You are on the side of a mountain listening intently to a man named Jesus. You hear the grumblings of the people all around you. You are fearful of an uprising. There are so many, many people here! Who is this man? What is He saying? What is He teaching? He seems like He has a good disposition—wise, kind, gentle and yet strong. Why are His words and teachings angering so many?
He is confusing. He is contrary. He does not “fit” into our mold or our way of life. He is different, perhaps too different. We have already heard Him speak about being poor. We have already heard Him say that those who mourn are blessed. What sense does that make? What is it that He is saying now?
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”
You are baffled. You are stunned. You are confused and, in this confusion, frustration begins to well up inside you. An unsettled feeling washes over you as you listen to others mutter to themselves. Yes, this man called Jesus is trying to turn our lives inside out.
Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:
• Describe what it means to live inside out.
