The Beatitudes in Matthew[i] start with blessed are the humble, and meek who are dependent on God. The point of the first part of the Beatitudes is Christians are to be compassionate and good while sponsoring an abundance of peace. Jesus then continued, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”[ii] Peacemakers have to be bold and strive to prevent contention, strife, and war by laying down the foundation of Christ to build upon[iii] to influence and reconcile opposing parties, hostilities in families and in their community.
Christ has given us the power to be a peacemaker. He “…has given His disciples the power of the Holy Spirit”[iv] to courageously “…speak the word of reconciliation.”[v] However, Jesus warned that while representing Him we “…will be hated by all for His name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”[vi] The “he who endures” is when men man up and are bold like Christ. When this happens, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely saying all kinds of evil against you because of Christ. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”[vii] Then Jesus revealed the cause and effect, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”[viii] In other words as long as we endure in boldly speaking the truth of Christ, we are the salt of the earth but if we lose our flavor, and boldness, we are good for nothing.
This shows after salvation we receive a glorious but arduous commission to be a disciple maker for Christ. However, to reconcile the world to Christ, believers must “Be strong and courageous.[ix] …not be afraid or terrified because of them (the adversary), for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.””[x] Paul confirms the challenge to be bold when he asks disciples to “Pray …for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”[xi] Therefore, to walk and be like Christ we must speak courageously and publicly like Jesus did[xii] or we will let God down failing to do our duty. Understanding failure to do our duty is always birthed in unfaithfulness.
True disciples may look mild because they know ‘Christ’s love is selfless courage witnessing His truth to hold evil scoreless so grace can win’. Being Christ’s witness always requires courage and sacrifice, because we open ourselves to scrutiny and mockery. Jesus told His disciples they would receive the power to witness Christ’s truth to the ends of the earth. What is that power? Boldness and courage are the power to speak into darkness as defined in Acts 4:13, 29, 31;26:16-18; 28:20–31. Christians therefore are lions dressed in sheep clothing witnessing the “Lion of the tribe of Judah…”[xiii] to the ends of the earth!
All four Gospels gives details of Jesus being fearless and courageous: “When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves” (Mark 11:15-19). This is also in Matthew 21:12-17, and Luke 19:45-46 after the triumphal entry but in John 2:12-25 this took place before the triumphal entry. Jesus may have fearlessly cleansed the Temple twice.
I thought Jesus was meek, mild and never a divisive person. Isn’t that how a Christian should be? The image of Jesus violently knocking over tables and chairs while using a whip isn’t how many Christians know Jesus. Many artists portray Jesus as a weak submissive person. Others think to be a good Christian we need to be quiet, sweet, and inoffensive. Quiet, sweet and inoffensive isn’t meekness, strength under control, it is harmless. Harmless men are not capable of valor because they lack the capacity or intent to be fearless. Disciples of Christ are never harmless because “the righteous are as bold as a lion.”[xiv]
In the New Testament the real Jesus was a man’s man, a Medal of Honor winner so to speak. He was the persona of God, courageous and the Lion of Juda under control of the Holy Spirit. The merchants’ tables were not plastic tables. They were massive tables made of heavy wood, maybe even covered with marble, and Jesus turned them over. His actions while whipping people to clear them out of the Temple caused complete chaos as doves flew out of their cages and money flew everywhere. Those in the Temple were presented with a violent divisive person. Jesus knew what many Shepherds and Christians seem to have forgotten. There is “A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to die, a time to kill, a time to break down, a time to throw away, a time to speak, a time to love, a time to hate, a time of war, and a time of peace.”[xv] This was the time to make a whip and drive out all those who bought and sold in the Temple.[xvi]
Consequently, to honor our Christ given commission today we must be steadfast, have moral integrity, the courage of conviction, perseverance to speak light of Christ into darkness. We must be willing to sacrifice ourselves and know as we verbally represent Christ to the world this will cause contention. All the while being aware that the foundation of Jesus’ traits is bold, power under control, compassionate, humble, forgiving, and capable of courageous action while under the influence of the Holy Spirit. All of these are character traits of Jesus, and every Christian needs to strive to reach this high mark.
David Howard, Foxhole Ministry
[i] Matthew 5:3-13
[ii] Matthew 5:9
[iii] 1 Cor. 3:10
[iv] Acts 1:8
[v] 2 Cor 5:19
[vi] Matthew 10:22 – Mark 13:13- Luke 21:17 – John 15:18
[vii] Matthew 5:10-12
[viii] Matthew 5:13
[ix] 1 Corinthians 16:13
[x] Deuteronomy 31:6
[xi] Ephesians 6:19-20
[xii] John 7:26
[xiii] Revelation 5:5
[xiv] Proverbs 28:1
[xv] Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
[xvi] Matthew 21:12