltiness, our flavouring, our life-giving element in society, we become useless. Salt that had outlived its usefulness was actually spread on roadways to form a hard crust on the surface, and stop weeds growing – it would literally be trampled on by travellers.
When the church stops being a good witness, it doesn’t just stop being useful to God – it’s useless to everyone. Empty churches, ministers who deny the truth, bland followers – all these actually detract from society. They are just a drain on resources. At least sinners create GDP! Dead churches just use up resources and don’t even pay tax!
On the other hand, live churches provide a constant source of preservation and fine flavour in the world. That is how the early church really became noticed. The last pagan Roman emperor, Julian the Apostate, recommended to his regional governors that they copy the practice of Christians who were known for their hospitality to strangers, and their care of the sick and dying, and even the dead. This was so unusual in the ancient world, that the Emperor recognised that pagans were being converted to Christianity as a result of it. He wanted pagan hospices and charities to be set up, to stop the conversions to Christianity.
A question worth asking: How long would it take your neighbourhood to notice if your church closed down? (Dare your minister to try it out and see?!)
You are the light of the world…In John 8:12, Jesus says that he is the light of the world. But here, he tells us that, as his disciples, we are the light of the world. Apparently, both can be true, insofar as we reflect him truly.
The purpose of light is to show things up, to make clear what was formerly hidden or dim.
Remember that lovely statement from C. S. Lewis: I believe in Christianity as I believe in the sun; not because I can see it, but because by it, I can see everything else.
When you wake in the morning, you are aware of light. You can identify the shapes in your room – a clock, a painting on the wall… So you say, ‘The sun is up’. You haven’t actually seen the sun. It may not even be visible from your room. But by its light you can see everything else. So it is with the Christian faith. It illuminates the truth about the world. We don’t have to see God, or understand Christianity fully. By its light, we can see everything else clearly.
The ancient world was dark. We forget that simple fact easily. We have street lamps, phone lamps, little green or red lights on machines in our houses, lights that turn on when we open a cupboard door. The ancient world knew no such thing. Theirs was a dark world – and therefore a daunting and fearful world.
A traveller on a dark road is heartened when he sees the light of a city on a hill. But again, we have to imagine an ancient city. It only has candles and occasional flame torches. There is no bright glow of street lamps and car headlights. Nevertheless, in the deep gloom, the smallest glow of light provides a welcoming beacon.
There is a deep encouragement here. You and I do not have to be great Christian preachers or witnesses. Even the smallest light can brighten a dark place. You are the light of the world. Don’t hide it away.
Another question for you to consider: What is your church best known for in your community? A source of light, or an Op Shop, or a venue for Keep Fit classes? People respond to good advertising. If our community is not actively seeking Christ, then perhaps our church (which really means you and me!) has not advertised him as well as the other activities offered on site?
Salt works invisibly; light works visibly. But both change the character of the object that they work on. There will be times when you won't know that you are being salt to someone. There will be other times, when you know that you are shining a light into a dark place. Trust God that he will make your life effective in its impact on others.
Finally, salt only works when it is in close contact with something else; light can work at a distance. While it is good to be constantly rubbing shoulders with the world, those who are not able to can still have a major effect on the world. You may be confined to your home for many different reasons. You may not be as mobile as you would like. You may be very shy or introverted. Your light can shine across the world, if it is properly directed – perhaps through your prayers, or your emails or phone calls, or your financial support of those in need.
Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I am humbled that you would see me as being salt and light to the world. But if this is what you have called me to be, then I ask you to prompt my mind towards those things that I can do to serve you in this way. And help me to remember, please, that the only reason I would do this is for your glory, not mine. Amen.
