1) He went out preaching, "Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."
2) He healed the sick, broken, and the demon-possessed.
3) He called those around him together to tell them the good news that the kingdom of heaven had come to them, and they are blessed by it.
This third piece becomes even more explicit when Jesus takes each person where they are at on an individual basis and lets them know how they are blessed. We shall do the same. Before doing so though, you may wish to read yesterday's post so you understand the context in which Jesus is preaching. Let's begin with those who mourn.
Luke refers to them as "the weeping ones" (6:21): men and women whose mates have just deserted them, la parent in gut-wrenching grief and depression over the death of a little daughter; people who have lost their careers or businesses or life savings. So many things to break the heart!
This is what Jesus had in mind when he said, "Blessed are those who mourn." He is not saying that we should mourn and hence gain a blessing. He is saying that mourners are out there, and that they will be blessed; they will be comforted.
As they see the kingdom in Jesus, enter it, and learn to live in it, they find comfort, and their tears turn to laughter. Yes, they are even better off than they were before their particular disaster.
So fret not you mourners, for the night is darkest just before the dawn. And Jesus is the light of the world.
Next we have the meek.
These are the shy ones, the intimidated, the mild, the unassertive. If something goes wrong around them, they automatically feel it must have something to do with them. When others step forward, they shrink back. They do not assert their legitimate claims unless driven into a corner and then usually with ineffectual rage.
I can think of many examples of where the church has asked us as Christians to be meek. Meekness, we are told, will allow God to work. And that may very well be true. It does not, however, equate to a command from Jesus ever to be meek. Growing up, I can remember times when I shrunk from confrontation and situations because I believed in the virtue of a meek Christian. Why risk stepping on toes? Why stand up for what is right? Why not just let God do everything?
Christ does not command this. On the other hand, he does not condemn it. He says that the meek will be blessed, and they will inherit that earth as they partake in God's kingdom. Those who push for themselves least of all will inherit just as much as everyone else. They need not fear or worry.
As the kingdom of the heavens enfolds them, the whole earth is their Father's - and theirs as they need it. The Lord is their shepherd, they shall not want.
God provides for the needs of the meek. He provided for mine. He will provide for yours.
Next, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Those who burn with desire for things to be made right. It may be that the wrong is in themselves. Perhaps they have failed so badly that night and day they cringe before their own sin and inwardly scream to be made pure. Or it may be that they have been severely wronged, suffered some terrible injustice, and are consumed with longing to see the injury set right.
Note here that Willard does not allow for a positive interpretation on any Beatitude, including this one. Keep in mind the context of Jesus' sermon. Jesus is giving a kingdom proclamation to all around him, letting everyone know that the kingdom is theirs no matter their circumstances. Would he then switch to praise those who are hungry for righteousness as though they alone stand out from the rest? Says Willard:
It is unlikely to the extreme that Jesus would have been doing one thing with the remainder of his Beatitudes and then switch back for these two alone.
No, it makes all the more sense to realize that those who thirst day and night for righteousness, for things to be made right, that they have comfort also in God's kingdom coming to them.
The kingdom of the heavens has a chemistry that can transform even the past and make the terrible, irretrievable losses that human beings experience seem insignificant in the greatness of God. He restores our souls and fills us with the goodness of rightness.
Those who hunger shall be filled. Those who thirst shall be quenched. God's kingdom brings rightness, and for those who hunger for it, they shall be blessed; they need not fear.
And now the merciful.
The merciful are always despised by those who know how to "take care of business."
Mercy is not a vice. God does not consider the merciful in a state of destitution, although humanity most often times does. We are taught to win, to succeed, to achieve, no matter the cost. Mercy is scorned in business circles and sports ventures and politics and board games. Humanity despises the merciful. "Woe to the merciful, for they shall be taken advantage of."
Yet outside the human order, under the great profusion of heaven's goodness, they themselves find mercy to meet their needs, far beyond any "claim" they might have on God.
God grants them mercy in his kingdom, as he grants all residents. Their mercy does not earn them his, but it does not deny them any advantage either. If their treasure is in heaven's kingdom, the world's threats are meaningless.
This, I think is sufficient thought food for the soul for today. Tomorrow I shall finish the other half of the Specifics. Until then, I bid you good reading.
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