The World Turned Upside Down Base Text: Luke 6:20-26 I. Introduction A. We understand that the world we live in works in certain ways B. Many of these concepts are considered "conventional wisdom" C. Examples abound 1. It is better to be rich than to be poor 2. It is better to be feared than loved 3. People should seek after what makes them happy 4. It is better to be liked than disliked 5. Love your friends and hate your enemies 6. God helps those who help themselves D. We could go on and on! E. While these ideas may make sense in worldly terms, Jesus of Nazareth demonstrates that they may not be true for His Kingdom! 1. Indeed, in much of His teachings, He demonstrates that in His Kingdom, things are quite different 2. Consider Daniel 2:43-45: God's Kingdom will destroy the power of earthly kingdoms! 3. Jesus' Kingdom will turn the world upside down! F. In Luke 6:20-26, Jesus presents a series of beatitudes and woes that indicate how His Kingdom turns the world upside down G. Let us explore these today II. The First Contrast: The Poor and the Rich A. Jesus presents these beatitudes and woes in four contrasts B. Let us consider the first contrast C. Luke 6:20 / Luke 6:24 D. The poor blessed? 1. The idea that the poor are blessed certainly goes against conventional wisdom! 2. The poor have many difficulties-- how are they blessed? 3. Jesus says that the Kingdom is for them 4. We should not automatically deduce from this that all poor people will be part of God's Kingdom; far from it 5. The realization exists, however, that poor people, in their humility, are more willing to follow Jesus than the rich! 6. James 1:9, Matthew 9:12-13 7. Because they are willing to listen to Jesus, the poor place themselves in a better position for salvation E. Woe to the rich? 1. The rich in this world tend to be blessed and favored! 2. That is exactly what Jesus indicates-- they have received their consolation! 3. Luke 12:18-21, Matthew 19:16-26 4. If they trust in their riches, that is all they have-- what will happen to them when the riches are destroyed (2 Peter 3:8-12, Matthew 16:24-27)? 5. The only chance for the rich is in their humiliation-- James 1:10 6. Must use earthly wealth in ways to build spiritual wealth (1 Timothy 6:17-19) III. Second and Third Contrasts: Hungry/Weeping and Full/Laughing A. Jesus then provides two additional contrasts to inspire reflection on life (Luke 16:21 / Luke 16:25) B. The Hungry and the Full 1. Jesus indicates that the hungry are blessed, for they will be satisfied 2. Woes come to the full, however, for they will hunger C. The Weeping and the Laughing 1. Jesus also demonstrates the blessedness of the weeping, for they will laugh 2. Woe is there to the laughing, for they will weep and mourn D. What to make of these? 1. Should we take these in absolute terms-- that those who are full and are laughing are condemned, and we should go around hungry and weeping? 2. By no means! 3. Jesus is not talking in absolute terms, but is reversing normal expectations! E. Expectations 1. We, as humans, tend to enjoy the times of fullness and laughter 2. We have no love for hungry and mournful times 3. Yet Jesus seeks for us to reconsider our thinking! 4. There is a blessing in hunger-- satisfaction will come 5. But to those who are full, what can there come next but hunger? 6. Those who mourn and weep can look forward to laughter 7. Those who laugh can only look forward to weeping and mourning at other times! 8. James 4:9 III. Fourth Contrast: The Reviled and the Adored A. Jesus' last contrast involves those who are reviled and excluded for His sake and those of whom people speak well B. Luke 6:22-23 / Luke 6:26 C. Blessed are the reviled and excluded for the sake of the Son of Man 1. Persecution is a blessing? 2. Quite; Jesus says to in fact rejoice and leap for joy! 3. The reason? Their reward in Heaven is great! D. Like the Prophets 1. Jesus compares such people to the prophets 2. Acts 7:52, Hebrews 11:32-38 3. The Scriptures testify to the abuse the prophets suffered for proclaiming God's truth! 4. If we proclaim God's truth, should we expect any different of a reaction? E. Woe when men speak well of you 1. Again, quite contrary to the way that people usually think! 2. What is the difficulty with being well thought of? F. Like the False Prophets 1. The Old Testament indicates the existence of many false prophets 2. They would say that the LORD would say things that would please the ears of those who heard-- yet the LORD said no such thing! 3. Example: 1 Kings 22: all the prophets predicted victory but Micaiah son of Imlah, and indeed, Ahab fell in war G. The false prophets were spoken well of since they told the people what they wanted to hear, and not God's truth! 1. Jesus expects that many people will not appreciate the truths of the Gospel 2. If everyone thinks well of someone, it means that the person is probably not really teaching all of God's truth! 3. 2 Timothy 4:1-5: a good contrast and a warning! IV. Conclusion A. Jesus indeed turns the world upside down-- the humble are exalted and the exalted are humbled! B. He then continues in Luke 6:27-49 to provide the way that the Kingdom works 1. Love of all people, enemies included (vv. 27-30) 2. Doing to others as you would have them to do you (v. 31) 3. Love and do good even if you do not receive in kind (vv. 32-35) 4. Need to be merciful, compassionate, (vv. 36-38) 5. Need to follow Jesus, be like Him (vv. 39-40) 6. Hypocritical judgment condemned (vv. 41-42) 7. Knowing by fruit (vv. 43-45) 8. Need to do the will of Jesus (vv. 46-49) C. This is how the world is turned upside down: not following "conventional wisdom," but holding fast to Christ and His teachings, and striving to be like Him D. Let us be His obedient servants! E. Invitation/songbook