So this next section starts of with giving a snapshot of Jesus teaching. I am guessing that this is the same sort of thing that he was doing throughout Galilee mentioned only a few verses prior while he was preaching, teaching and healing everyone.
First thing that Jesus did when he saw the crowds... go up a mountain and sit. Why a mountain? I don't know, but I would expect that from a mountain you would (1) be able to see people from father away as they approached you, and (2) you would have more light for longer so maybe he planned to stay awhile. He also sat so that tells me that he was expecting to be there for a while. If I'm going to be talking or teaching and I need to be the most patient as I explain my thoughts, personally, I sit. I would rather sit and teach - even on a stool so I'm still somewhat tall - rather than stand on my feet cuz my feet hurt after a while. It makes sense that our Messiah who experienced all the same trials that we did, has had tired feet, so why not sit if you will be in one place for a while. I wonder also if he did this so that people had to come to him. So many times I have seen the need for me to GO to Jesus. Yes, he will pursue me to express his love for me, but I think that God also desires us to pursue him. He doesn't want us to just get his presence by accident, he wants us to seek him out. This also makes sense because he does tell us to choose him and follow him of our own accord - He is presenting the people a choice to come to him or to avoid him without condemnation (he can see who is coming to him, but he isn't close enough to see who is avoiding them to guilt trip or shame them).
Next he starts going through what we commonly called the Beatitudes which means "supreme blessedness." Now I don't know about you, but I always thought that these were more about our state in life as in "blessed are those who mourn" ... I naturally thought of people who were mourning those who had died or mourned something happening to them. In this context the next line makes sense - "for they will be comforted." This is true. Usually when someone mourns, someone else will comfort them and God is definitely a great source of comfort.
BUT these conditions for those who are blessed are not about our condition in our worldly realm! They are about our spiritual conditions. I won't write all that the huge note in my bible that takes up half a page says, but I'll tell you the gist of it and my conclusions.
BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
(There is that kingdom of God statement again.) The word poor in spirit actually "indicates a 'helpless' person" not a person who is poor and can help themselves. So when Jesus said poor in spirit he meant that the first step to being blessed was to realize that we are utterly and completely spiritually helpless. As I digest this further, I think about how I usually feel like I can do something to help myself grow spiritually or that I can learn more based on what I do, or that I'm not pathetic and, well, helpless - or at least I'm not anymore... or at least that is what I have been thinking. But if the truth is that I'm helpless spiritually then that means a whole new world of freedom for me. Because I can't become more spiritually or do anything right spiritually anymore than a newborn can feed itself or clothe itself correctly or grow on purpose. I'm not in control. Wow, when I typed that I almost felt a tinge of fear as my next thought was, "Well then, WHO IS?" Then I thought, "Oh, wait, that's Jesus." What a relief! The One who is greater than the one in the world is in control of my spiritual growth. The one who I fit into the palm of his hand, who is my shield, who is my savior, and closest friend. HE is in control and I, just like a newborn, maybe I just need to cry out to him for what I need. And like any mom who knows her child's cries better than the kid does herself, He who is faithful will answer with what I need because He has good plans for me, dreams for me to prosper. Maybe that is why the poor in spirit is blessed, because they know they aren't in control (letting go of that burden, check!) and that all you have to do is cry out. We are blessed perhaps because it really is as simple as that.
One final thought... perhaps our blessing also includes the kingdom of God that Jesus shared about. What if when we cry out, he really does give us what we really need - even if we don't understand it? And what if what we really need truly IS the Kingdom of God? Think about it. We here on earth were not made for this world; we were made for a heavenly home. So, theoretically, we are therefore homesick, just like a baby just needs to be held by his mom or dad. So when we cry out, even if we don't know what's missing, Jesus gives it to us because he knows we need it. What comes with the Kingdom of God... Well I have theories about that. Perhaps with the Kingdom of God we get: peace that surpasses all understanding, protection under his wings, a lightening of our burdens that our Father wants to carry for us because we are so helpless, healing for our emotional and spiritual hurts, healing for our physical diseases and sicknesses, growth for our spiritual needs and character, His words and truth, gifts to help the rest of the body, His direction, discernment, forgiveness... I know that I have cried out for God and at some point in time or another I have received every single one of these things. Maybe when we know that our spiritual condition does not depend on us and we start to depend on God, maybe, that is when He gives us the really sweet stuff!
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