Trusting Jesus

What does Jesus say about reality that we should trust? Essentially he says that God is in charge here and now, and that we should live accordingly {1}. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says the blessed life is different than we typically might think {2}. It involves some counter-intuitive choices. Instead of self preservation the way he promotes is be willing to suffer personal loss in lesser matters in order to experience deep personal gain in the most important matters. By trusting that our life only works when it is rooted in God, we can have deep contentment and confidence, and we can survive the inevitable challenges of our mortal lives {4}.

So what do we invite people to do? Do we invite them to trust in our religious formula for being forgiven? Or do we really invite people, by what we say and by how we live, that God really is in charge, right here; right now. The ultimate demonstration of Jesus' trust in the reliability of the Heavenly Father was in his willingness to suffer death at the hands of those who said his trust in God was unfounded. They mocked his perception of reality and put him to the test in a way that was obvious even to criminals being executed around him. "If he really is 'the son of God' let's see his trust pay off now!"

The resurrection was the demonstration that Jesus' trust in the presence and sufficiency of God was valid. There is more to his death and resurrection, but certainly not less than this. And it is quite a thing to say and do: to lay down one's life before God in full confidence.

{1} (Matthew 4:17) From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

repent=rethink thoroughly

kingdom of heaven=God in charge

at hand=here and now

{2} Matthew 5:1-11 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. (2) And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: (3)"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(4)"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.(5)"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.(6)"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.(7)"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.(8)"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.(9)"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.(10)"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(11)"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

{3} Matthew 5:43-48"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'(44)But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,(45)so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.(46)For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?(47)And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?(48)You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

{4} Matthew 7:24-27"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.(25)And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.(26)And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.(27)And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."