Jesus has been causing quite a stir up in Galilee. Many are drawing near in astonishment and faith. While others are recoiling back in skepticism and disbelief. Jesus’ own followers are starting to feel the heat. They’ve left everything and followed Him. Now the Pharisees are starting to question where their loyalties lie.
Of course, we know the answer. Because in Luke 6:12-16, we read that Jesus called his disciples to Himself and chose twelve of them to join His inner circle as Apostles. They’ve decided to go “all in” with Jesus.
And with these words, Jesus begins what scholars call “The Sermon on the Plain.” It bears many similarities to the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew. In both sermons, Jesus begins the same, “Makarios!” Which means blessed, happy, well-off, and favored. It’s the Good Life!
In these opening verses, Jesus is answering three crucial questions:
- Who has the Good Life?
- What is the Good Life?
- Where is the Good Life?
1. Who has the Good Life?
- The good life belongs to the most unlikely people.
- Despite poverty, hunger, or exclusion, the Good Life belongs to those who seek Christ.
2. What is the Good Life?
- The good life is citizenship in the kingdom of God.
- Jesus shows us what the Good Life is by pairing these couplets of “Blessings” and “Woes” in this passage.
- You can be a loser in the kingdoms of men, but if you belong to the kingdom of God, you’re a winner.
3. Where is the Good Life?
- The good life is found in the presence of Jesus.
- Rejections shall fade in His embrace.
- Give me Jesus. Give me Jesus! You can have all this world, give me Jesus!
Takeaway: Which Good Life are you living for?
- Are we living for the Good Life here and now? Or are we living for the real Good Life that begins now and comes in fullness in the age to come?
Matthew 6:18–33 says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 24 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 31 Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
“Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth ‘thrown in’: aim at Earth and you will get neither.” – C.S. Lewis
