7 day plan

The Beatitudes

Day 1 of 7

NIV

Matthew 5:1-2

"When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.'".  Matthew 5:1-12 NRSV

Series Introduction

In this series (originally run in 2017), Scott Sanders reflects on the upcoming season of Easter, a key time in the church calendar as Christians around the world walk with Jesus to the cross and to the resurrection, as he inaugurates the Kingdom of God. The Beatitudes announce the breaking in of God’s Kingdom, giving a feel for the kind of Kingdom that Jesus is bringing in, one of deliverance and redemption for those in need, resulting in joy for those receiving and participating in God’s gracious rescue.

(This series is an edited re-run of a longer series from 2017)

Reflection:

The evocative statements of blessing and promise from Matthew 5:1-12 come confidently and clearly from Jesus with great assurance. We hear he ‘saw the crowds’ and he repeatedly announce, ‘Blessed are’ and ‘for they will’. Listening to Jesus’ words while remembering his sacrificial death, as we approach Easter we will be refreshed in our vision of Jesus’ Kingdom.

The Beatitudes are taught ‘up the mountain’. This detail awakens in us a memory of another key mountain moment in the history of God’s people. Moses, who had come out of Egypt, spent 40 years in the wilderness, then went up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments. For Moses, going up the mountain was coming into the very presence of God. In the Beatitudes, it is Jesus on the mountain who brings us into the presence of God and speaks to us himself.

What do you make of these words of Jesus? What do they stir within you? Peace? Joy? Confusion? Are you prepared to hear God speak to you today? How can you ready your heart for what he will say to you?

Prayer:

Father, Easter is coming soon. Please help this season of remembering to be full of refreshment, growth and clarity. Help me hear Jesus’ confident vision of his Kingdom in the Beatitudes as I remember his death and resurrection and await its fulfilment. Thank you that in the Lord Jesus you have drawn close and that we can hear your words in the holy Scriptures. Thank you that you rescue us and invite us to participate in what you are doing in the world.  Amen.

Days

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