Epiphany 06: Great Reversal - Blessings and Woes

When you think of Jesus, what descriptive words come to mind? If someone asked you, “what is Jesus like?,” what would be some of the things you’d say? Then take a moment to revisit the scriptures Mandy preached over today, Luke 6:17-26. How do his words come across to you? How, as you absorb Jesus’ teaching, would you describe Jesus in this moment, as he confronts the crowd with proclamations of the Kingdom that are very counter to what they might have hoped or expected to hear (& may be counter to what we hope and expect to hear)? To what extent does the Jesus of this moment align with the descriptive words you listed initially? What do you make of the similarity or dissimilarity you find between your general description of Jesus and Jesus as he shows up in this passage in Luke?

In her sermon, Mandy pointed out that Jesus isn’t good news for people who want to avoid disruption. How do you see yourself in this paradigm? What’s your general orientation toward disruption? What emotions does the word “disruption” elicit for you? How do you feel about characterizing Jesus as a disruptor? Do you see yourself as disruptive in any contexts or ways? How do you feel about your answer?

Toward the end of her sermon, Mandy said, “when you embrace the idea of Jesus becoming the lowest of the low, it changes everything.” How do you feel about this characterization of Jesus? Do you feel the desire to add qualifiers or explanatory notes to the idea of Jesus being the lowest of the low? How do you respond to the totality of Mandy’s statement? To what extent do you think that you “embrace the idea of Jesus becoming the lowest of the low?” How, if at all, has that changed things for you? How, if it has, has it changed you?