Make Salt-less Salt Salty Again

Matthew 5:11-13 In the beatitude, Jesus startled the disciples when he said they would be persecuted – all because of him! How could one make any sense out of such teachings – such expectations?

Their puzzlement increased when Jesus continued: “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.” (v. 13 - The Message)

You and I think little about salt. But when it’s not there, we know it – and

pick up the salt shaker and put some on our food – it’s the cheapest item on our table! Usually the salt we buy is salty, and does what it is supposed to do. In Jesus’ day, it wasn’t always the case.

The Phoenicians (and others) obtained quantities of salt by evaporation in salt-pans. But the Hebrews had access to an unlimited supply at the SW corner of the Dead Sea , in a 15 square mile elevation called the Hill of Salt.

Such salt was of the rock or fossil variety, and because of impurities and chemical changes, the outer layer was lacking in flavor and deemed worthless. Some less-than-honest salt sellers would put a little of the good stuff on top, and the rest was worthless.

About fifty or sixty years after Jesus’died, there was a question asked of a rabbi about how one could make saltless salt salty again. He replied that one should salt it with the afterbirth of a mule.

If you have no farm background, be advised that mules are sterile, so there is no afterbirth. What he most likely was saying was “if you ask a stupid question, you’ll get a stupid answer!”

Jesus was stating a fact of life for those listening, namely that unsalty salt is totally worthless. He was telling the disciples as clearly as he could that he was counting on them to be genuine salt – reflecting a God who authentically loved and cared for a world in need of love.

Of course, through the centuries, Jesus’ expectation hasn’t changed.

Are we the real thing? Genuine salt? Or does the world find Christianity “without flavor” today?

Prayer: Jesus, help me to be genuine salt – not a fake. Amen.