Jesus Teaches, The Beatitudes

When Jesus saw the crowds he went up the mountain and after he sat down his disciples came to him.  Then he began to speak and taught them saying,

"Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.

"Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, 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 5:1-12

This week I read 'Sounder' by William H. Armstrong.  It is the story of a poor African- American family in the nineteenth century American South.  The boy's father is a share-cropper who is barely able to feed his family.  The family subsists on corn mush as crops have been poor and the possum have migrated.  Every day the father and his dog Sounder come back empty handed from the hunt.  Until one day when the boy wakes up to the smell of ham bone - it was bigger than any Christmas meal the family had ever had.  The story takes a turn when the Sheriff's men arrive to investigate.  The boy's father is roughly handled and hauled away behind a wagon down the dirt road for stealing the ham to feed his family.  To make matters even worse, the old-coon dog Sounder is shot by the men and mortally wounded.  His Dad his gone and his dog is presumed dead.

The story deals with the boys deep and pervasive loneliness, the poverty of the family, and the boy's  persistent hope that his father will return.  It is this hope that takes him on many a journey searching for his father in work camps. Each journey gives less and less reason to believe his father is alive and yet his faith remains.  In a poignant exchange with is mother, the boy says:
"Why are you so feared for me to go?... In the Bible Stories everbody's always goin' on  a long journey.  Abraham goes on a long journey, Jacob goes into a strange land where his uncle lives, and he don't know where he lives, but he finds him easy.  Joseph goes on the longest journey of all and has more troubles, but the Lord watches over him.  And in Bible -story journeys, ain't no journey hopeless.  Everybody finds what they supposed to find."

The boy does not find his father.  But after being injured by a prison guard, he meets a school teacher who cares for his wounds and invites the boy to live with him so he can learn to read which he longs to do.  When he goes home and tells his mother all that has happened, she says, "Go child, the Lord has come to you." His mother would see this in her son and each time he returned home, she would remark: "the Lord has come to you, boy, the Lord has come to you."

And all throughout this sad and lonely (and true) story there was a sense that the Lord was on the side of this boy and his poor share cropping family. God didn't rescue them in dramatic style from their troubles but he gave them a way through, a way of seeing and a way of living in the midst of all they had to bear and he granted mercies.  And so this got me thinking about the beatitudes and the deep mysteries of God; that he comes to those weighed down with grief, those who are at the end of their rope and to the lowly - those without power; he comes with gifts of grace and mercy, with nearness and comfort, with promises, with salvation.

In sharing the text with children there are a couple of difficulties:

1.  The language.  What does blessed mean?  And meek and poor in spirit - the list goes on...

Blessed - to use happy as a synonym doesn't go far enough.  Blessed implies a grace of God has been given - as Bruner states, it means God is on the side of...

Poor in Spirit - those who know their need for God; those who feel their poverty - so it can move beyond the abject poor to those who cry out to God in their need.

Those who Mourn - the heart-broken, those who grieve - they will be comforted by God; they will know him as their salvation and be comforted.

Meek - those who are humble and gentle; those who know their strength is in the Lord - it is they who will inherit the earth.

Those who hunger and thirst for Righteousness - those who long for, who desire what is right; for them right relationships in the world are not a luxury or a mere hope but an absolute necessity.

Merciful - those who come to the aid of the needy

Pure in Heart - Clear at the center; people centered on God; people who have their inside world - their heart and their mind put right.

Peacemakers - reconcilers; circle makers; whole makers which has to do with communal well being in every direction and in every relation.

Persecuted for Righteousness Sake - when people hurt you for Jesus' sake

Bruner notes the movement in this text from "the blessings of the grace of God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who picks up all who are down and sends them out into the world to pick others up, knowing this will lead these very helpers to be thrown back down in persecution and so, into need; from whence they will rise from their knees to their feet, where they will be knocked down and so on, for the rest of their lives - the aerobics of discipleship." (pg. 156)

He draws stick figures to illustrate this: the blessed poor on their knees reaching up to heaven, then a stick figure standing with its hands out to the world to represent the blessed helpers and finally a little stick figure on its back, with its hands reaching back up to heaven to represent the blessed persecuted.

In looking more deeply at the Beatitudes we find they are much more than wise sayings of Jesus, they speak to the spiritual life, to our very lives as disciples.

2.  The second problem we realize is that this is counter to the way the world operates!  Compare the list between who gets the attention and benefits in this world and who gets the attention and benefits in God's world.  Have the children think of who the world considers blessed and the list might look a little like this: the wealthy who can buy whatever they want, those with a lot of degrees and important jobs, those who are ambitious who can always find a way to get what they want, those who are powerful or famous because people care what they say, the beautiful , the strong.  In Jesus' kingdom the list looks like this: God is on the side of those who are at the end of their rope, those who know their need of Him, God is on the side of those who are heart-broken and grief-stricken; God is on the side of those who have no power in the eyes of the world - the humble and gentle who know their strength is in the Lord; God is on the side of those who long for and desire with all they are what is right and fair, for good relationships; God is on the side of those who come to the aid of others, those who care for people; God is on the side of people who have God at the centre of their hearts and minds, God is on the side of those who bring people together, those who work for the wholeness of the community, for right relationships between all people; God is on the side of those people who are knocked down and hurt for their commitment to following Jesus. (see an adaptation of the beatitudes below)

This is the upside down Kingdom of God inaugurated in Christ who came a vulnerable baby, without power in the eyes of the world, showing mercy, longing for justice and the wholeness of all creation. He himself was persecuted - crucified on the cross and in so doing he claimed freedom and salvation for all people in his death and resurrection.

Sally Lloyd Jones writes this paraphrase from 1 Cor. 1:27 which is also included in our texts this week:

TOPSY- TURVY

The true story of God coming to rescue his
children is Topsy- Turvy Good News!

Jesus said, "The way to be the greatest is
to be the least.  The way to save your life is
to give it away."

Jesus didn't come with wealth.  He came as
a poor man.

He didn't come as a General to grab power.
He came as a baby.

He didn't come to be the Boss of everyone.
He came to be a servant.

And - without fighting a single military
battle - God's undercover Prince conquered
the whole world!

("But God chose ... the weak things of the world to
shame the strong." 1 Cor. 1:27)


This week you might want to teach the lesson and all time for a prayer stations.  I found some ideas that I thought might be helpful here.

I have adapted the Beatitudes (below) and made copies for you in your rooms, there is space where children may draw a symbol or image for each beatitude. I also have accompanying prayer cards.  You may wish to have children cut out whatever prayer they would like to make for today and hang it on the tree.  The prayers are hole punched and I will have ribbon in your classes should you want to hang them.

Matthew 5:1-12

God is on the side of those who are at the end of their rope; those who feel their need for God.  He calls them blessed and says the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them.

God is on the side of those who are broken hearted; those who are weighed down and lost in their grief.  He calls them blessed for they will know him as their rescuer; he will comfort them.

God is on the side of those who know their strength comes from the Lord; those who wait upon him in all humility and gentleness.  He calls them blessed and promises that they will inherit the earth.

God is on the side of those who long for what is right and just; those who desire relationships that are fair with their whole being.  He calls them blessed and he promises that he will satisfy them.

God is on the side of those who help people in need; those who offer kindness.  He calls them blessed and he says that they too will receive care.

God is on the side of those who have God at their very centre; those who love the Lord their God with all their heart, all their soul and with all their mind.  He calls them blessed and says they will see God at work in the world.

God is on the side of those who are peacemakers; those who show others how to get along and work together.  He calls them blessed and more than that, he calls them his very own children.

God is on the side of those who follow him with their whole lives; even when their commitment brings trouble and is so hard it hurts.  He will be with them, just like he was with the prophets and witnesses who also found themselves in trouble and deep difficulty.  He calls them blessed and says the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them.

(I leaned heavily on Bruner and Peterson for this adaptation, I offer it in all humility)


May God be with you as you bring the Word and his words to the Children this week.

Sara

Jesus Begins His Ministry and Calls the First Disciples

Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested he withdrew to Galilee.  He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernum, by the sea, in the territory of Zebulan and Nephtali, so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled,

"Land of Zebulan, Land of Nephtali,

on the road by the sea, across the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles-

The people walking in darkness have see a great light

and for those who sat in the region

of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, the kingdom of heaven has come near."  As he walked by the see of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea - for they were fishermen.  And he said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people."  Immediately they left their nets and followed him.  As he went from there he saw two brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee mending their nets, and he called them.  Immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.  Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

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The texts for this Sunday include two references to light - In Matthew we read from Isaiah 9: "the people walking in darkness have seen a great light and for those who sat in the region of the shadow of death a light has dawned." And from Psalm 27: "The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear?" The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid." Matthew is the only gospel that includes this piece from Isaiah - Jesus is going forth into the very places that Isaiah foretold and from there into all the world.  This is really happening - the Kingdom has come and is coming in Christ!  Together during Advent grades 1-6 began to explore the concept of Jesus, light of the world and the truth that we too are lights in this world.  In the season of epiphany it is apt to gather around these truths and to ponder them.

Psalm 27 picks up on the tensions that we live in the midst of, both the confidence we hold in God - what is there to be afraid of?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life! - and the fears that we know all too well.  The psalmist names some of his fears: enemies that assail, our anxieties, violence, the fear that God might forget about us or even turn his face from us.  I am always grateful that the stories of scripture are full of people who struggle with being stubborn, fearful, who are sometimes lacking vision, conflicted and are yet loved and chosen by God to be his people.  I read some of the story of Elijah this week; Elijah was somewhat of a reluctant prophet who at one point amidst immense struggle begged God to let him die.  And in the midst of this terror and anxiety God came to him twice - with bread to sustain him and in the sound of sheer silence.  Many of us have experienced the feeling of wanting to hide or to run from God only to discover that we can turn to him in our fear, in our profound disappointment and grief and say with the psalmist - "he will hide me in his shelter; he will conceal me under the cover of a rock." Indeed God hid Jonah in the belly of the whale; he came to Elijah; he will take care of us; he is with us. And might we say with the psalmist, "I believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord, in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord, be strong, let your heart take courage and wait for the Lord."

Though our lessons focus on the calling of the disciples I included that bit from our Psalm today because I think it also sheds some light on being a disciple.  The disciples were not super-human Christians, they were utterly human.  And though they were with Jesus they knew what it was to be fearful, to sacrifice, to fail and to trust; they too could find themselves in the words of the Psalm.  In this story we see them filled with faith - stepping away from all that they know - their work, their families, their routines - to follow Jesus.  Have you ever been filled with such boldness?  I can think of a few times in my life when I have been filled with boldness; boldness that even befuddled those closest to me.  And what followed was not only exhilarating but stretching and difficult and joy and grief mingled.  

Recently I had the realization, after some hard learning, that I have become increasingly risk averse - choosing to maintain status quo rather than speak to conflict, choosing what is safer and more common sense, choosing security over vulnerability, the list goes on.  I think this is part of my nature and because circumstances have changed, as the responsibilities have piled on and the priorities have shifted.  But, if I go beyond that I begin to discover that I am in some way those familiar, old, deep-seated fears are at work in me, again. However it has happened, I find myself more and more content in the Shire than ever.  Safe to say if I was Ma and Pa Ingalls I think I would have just raised my family in the Big Woods and never ventured West!  And though leaving the Shire or heading out west in a covered wagon are perhaps dramatic examples - I think it is worthwhile to reflect on what it means to step out and follow Jesus. Because anyway you look at it being a disciple is radical and it is risky.  But we don't make decide to follow Jesus after a carefully weighed risk analysis - we follow Jesus because we, like the first disciples have been compelled, pursued by the hound of heaven.

"Peter, Andrew, James and John looked up at this man on the shore.  And they couldn't explain it: their boats needed to be put away, their nets needed mending, fish were still wriggling on the shore.  But something about this stranger made the just drop their nets and their fish, leave their boats and everything - and follow him.  This God-Man was like no one they have ever met.  When they looked at Jesus, their hearts filled up with a wonderful, forever sort of happiness and inside it was if they were running free it an open field... Meeting Jesus would change all of them forever."

(Sally Lloyd Jones - The Jesus Storybook Bible)

In Jesus God is doing something new, he is not writing the law on stone tablets, like Moses did.  He is writing it on the very hearts of the disciples and anyone else who might hear and receive the message of the Kingdom of heaven.  (Lauren Winner, The Voice of Matthew)

Might we also hear and receive God's word to us, may his law be written on our hearts that we might go forth into the world as light bearers who proclaim the good news to all people.  May the silence of our actions - the love we show our neighbours, the way we care for the world, and attend to the most vulnerable, resound.  When we speak may our words be potent, full of truth and grace. May we be given the gift of faith. hear your call and follow you with our whole lives.

John 1:29- 42 - The Lamb of God

John 1:29-42 The Lamb of God

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared.  "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.  And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.'  I myself did not know him but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'  And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, "Look here is the lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.  When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?"  They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means teacher), "where are you staying?"  He said to them, "Come and see," they remained with him that day.  It was about four o'clock in the afternoon.  One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon-Peter's brother.  He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which translated means Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus who looked at him and said, You are Simon son of John.  You are to be called Cephas (which is translated Peter).

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If you taught Sunday School last week you might be wondering why we are staying with the baptism story?  What is it that we might gain from considering John's telling of the baptism of Jesus?  The whole story unfolds in a rather odd way, doesn't it?  Surely I am not the only one who has found John's words as he saw Jesus approaching, a little jarring: "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" Note the exclamation mark both times that John yells or shouts this declaration out.  I have often wondered how this statement was heard in those times:  "Look here comes the sacrifice of God!"  Perhaps it catches me off guard because it juxtaposes the power we associate with God and the weakness of the Lamb.  Did their minds immediately go to the passover lamb, the blood around the door; the exodus, their freedom from slavery?  However the words were heard they must have tumbled out of John's mouth before it had fully registered in his mind  because with such a definitive statement, he goes on to say he 'did not know him'.  John the Baptist's life work, his calling has been to proclaim the coming of the Messiah and here he is - Jesus, the lamb of God. I think it would be hard to imagine a moment more full than this one - is this really him? And what now?  In this telling we discover a vulnerability - perhaps John is reflecting back on all he knows and has experienced of God; on his own calling; on all he has heard and proclaimed. And now the voice he knows says this to him, 'the one on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' Humanity and divinity - the wonder of incarnation.  And while this revelation is joyful fulfillment one has to wonder if John the Baptist felt any loss - his whole ministry would change; his disciples would become Jesus followers - everything was changing for John and for the whole world.  John the Baptist serves as an example to us, he points to Jesus always and in this moment he testifies, 'He is the Son of God'.

Epiphany and Incarnation - 

"The Word became flesh and blood 

and moved into the neighborhood.

We saw the glory with our own eyes,

the one of a kind glory,

like Father, like Son,

Generous inside and out, 

True from start to finish."

(John 1:14, The Message)

Well all of this activity in the wilderness had certainly been creating some buzz. Before Jesus came the Pharisees had sent Priests and Levites to question John the Baptist about his identity and his practices. John tells them, 'among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me.'  And he did come from amongst them; Jesus walked toward John to be baptized. The Anointed One - the Rescuer - walking towards them, no big deal, right??!!  This week Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel came to our city - to anyone who pays attention to this sort of thing there was certainly some anticipation and excitement.  There were pictures on facebook, posts on twitter, blog posts, newspaper columns, first person accounts from people who ran into them on the street or in the gym at their hotel.  Do you ever wonder what the buzz would be like if Jesus came to our city?  Now this is worth thinking about a little because it reminds us once again, that Jesus comes in a very different way than people of influence or power or fame come in our culture.  And yet his presence is utterly compelling.  Look at the way the first disciples respond to him, they start following him - they just want to be near him and perhaps they can't even articulate why that is.  In fact after they start following Jesus, he turns to them and says, "What are you looking for?"  I love this question as Jesus is inviting both conversation and reflection.  What are they looking for?  They can't even answer it, they just respond: "Rabbi, where are you staying?"  We just want to be near you, to learn from you, teacher.  And to this Jesus says, 'Come and see.'  What an invitation!  Jesus didn't choose the path of power or fame; he didn't come to give us what we want or need in the moment; to pacify us or amuse us for a while or leave us starstruck by his power.  No, he came to show us how to really live and this way of living would turn everything upside down and reveal to us truth and beauty and hope even in the least expected places.  Come and see - come get to know me and me, you. Come and receive a new name; a new identity, just like Simon, Son of John who became Peter.

Today we reflect on the wonder of incarnation and epiphany; on Jesus' humanity and his divinity; on power and weakness; on the salvation of God for all people.  We think about what it means to bear witness and to testify to who Jesus is today;  to receive the invitation to 'Come and see' and to extend it to others.  To be changed by Jesus.  

I think today's story would be a wonderful one to act out in our classes.  There are a number of roles that could be assigned - John the Baptist, Jesus, the Dove, the disciples (Andrew, Simon Peter, Simon), the voice of the one who called John to baptize with water (God). And a narrator, if you like.  Or you could narrate/direct which I sometimes find a bit easier as you can add cues which help the kids bring the story to life, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and he raised his arms and shouted...  Please feel free to put it in your own words and have fun with it.

May we hear and receive the invitation from the Lord to 'come and see!'

The Baptism of Jesus - First Sunday after Epiphany

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.  John would have prevented him saying, "I need to by baptized by you and do you come to me?"  But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness."  Then he consented.  And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.  And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

Today we celebrate the baptism of our Lord - this story is the story that makes sense of our own baptism and it draws us back to the wonder of God made flesh; the wonder of creation being redeemed and restored through Jesus.  As he passes through water, he blesses it so that we might receive the gift of LIFE as we pass through it.  We need water to survive, to live and to live forever.

Many of the children in our midst have been baptized at an age where they will remember the sacramental rite. The feeling of the water running down their heads or being plunged beneath it, if they were immersed. They may remember the feeling of oil on their foreheads and the warmth of the candle's flame as they held it front of them. Others were babies or young children at their baptism and they may have a picture with their parents and god parents and a candle in their room at home. They will likely know the story of their baptism, if they wailed all the way through it, or slept soundly; who their godparents are; who was present to celebrate with their family. And if they have grown up in the church they will know what it means to be welcomed into the covenant of God and into this family - the church.

Take some time and encourage children to tell what they know of their own baptism or the baptism of a friend or sibling.  Perhaps you will want to have a bowl of water in the classroom maybe you can place it in the centre of the circle or pass it around; encourage children to put their hands in it, to let it run through their fingers. Maybe you want to have a pitcher and give students each a glass of water to drink - reflect on all the ways that we need and use water in our lives.

A couple of years ago Don did a baptismal class for children - it was a simple and yet profound teaching looking at the symbols of baptism: water, oil and light.  In exploring water he first showed a picture of a pregnant woman and talked about how babies grow in the womb - in water - that has wonderful properties enabling life to develop.  We considered how our bodies are comprised of 60% water and how much water our bodies require each day.  He also had an arial view of the world in which we could see the bodies of water on the earth and begin to  grasp how necessary it is for all life on earth.  Finally children put their hands through dirt, before long it was up to their elbows and in their fingernails, if they scratched their nose it was on their faces - it was everywhere.  Though it was fun to muck around in at the beginning, it wasn't long before it was a nuisance to them and they wanted to wash it off.  The children plunged their hands and in some cases their arms into clean water bringing to light the cleansing properties of water and drawing the spiritual parallel of water cleansing us of sin and bringing us to newness of life.

The in the baptismal liturgy we hear the following words read over the water at the baptismal font:

Praise God who made heaven and earth,

All who keeps his promise for ever. 

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All It is right to give thanks and praise.

We thank you, almighty God, for the gift of water 

to sustain, refresh and cleanse all life. 

Over water the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. 

Through water you led the children of Israel

from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land.

In water your Son Jesus received the baptism of John 

and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, 

to lead us from the death of sin to newness of life.

We thank you, Father, for the water of baptism.

 In it we are buried with Christ in his death.

 By it we share in his resurrection.

 Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit. 

Therefore, in joyful obedience to your Son,

we baptize into his fellowship those who come to him in faith.

Now sanctify this water that, by the power of your Holy Spirit, 

they may be cleansed from sin and born again. 

Renewed in your image, may they walk by the light of faith 

and continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Lord; 

to whom with you and the Holy Spirit

be all honour and glory, now and for ever.

All Amen.

Take some time to give thanks for the sacrament of baptism, for Jesus who identified with us in baptism and leads us into life; give thanks for the forgiveness of sins, for a God who makes all things new.

This might be a good opportunity to share about what your baptismal identity means to you.  You may also want to invite someone to come participate in your class and share about their baptism and what it means to them.  Perhaps this conversation will spill over to the dinner table.  

May God fill you with his Spirit as you prepare; may the time you spend in preparation and with children this week be full of thanksgiving and joy.