The Rorschach Godናሙና

Sermon on the Mount: The Jesus (Godhead) Way:
The Sermon on the Mount stands as arguably the most profound sermon ever delivered. It starkly contrasts the previous system established before Jesus, which relied on laws, works, and the Mosaic Covenant. Instead, Jesus introduces a new paradigm—a Better Covenant founded on righteousness.

Jesus spoke with an authority unlike anything that had been heard before. Even now, when we encounter His words from the Sermon on the Mount, we sense the power and conviction with which Christ spoke—not only to His immediate audience but also to generations that would follow.

In Matthew 5, Jesus challenges established Scripture and traditions six times with the authoritative declaration, “But I say to you” (see Matthew 5:22, 28, 32, 39, 44). The primary aim of the Sermon on the Mount was to cast light on the shadows of the old law, revealing its true meaning within the context of the New Covenant. Through this teaching, the traditional perceptions of God, which had been shaped over time, underwent radical redefinition in light of Jesus's revelation.

In Matthew 5:17, Jesus declares, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

During Jesus’ time, the Old Testament Scriptures held a certain glory, yet they didn’t fully reveal the authentic heart and nature of God embodied in Jesus Himself. The people of that era struggled to grasp the entirety of Jesus’ message because they were entrenched in religious traditions and rules that seemed to define their worthiness before God. Jesus, however, brought something revolutionary—an expansion and fulfillment of the divine narrative that may have seemed too good to be true to those steeped in legalism.

In a pivotal moment at the start of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges our perceptions of God’s nature. He reveals God’s true image in Matthew 5:43-45 (NKJV), saying:

"You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."

Through the revelation of Jesus, they discovered a God who embodied qualities they had never seen nor envisioned. They found a Creator who, despite His immense power, identified with the poor in spirit. They encountered a God who empathized with human suffering and wept alongside them. They met a God whose gentleness contradicted the violent portrayals attributed to Him in Israel’s history. This God freely offered righteousness as a gift, displayed unwavering mercy, and radiated purity of heart and peace. It starkly contrasted the fearful and wrathful image humanity had been taught to fear. This was the God revealed through Jesus, hidden behind the Rorschach images projected onto Him. This was the God who looks like Jesus.