BibleProject | Upside-Down Kingdom / Part 1 - LukeSampl

Jesus appoints twelve men from among all of his disciples to be leaders, and the number twelve is not random. Jesus intentionally chooses twelve men to show that he is redeeming the twelve tribes of Israel by forming a new one. But at first glance, this new Israel doesn’t exactly seem like an upgrade. Jesus chooses a ragtag bunch of folks, educated and uneducated, rich and poor. Jesus even chooses a former tax collector who worked for the Roman occupation and a former rebel (zealot) who fought against the Roman occupation! God’s love for the outsider and the poor brings unlikely people together. It seems like they could never get along, but these sworn enemies leave everything behind to follow Jesus and enter into a new world order where they are called to reconcile and live in unity.

Luke shows us what this new world order is all about in his record of Jesus’ teachings about the upside-down Kingdom. In it, Jesus says that the poor are blessed because they have the Kingdom of God, and that those who weep will one day laugh. In the new world order, disciples are called to love their enemies, to be strangely generous to people they don’t like, to show mercy, and to forgive. And this radical way of life was not just something Jesus talked about. He led the way and loved his enemies by making the ultimate sacrifice–– giving up his very life.

Read, Reflect, and Respond:

• Were you chosen by Jesus alongside someone you don’t like? How does Jesus’ teachings of the upside-down Kingdom (Luke 6:20-38) speak to that relationship? What is one step you can take to show him/her radical mercy and love today?
  
• Let your reading and reflection prompt a prayer. Receive Jesus’ generous mercy as you pray for his mercy over others. Be honest with him about where you need help with this. He’s listening.