The Road to Blessings

The Road to Blessings

Matthew 5:2-5

            Jesus knew.  He understood—at some point—what his earthly destiny would be.  We don’t know for sure when he became self-aware, when he knew exactly who he was and where his ministry would lead.  Was it when he was a little boy?  A teenager?  The gospels are almost completely silent on his growth years.  Luke gives us some information, but not much.  His story about the family’s visit to the temple when Jesus was twelve tells us that Jesus knew his true parentage by that time.  How much he understood about his future at that point, we can’t be certain.

            By the time Jesus began his ministry he must certainly have known what the end would be.  It’s evident in his words to his disciples before the journey to Jerusalem.  “We’re going to Jerusalem,” he said, “and I’m going to be tortured and killed.”  Knowing what was going to happen didn’t deter him.  This is how he carried out his ministry from beginning to end, even though he knew he would frighten and anger those in position to do him harm.  Just as he set his face to Jerusalem, so he had set his face to pursue his ministry wherever it might lead.

            Matthew tells us that Jesus gathered his disciples on the side of a mountain and gave them an extended summary of his message.  We call it the Sermon on the Mount.  Luke gives a different version of this sermon, and tells us it happened on a plain.  Wherever it occurred, it is a definitive statement of how we should live as followers of Christ.

            Matthew’s version begins with the Beatitudes.  Each one describes a condition that is the opposite of what the world says we should be.  Instead of being haughty, we should be poor in spirit.  Instead of joy we will quite likely experience mourning.  Instead of proud we should be meek.  Instead of pursuing earthly riches we should hunger and thirst after righteousness.  Instead of destroying those opposed to us we should be merciful.  Instead of following the path of wickedness we should seek to be pure.  Instead of being ready to fight at the drop of a hat we should be peacemakers.  Instead of living a life of ease we are likely to be persecuted. 

            If we live the Beatitudes, we cannot expect to obtain the rewards the world gives—but never fear:  our reward is sure.  Jesus has promised.

            The author of the following piece understood life much the same way Jesus did, and gave much the same advice.  I do not know who wrote this; I only know it’s appropriate for Christians.

Anyway

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;

Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow;

Do Good Anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight;

Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you help them;

Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth;

Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

            We can’t imagine Jesus being this cynical.  He came to bring people hope for a better life, and hope is the opposite of cynicism.  But if we read between the lines we can see past the cynicism to the hope.  Like Jesus, this writer knew how cruel the world could be, but he understood that shouldn’t deter us from doing what we know is right. 

            That’s the way to be blessed.