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It's this Sunday, on Matthew 5:1-16 (The placement church I'm at doesn't use the lectionary.)
I'm only posting this because some people were curious about it. Those of you who are experienced preachers, go easy on me!
I'm only posting this because some people were curious about it. Those of you who are experienced preachers, go easy on me!
The Beatitudes are familiar and beautiful Soothing, even. I wonder if they are now over-familiar to some of us and have lost a bit of their impact as blessings and promises of God. The Beatitudes should lead us to ask ourselves some pretty challenging questions. How different is Gods perception of human well being from mankinds ideas? A deeper look reveals Gods blessing is not what many people expect, or are prepared for.
These verses are an introduction to what is usually called the Sermon on the Mount, whose main theme is the Kingdom of Heaven, which really boils down to living life Gods way. The Beatitudes are about Kingdom characteristics.
Who was Jesus intending this message for, then? His disciples, most certainly. At the beginning of todays reading, Matthew tells us When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and at the end of the Sermon at chapter 7, it says, Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching. So yes, his disciples came to him but it isnt hard to imagine that within the crowd, his huge following that was so interested in him already even though this sermon occurred very early on in his ministry within that crowd there were different levels of following. And there still are different levels of following Jesus today. The 2001 UK Census showed that 72% of people claimed to be Christian. I wonder how many of those actually know what Jesus asks of his disciples? The word disciples in verse 1 doesnt necessarily equate to his inner circle or to the Apostles. The word disciple means learner or follower, and doesnt automatically mean they were all obedient learners or followers
Can we imagine the crowd as you look upwards at the mountain: youve got the vaguely curious or drag-alongs nearer the bottom of the mountain; then about half-way up the mountain, perhaps those who recently witnessed one of the healings recorded in Chapter 4; and then closer to the top would be those who had been following him for longer, they may even have been there when Jesus was baptised by John. Finally, surrounding Jesus on the top of the mountain, then, were those so compelled by the teachings and healings of Jesus that they made the more conscientious step to drop everything follow him closely and begin to shape their own lives after his example.
What Jesus preached on top of that mountain was what John Blanchard calls a double-barrelled sermon. He says, It was crammed with meaning for believers, challenging their lifestyle and testing the depth of their commitment. But it also had a devastating message for unbelievers, shattering their illusions as to the kind of life which is pleasing to God and satisfying to man. So Jesus is addressing his disciples, but through them, he is also addressing the whole world. This is the crux of what the Beatitudes have to say to us, and its as relevant now as it was then: What the world chases after in pursuit of happiness and fulfilment is far from what God has in mind.
Each of the 9 Beatitudes begins with the word, blessed. And some translations use the word happy in place of the word blessed. But blessed cannot be reduced to happy unless we change our usual definition of happiness! Happiness in its usual meaning is a subjective emotion, often depending on circumstances. I felt so happy after Liverpool won the match Buying that sports car has made me sooo happy! If only I had a bigger house, that would really make me happy! Some people think the purpose of life is to be happy. The BBC once reported that Britain is less happy now than in the 1950s and thats despite the fact that we are three times richer!
In a book by the Dalai Lama called The Art of Happiness, one of the conclusions is that the key to happiness is in our own hands. Would we agree with that? In our first Beatitude, which lays down the foundation for the rest of them, we find Jesus teaching us that we are blessed when we are poor in spirit.
Poor in spirit when we recognise that we have nothing in our hands. When we become aware that nothing of our own doing will satisfy or fulfil us. Do we recognise our own critical need for God? The blessing is there.
Blessed are those who mourn. The mourning in this Beatitude is a spiritual mourning, a kind of Godly sorrow - a different kind of mourning than that for death, and tragic events. This is mourning for sin, not only our own sin, but also for the sin of the world. This is mourning for those things we do that separate us from God. When we sin, is there a godly sorrow that leads to repentance? The blessing is there.
Meekness. Is that the same as being quiet and timid? No, it isnt. Meekness is the willingness to submit to God - the humble acceptance of Gods sovereign rule in our lives. Are we willing to be governed by God alone? The blessing is there.
The fourth Beatitude seems a little easier to swallow (if youll excuse the pun!) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness Contrast this with what people often hunger and thirst for material possessions, riches, popularity, power in this Beatitude Jesus tells us we are blessed when this hunger and thirst is transferred to what is right and true. Are we hungry and thirsty for rightness in every realm of our lives? We cannot make ourselves righteous. It is only through Jesus that we will be counted as such. There is the blessing.
Blessed are the merciful. Mercy is shown by constant love even through difficulties and even if we have been letdown or rejected. How much greater is Gods mercy than our mercy? There is the blessing.
Blessed are the pure in heart. The word pure reminds me of the refiners fire In the prophetic book of Malachi, it is written: But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiners fire and like fullers soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. How pure are our motives?
Blessed are the peacemakers. Notice Jesus does not say peace lovers but peacemakers- One is passive, the other is active. Do we seek to make peace when it is within our power to do so?
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. God doesnt want us to be persecuted for any old reason, but for righteousness sake; we can expect in this world to face opposition - opposition from those we stand up against, for Christs sake. And stand up we must. Persecution is the cost of obedient committed discipleship the persecution that follows when we give up what the world considers to be blessings the independence, the self-satisfaction, the never-ending pursuit of selfish gain in our worldly status.
Christ calls us to a distinctive, different, and demanding way of life. And the blessing is here. The blessing is in the life. Jesus came so that we would have life life in all its fullness. This life sprinkles salt on our wounded world a cleansing antiseptic that might be painful in the process. This life shines light that reflects, exposes, illuminates and guides.
If we exhibit these 9 characteristics or beatitudes, we certainly WILL be Salt and we certainly WILL be light. If we do not, then we must examine ourselves and ask why not? The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. We must continually give ourselves over to Gods rule. The qualities found in the Beatitudes are never found naturally; they are fruits of new birth. All of this is meant to drive the believer and the unbeliever alike to the place where utter helplessness is recognised, and God is called upon for saving grace.
As we journey together, may we encounter Christ Jesus,
Be empowered to live like him,
And understand more fully what it means to be blessed.
Amen.
