Upside-Down Kingdom
READ
In the 1970s, Donald Kraybill, a sociologist and professor, wrote an award-winning book dubbing the ways of Jesus and his kingdom "the upside-down kingdom." He argued that the ways of Jesus were countercultural, pointing to "an inverted, upside-down way of life that challenges the prevailing social order." That phrasing has become popular over the last few decades, resonating with the centuries-old idea that Jesus' ways were different from the world's.
Today, our passage highlights the upside-down ways of Jesus and serves as an invitation to love people in a way that will shock and awe the world around you.
Take a moment to read Matthew 5:38-47:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?"
REFLECT
There's a scene in Les Misérables that gets me every time.
The main character, Jean Valjean, has just served an unfair 19-year prison sentence for stealing a loaf of bread, and upon his release, he is refused shelter by every local inn. Eventually, he finds reprieve in the home of a generous Bishop, where he is given a warm meal and a comfortable bed for rest. And yet, hardened by the state of his life, Jean Valjean sneaks out of the Bishop's care and steals a silver plate so he can sell it.
Jean Valjean doesn't make it far before the police catch him, find the stolen silver, and drag him back to the Bishop for proof. And yet, when the Bishop sees the police with Valjean, he acts as though the stolen silver was a gift and says something to the effect of, "Brother, I'm so glad to see you! But you forgot these two silver candlesticks that I also gave you. They're worth 200 francs! Why didn't you take these as well?"
You see, the Bishop had every right, by the world's laws and standards, to seek justice and even vengeance. But the Bishop was playing by a different kingdom's rules.
This famous scene is one of the most powerful in the story because it's countercultural to human nature even today. And it's a scene that perfectly displays the contrast we see in Matthew 5, highlighting the ways of the world versus the ways of the upside-down kingdom Jesus invites us into.
According to the world, if you want to be successful, you have to look out for yourself. It's considered fair game to take out the competition in a dog-eat-dog world. The Palestinians listening to Jesus' words understood that mentality. Jesus told them, "You've heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'" But Jesus set the record straight, telling them that society's laws and systems only go so far, and that his ways were better.
"But I tell you…"
Someone slaps you? Turn the other cheek. Someone sues you for your shirt? Give them your coat as well. They make you go a mile? Go ahead and walk with them for two.
And Jesus didn't stop there.
He told us that the world encourages us to love our circle of friends and the people who bring value to our lives. But in the upside-down ways of his kingdom, Jesus again shows that the world's ways don't go far enough. Not only are we called to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:39), but in this passage we're told to love our enemies and pray for those who mean us harm!
Sometimes the ways of Jesus don't make sense, but if we're using his ways to get ahead, we're missing the point. The way of the world is to use people to get ahead. But the upside-down ways of Jesus are all about radical, selfless love. Our invitation from today's passage is to love people in unthinkable and shocking ways—ways that cause others to look at us with curiosity and find Jesus.
That neighbor who has the flag you disagree with? Love them and invite them to dinner.
The family member who gets on your last nerve? Love them anyway.
The co-worker who talks poorly about you behind your back? Pray for them and bless them.
And like the Bishop in Les Mis, if someone steals your silver plate, give them your silver candlesticks too—and then give them the same life-changing news he gave Jean Valjean:
"You no longer belong to evil, but to good."
Lord, let it be so.
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you've read.
Spend a few moments thinking about the people in your life. Is there a person (or maybe several people!) who regularly makes your life more difficult?
What would it look like to love them radically in the way God is calling you to?
How does loving people radically grow your trust in God?
REST
Take a moment to rest in God's presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading. Then close your devotional experience with this prayer:
Lord, thank you that your ways are not my own. God, I confess that loving people radically doesn't always come naturally to me. Would you open my eyes to the people in my life who need to see the radical love of Jesus? Would you help me die to myself and live in a way that only makes sense because of you? And Lord, when I forget or don't want to love others, remind me of your radical love for me, and let that love transform my heart and my mind. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Port City writer Brittany Salmon wrote today’s devotional.