There’s a general principle that life is ruled by in this world.

The one with the more wealth will typically end up getting a better education. A last name can take someone further than their work ethic. People tend to mingle with those who are similar to them. Even looking into traditional cultures, the oldest got the inheritance and the power, the nobility and wealth.

We are told “all men are created equal” in America, but it seems like equals develop into different chess pieces and life goes in unequal ways that follow a certain path. The Kings and Queens get the spoils. The pawns will get the rest.

But if we look at the Bible, Jesus couldn’t be more opposed to the typical order in this world. Look at the people He associates with. Just look at what Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount and it should jump out at you how extremely counter-cultural Jesus is!

I believe I first heard the following idea from Timothy Keller that “every other system of religion says that this is the way. But Jesus is the only one that says I am the way.”

Religion demands a certain set of actions in order to achieve greatness or acceptance, but Jesus, having already achieved perfection, just wants your heart.

Religion asks, “What can you bring to the table?”
Jesus just wants us to have a seat at the table and enjoy Him.

Jesus never asks, “Do you have enough in you?” He just wants all of you.

God always reverses the values of the world. Look at who He blesses and uses for His glory.

It appears that God tends to gravitate toward the oppressed, not the privileged.
The weak, not the strong.
The humble, not the proud.
The poor, not the rich.

You can look at the Bible. Scripture is flooded with examples that were (and still are) so counter-cultural to the way things always have worked.

The unwanted woman, the barren woman.
The younger brother, the son who’s forgotten.
Joseph, not his brothers.
Moses, not Aaron.
Sarah, not Hagar.
Isaac, not Ishmael.
Hannah, not Penninah.
David, instead of his seven older brothers.

He has this backwards system of economics that differs from everything else we know.

Jesus even chose to reveal Himself to Mary Magdalene before any other after the resurrection. Back then, women did not have the same rights as men. A woman’s testimony in court would have been considered suspect, yet Jesus chose her as the first bearer of the best news in the darkest of times.

“Christ wins our salvation through losing. He achieves power through weakness and service. He comes to wealth by giving everything away. Those who receive his salvation also are not the strong and accomplished, but those who admit they are weak and lost.”
– Timothy Keller

How many blameless judges come down from the bench and take the verdict of justice for the guilty defendants?

He completely eliminates the idea of “better than” through His humility that He wants us to imitate.
Philippians 2:8
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death– even death on a cross!”
Ephesians 5:1-2
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us…

Jesus purposely chooses the outcasts, the prostitutes, the cheats, the lowly. He chooses us.

The uniqueness of what God values should serve to encourage us when we are down and at odds with the world as well as humble us when things seem to align with what the world wants for us. This revelation of God’s backwards system should promote perseverance in our faith, gratitude for God’s character, and compassion toward all people.

Jesus = FREEDOM

– J. Wilder