Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
 
WE really don’t like this beatitude, this blessing, do we? Oh, we can tell one another, “Stand for Jesus no matter what! Rejoice in the ways people ridicule you, hate you, despise you and even try to kill you because God will blees you!”
   Those are easy words to say, but we surely have no desire to live them to the point we face harm or death for our faith. Think, for example, of how easily anxious we become when we want to suggest something new in our local church. Or we might stop short of total commitment to a church project when we know some people will not like us for it. Persecution of conflict often comes if you want to change the music, discipline an unrepentant member or even teach Jesus’ truths of the Bible against what people think is Jesus’ truth.
   No, we really don’t like to be persecuted for Jesus. We reject opportunities to talk of Jesus to classmates, workmates, and church mates who will reject us for our “radical” faith.
   Still, there is this remarkable promise from the King of Kings. To fully experience God’s blessings, we must put aside our fears to know God’s favor is especially on those who faithfully stand to suffer in the name and truth of Jesus. 365 million Christians live today in countries who officially persecute Christians with their laws and culture. Each new year marks the highest level of persecution in the church’s history. These faithful people believe what Jesus says. They live out his love amid the hatred trying to destroy them. The faithful persecuted are willing to take up their cross for Jesus’ sake because that is the full expression of their love for him. Jesus loved us even to the tomb.. If we are his followers, how could we not love the same? Even more, we rejoice  as we are under trial!  
   Jesus confirms that when we call him “Lord” we are to rejoice above earthly trials. Consider that Jesus spoke this rejoicing command to his own people who were persecuted by Rome, Herod and their own religious leaders. How could they be blessed and rejoice?
   Jesus teaches them how. “Rejoice” doesn’t mean mere happiness. “Rejoice” is action! It is what you do when a loved one is healed from a deadly disease or when a good friend confesses Christ. You “leap for joy” for the victory that will always mark that person’s life. Jesus effectively says, “When you realize the blessings you receive from God’s truth, jump up and down! Celebrate!”
   As we respond to God’s blessing of our salvation through Jesus, the rejoicing must go deep into the heart, mind and soul. Are you the Lord’s own? Then leap for joy. Be “exceedingly glad” because he has called you to this eternal relationship.

Matthew 5:8-9 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
 
JESUS' teaching here is no surprise. Many scriptures consistently point to the desire and benefit of a pure heart. For example, King David prayed for a pure heart to redeem his sins: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10). Only a pure heart would end the conflict between David and God at that point. And there is the fundamental command, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart.” (Deuteronomy, Matthew, Mark and Luke)
   A pure heart is the way to the King: He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend. (Proverbs 22:11). A pure heart runs from sin and runs to God: Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)          
   A pure heart is synonymous with holiness – God’s perfection, without blemish. To be with God, we must strive to be as God. True, it is not humanly possible to be completely holy. However, when the Spirit awakens us to Jesus’ saving truth, he begins to clear our heart. The Gospel of God becomes our pure cleansing agent, so our heart will increasingly welcome the fruit of God’s Spirit. 
   A pure heart also leads to making peace with God. We know God created the world with a wonderful peace between mankind and himself and all creation. God gave us a gracious mandate to rule the world in the peace and power of his Word.
   But when Satan asked Eve, “Did God really say?” (Genesis 3:2) conflict destroyed the peace. Temptation has constantly waged war within mankind’s soul since then. We strive for things we should not have, and we work hard to avoid the things of God we truly need. We are tempted to delay our work when we should get up and go. We are tempted to work too much when we should rest. We are tempted to lash back when we should be patient and forgive. We are tempted to say, “Not me!” when the Lord calls us to action. We are tempted to avoid a friend who needs a helping hand. We are tempted to tempt others into our own weariness and sin, feeling better when others are in the pit with us.
   Temptation, indeed, has conflict power over our lives. It stirs us against God and against one another. We forget we “need Thee every hour” as the hymn says. But we must be constantly reminded that “temptation loses its power when thou art nigh.” Yielding to temptation keeps God at a distance. When God is far away we become formless and weak. We subscribe to false remedies while we reject the only solution.
   Yes, blessed are the pure  hearts of peacemakers. They put temptation aside, so they can be children of God, just as he created them to be.

Matthew 5:5-7 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” 
 
IN the world’s view meekness is weakness. In the Kingdom view, meekness is a Jesus-centered strength. The Apostle Paul says meekness is “to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all people.” (Titus 3:2) To be meek is to be polite, humble and thankful for all things. Meekness is having enough of Christ in us to be at peace with all unpleasant matters that come our way.
   Yes, when adversity comes, we are prone on those dark days to speak and think that God or all the world is against us. Meekness, though, guides our heart to stay steady as we trust our sovereign Lord cares for and strengthens us in all circumstances.
   Consider this. If Jesus had not been of a meek attitude, submitting to the Father's will even unto death, he would not have completed the Father's work here on earth. We, then, would not have a Savior. Great eternal blessing comes out of meekness. “Inherit the earth” is an end-time prophecy. As Jesus taught on Kingdom life now, he also pointed to the future Kingdom. Jesus’ faithful followers will live on the new Heaven and earth described in Revelation 21.
   Meekness, too, leads to a hunger and thirst for righteousness. It must be our desire to consume the Word with a hunger and thirst to live well for Jesus. Faithful disciples are disciplined to consume Jesus with a great desire to know him, so he fills our hearts, minds and souls.
   We know mercy, too, when we know Jesus. After all, he’s our merciful Savior, isn’t he? And when you think of someone who is merciful, who comes to mind? Perhaps you consider a clergy person, health care worker or someone in your family who has a gift of loving, tender care. Mothers are often portrayed as people with a special gift for mercy. Mercy brings to mind gracious and good people.
   But is there any problem in being merciful? The world’s view would say there is. “Don’t forgive.” “Get even.” “Take care of yourself first.” The human nature seeks conflict and division. Mercy is far from the culture’s mind.
   To be merciful in the true sense of the word, we must have a heart willing to give and to forgive. We must be prepared to stop our agenda to adjust to the needs of others God places in our path. Even more, mercy causes us to seek places where we can demonstrate this gift of God's peace and grace.
Yes, it is interesting how people look upon the merciful. Sometimes people may be suspicious of our motives. Sometimes, the person is incredulous that you would want to help. Sometimes people are very appreciative.
As in the other blessings on the Sermon on the Mount, there is a promise from the Son of Man that the Holy God will reward those who seek the King and live the Kingdom life.  

Matthew 5:1-4 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
 
MATTHEW’S account of Jesus’ ministry points to the Sermon on the Mount as the Master’s masterful beginning to his teaching. With his first words Jesus indicated he had much for his listeners to learn. And to truly learn, they must be poor in spirit.
   To be poor in spirit is a heart prepared for knowledge. There is no room for pride, criticism, doubt and self-centered focus. You know, don't you, that you learn more competely when you understand you must gain certain knowledge to accomplish a task.
   A poor spirit in the Kingdom of God is as an empty cupboard. You take action to learn how to fill it, right? In a like manner, when we recognize our spiritual account is low on the knowledge of God's Word, faith, forgiveness, truth, love, joy, etc., we eagerly finds ways to eat of God's truth. Kingdom citizenship requires that we know we need to know more of the King. Our “poor spirit” leads to the blessing of being well-fed with God’s Word.
   And how are we blessed when we mourn? Doesn’t mourning mean loss and regret?
   Jesus’ first answer comes with the promise of comfort. A blessing occurs amid loss when friends comfort you with their loving care. In their comfort, you experience a closer, loving relationship with people in a way that does not ordinarily occur. Through a heightened focus on God's Word, prayers and compassion, mournful hearts are made more secure with the comfort of people bearing the good news of Jesus' eternal love and his promise of eternal life.
   Blessing also comes to those who mourn their sinful habits. As the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins, we must grieve the sin and turn from them. If we deeply mourn our sins, we may feel we are unworthy to follow Jesus. But the Lord wants you to know that mourning sin will lead to a repentant heart. Repentance opens the way for God's blessings to fill your life with his forgiveness.
   Third, those who mourn experience blessing as we weep over others' sin. Do you weep in  your heart for the people around you who flagrantly reject God? Does the Spirit move your heart to pray for, teach and demonstrate God's salvation truths to them? Mourning sin stirs us to act against sin and for the sinners’ hearts.
   Yes, even when we mourn, God's blessings come our way through comfort, repentance, teaching and salvation based on God's care over us now and forever.  

Mark 1:14-15 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” 
 
HERE’s another view of the end of John’s ministry and the focus turning fully to Jesus.
   Sometimes the Good News doesn’t seem so good when it causes division in families, disruption in our personal lives and even death to the faithful. But, of course, the Good News is truly good because it points us to eternal life. The Good News is God’s News to reveal we can be with God when we leave our life on earth. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” (John 11:25) The Good News is, “You belong to God forever!”
   As we have seen, John’s imprisonment caused him to doubt the Good News. But Jesus reassured him with evidence of his Kingdom work. He knew John was faithful to his role in the Father’s salvation plan. John’s future, then, is a heavenly future. Leaving the earth at a young age is a blessing when eternal reward awaits God’s chosen servants. John’s work was done because “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” Jesus would testify of his own desire to return to heaven: And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. (John 17:5)
   Eventually as they witnessed Jesus’ resurrected and ascended body, all of Jesus’ faithful disciples knew eternal life was theirs’s in Jesus’ power. Mark, too, and other gospel writers could confidently proclaim “Good News” because they knew the truth. When they knew such truth in their heart, no force on earth could stop their testimony, “Jesus Save!”
   There can be many occasions when we do not like what the Good News requires us to do, even to suffer. But when you understand your life is eternal in the Kingdom of God because the Triune God has chosen you unto life, you will be eager to serve him in your time and place.
 

Matthew 11:7-14 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.”
 
HERE is a quick summary of our readings to date.
   We first refer again to the prophet Malachi, who spoke the last prophetic words to Israel centuries before John was born. “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.” (Malachi 4:5) Elijah had performed several nature-changing miracles in God’s power including a resurrection and a multiplication of food. His life on earth ended when he was taken to Heaven in the Lord’s Chariot of Fire about 400 years before Malachi prophesied. (2 Kings 2) Because of Malachi’s words and Elijah’s life story, Israel wondered, “Would Elijah return?” 
   Luke 1 then tells us John would be born in the spirit and power of Elijah. Born to Zechariah and Elizabeth, John fulfilled God’s ordained steps to bring the Kingdom of God to earth. The Spirit anointed John to prophesy the Messiah, preach repentance and baptize those confessing sins. John 1:15 “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me…26 I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
   Then Jesus came. The Holy Spirit used John to baptize Jesus. Jesus defeated Satan in the Wilderness. The Spirit anointed the Son to preach the good news (Luke 4:18), and Jesus began a powerful preaching, teaching and healing ministry in Galilee.
   Now John’s ministry ends, and Jesus’ ministry becomes central in Israel. The Son of God then wanted Israel to know three things: First, speaking of John, he said, “Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.” Jesus exalted John’s role in the human race above all people.
   Second, he wanted Israel to know, “Yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.” Kingdom citizenship is greater than any earthly role. No thing or person is more important than one born again into the Kingdom of Heaven. No one can violate your citizenship under the King’s authority. You are his forever.
   Third, Jesus wanted Israel to know the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. People did not go to the desert to see a weak person, “seeker friendly” swayed by public opinion. They went to see a man of God to hear the message from God. The Jews who went to John were not interested in earthly things but the truth of God’s Kingdom.
   The Lord’s plans and purposes are unrelenting. He will accomplish what he wills in power and authority. Each of us called to faith in Jesus have a great role to fulfill for the King.

 

Matthew 11:2-6 When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”
 
THE Bible is God’s story lived through very real people. Each person we read of, even the heroic prophets such as John the Baptist in the Scripture here, reveal to us the fear, doubt, sadness, joy, love, faith and hope we all experience.
   Doubt marks our sin nature. It’s easy to doubt when things don’t happen as we hope or expect. Shouldn’t John’s life had been easy and good? After all, John is the one God anointed to point the way to Jesus. He’s even the prophet who baptized Jesus! His life was the life every prophet desired to live - to be the one to see and anoint the Messiah! To point to Jesus and say, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) was God’s remarkable gift to John.
   Then Herod Antipas of Galilee had arrested John for his true preaching against Herod’s sins. Languishing in Herod’s prison, John had doubts about his role. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Perhaps he could have said, “Can I trust you, Jesus, to be who you say you are, who I believe you are?”
   And what is Jesus’ reply? Jesus tells John’s disciples to report what he is doing. The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. This tells John that Jesus is fulfilling the prophecy from Isaiah 29:18 In that day the deaf will hear the words of the scroll, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.
   That would tell John that Jesus “is the one”. In the same way, we can know Jesus is the prophetic Word come true. He is the One who came to earth to complete God’s prophecies. He is the Word made flesh. And he will come to fulfill God’s future promises to rule a perfect world again.
 
Jesus Teaches: Are you wondering about Jesus, too? Remember Jesus’ life fulfilled the Scriptures.  

Luke 4:43 But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”  44 And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
 
LUKE 4 reveals the foundation of Jesus’ earthly work up to the cross. Jesus healed. Jesus comforted. Jesus taught theology to his disciples. Jesus modeled Kingdom living. Jesus preached. Of this list, which is Jesus’ reason for coming to earth? Our Lord tells us the most important reason, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” 
   We know from Jesus’ preaching that the good news consisted of confronting our sins and then revealilng the way to salvation. All who heard would know that personal sin disqualifies everyone from kingdom living. Then they would know the way of salvation: John 3:18 “Whoever believes in the Son is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”
   Jesus teaches us three lessons for our Christian life. First, we all as Jesus’ church today must remember a pastor, or minister, etc. is to “preach of the good news of the kingdom of God”. If we are one who is specifically called to that role, we are to be firm to pursue the true knowledge of the kingdom. We must, then, be faithful to preach truth.
   Second, if follows then that we in the church must allow our pastors to preach. Oftentimes a pastor’s job description begins with such words as “Offer weekly inspirational sermons.” This is well and good, but then there follows a list of a dozen or so other major responsibilities a church believes its pastor must do. No pastor is capable of all that is asked of him. Be sure your pastor has the time to carefully preach the Word.
   Third, know that the preaching of “the good news of the kingdom of God” can make you very uncomfortable and perhaps angry. You will not like some preaching because it points you to your sin. When that happens, don’t point to the pastor to say, “He’s judgmental.” Point, instead, to your own heart. Confess, “I have sinned. Forgive me, Lord.”
   News must be spoken, right? The only way “the good news of the kingdom of God” would become good news was for Jesus to specifically preach it – to talk of it – to explain it orally – to urge the Jews to repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This must be the primary work of the church today. Remember, the church is composed of the preachers and the listeners. Preach the Word. Hear the Word. Be careful you or your church isn’t too busy to preach and to hear.
 
Prayer: Lord God, thank you for speaking your Word through the Savior. Open our ears to hear and our hearts to rejoice in the “good news of the Kingdom of God.” Amen. 
 

Luke 4:42 At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him, and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.
 
WOULD it be good that all Christians are as the people of Capernaum were that day? They had heard Jesus’ preaching, had witnessed demons cast out and had seen remarkable healings. Jesus, fully God and fully man, was intentionally intense with his people to demonstrate and “proclaim the year (time) of the Lord’s favor: (Luke 4:19). You could say in our language, “He gave his all. He held nothing back. Jesus gave 110%.” Yes, our Lord gave all of himself short of the cross. And then the Jews wanted more.
   And why wouldn’t they? Wouldn’t you want more of such a God as this? Certainly! Or do we? Could it be we don’t want all of Jesus? Maybe we only want a part of him that makes us feel good. Perhaps we want all his love, but we set aside some of his commands, especially the ones that convict us of our personal sins. Possibly we love his sacrifice, but we stop short of our own sacrificial living.
   That’s how it is for us much too often. We know that wanting more of Jesus should be our greatest desire. But sometimes we feel that being with Jesus can challenge us too much. Being with the Savior, we often feel unqualified and ashamed. He’s so perfect! Striving to walk with him, we can abruptly step off the path to encounter regret and shame. “Will I ever get it right?”
   The answer, of course, is that we will not live perfectly. And that is why we should want Jesus to stay with us. We need him to walk through the shame and guilt. He loves us enough to die for us, certainly he frees us from sin forever when we trust his love.
   Let’s stay with Jesus – always on our minds, always in our hearts, always in our souls.
  
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for being intentionally intense to live, die and rise again, so I may stay with you forever. Amen.

Luke 4:38-41 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. 40 When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. 41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.
 
SEE how personal Jesus becomes with his creation. As we often read and hear of Jesus’ healing ministry, we can easily forget that this is a remarkable aspect of God’s favor. The Word of God, who spoke the universe into existence, personally comes as a human to speak his creation power into man’s sin-stricken bodies.
   Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn’t speak one word to heal all in Israel or even all in the world? Certainly this would have been a glorious thing to do! It would have been efficient, too. One word – all the work is done.
   But think of this. Who would know it was Jesus who healed? Consider how impersonal it would have been. We all love the personal touch, don’t we? Jesus touched, and he healed. “The Word became flesh” (John 1:1), so he would become our personal Lord and Savior. He demonstrated his purpose with his personal life-transforming healings.
   Note, too, that here is a second time Jesus has rebuked the demons to be quiet. We may wonder why he does so as they confess, “You are the Son of God!”  Jesus didn’t want to hear from the demons. Their words were certainly an affront to him. After all, they had left Heaven to follow Satan. Why would Jesus seek affirmation from such lying spirits? Jesus is Lord, but he’s not the demons’ personal Lord and Savior. Be alert. What an insult to our Holy God when we say to him, “Lord.” but we have no intention of obeying him.
   A second reason Jesus rebuked the demons is that the Jews could believe that Jesus was in league with the demons. Some Pharisees accused Jesus of receiving his power from evil spirits. Again, the demons were not honoring the Lord, but they were seeking to discredit him. 
   Be true to what you say. Do not speak of Jesus as your Lord unless you are intentional to follow him. If you tell someone, “I am a Christian.” and then live under your own authority, you are discrediting your Lord. I know, we will sin. But your efforts must always be to become more as Jesus teaches. He is not your personal Lord and Savior until you are ready to seek his truth, submit to his authority and serve his people.
 
Prayer. Thank you, Jesus, for your healing. You are Lord of my life. Amen.