living in the light Matthew 5:13-20

Early in his ministry as the crowds started to gather Jesus went up on a mountaintop to speak to his people. He spoke to this crowd of fishermen, farmers, villagers, and peasants about their true identity in Christ. He said something so audacious. He said, You are salt--you are light. His words were more than just audacious--his words were full of hope and purpose. He spoke to the people about God's coming kingdom--the kingdom that Jesus was bringing with him every step. And about how that coming kingdom would transform God's people for the sake of the world.

This sermons started with words about blessing that reshaped how the people around Jesus saw their relationships both with God and with people. Oh Jesus said, you are blessed if you are peacemakers, you are blessed if you're grieving, you are blessed if you have a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Jesus spoke of blessings for those the world might think of as weak and powerless. Forget what the world sees--God sees you as much loved. Jesus sees you as salt and light.

Jesus ministry drew crowds and now on the mountaintop he was opening a vision of the kingdom and also of the role that we as God's people have in spreading the salt and light of the coming kingdom of God.

Jesus words point to his followers.
You are salt, salt for the earth.
You are light, light for the cosmos

Jesus didn't say you might make yourself into salt or light if you try hard enough or become holy enough. He spoke these words of identity to the crowd on that mountain in Galilee. He said you are salt and light. He said this to the fishermen, farmers, villagers, and peasants. And he could have been saying this to any of his followers. Think of this word for everyone who walks with Jesus. Jesus calls the cops, the mechanics, the teachers, the nurses, the doctors, the cashiers, the student, the retired person to be salt for the earth, to be light for the cosmos.

What ever your work might be--whatever your story might be. He said that you have a place in his coming kingdom--you have a role in the beginning of his reign. You, he said, you are salt and light. Jesus was saying something about the people gathered on that mountaintop and about his people ever sense.

In our world people are so quickly reduced down to little more than objects. The world might say you are just a...

• consumer
• commodity
• has been
• wannabe
• insignificant
• a product to be bought and sold
• a number

Jesus says you your story your life is about so much more. You are known to God. You are salt and light. Maybe we need to forget what our world says--and remember again what Jesus who died and rose from the dead has said about his people. You are salt--you are light.
AMEN.
Peace and thanks for reading
John