So this Jesus guy is going thru the countryside, talking to people, healing them of all sickness and disease, so He was pretty popular with the folks. When He saw a crowd of people coming one day, He went up a mountain with His friends and started to talk to them. These guys listened a lot to Jesus, but they had a hard time hearing Him, if you know what I mean. He talked in a way that just didnt' make sense to them a lot of the time. They had their view of the world, their agenda they wanted to see fulfilled and when Jesus said things that they didn't understand, well, I think they just ignored Him or re interpretated what He said to their particular liking, kind of like we all do.
So Jesus tells these guys that the blessed people on the earth are the poor, and that the poor will inherit the kingdom of Heaven. Not only that, but the word He uses for "poor" is "piltolka" or something like this, a Greek work that literally means the lowest of the low. You see, there were levels of society in those days, and the high up's had 4 levels of the "have's", those associated with the power and riches, of which they had about all of it. The peasant class also had 4 levels, and these "pitolka" guys were the lowest of the 4. Like the "untouchables" in India, those who had nothing, criminals if they chose, beggars if they refused to steal, those who literally were deemed not worthy to be touched. Interesting point in this is that for the religious leaders of the day, they had a bunch of rules that were really a pain in the rear for everyone, but it helped them keep control and power so they liked the rules. One of these rules was that it was totally beneath ANY rabbi or student to sit at a table with such folks......which is kind of ironic since that is pretty much what Jesus did all the time. Hmmm.
So, Jesus is telling these guys who are following Him that the kingdom of Heaven is for the lowest of the low, the "untouchables", thieves and beggars. Those totally without power or clout or worth or social status or....pretty much anything. I have to think that this pretty much freaked out His followers, as I imagine them as, at least at this point, pretty much guys who thought Jesus was their meal ticket, the guy who would have power and clout and status and.... would share it with them. So, when Jesus is saying this it's like, "whoa, wait a minute, maybe we hooked our wagon to the wrong guy here, fella's". Who wants to be poor and all that? Remember when Jesus tells the rich guy that all he has to do is give up his money to the poor and he will have heaven, and the guy goes away totally bummed? The followers of Jesus asked Him, "who then can reach Heaven if not for the rich?". Jesus said it is easier for a camel to pass thru the eye of a needle than for the rich to get to Heaven, but then said that in God, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
So it seems to me that this Jesus guy is saying that anyone can reach Heaven, IF they see themselves as totally dependent and in need of God, and if they see themselves as one of the "untouchables". When we lower ourselves, we get a better view of God, I think, a truer view. Then we know where we really stand before Him, and we can truly get desperate enough for Him that we don't care about how we look to the world, only about how we need Him.
Pretty cool story if you ask me. If only churches were filled with more of the untouchables and fewer of the I'm in charge, I've got mine rabbi's I think Jesus would be a lot happier with us. Really.
Djebenis tout moun
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