(Week 12/2024)
A word fitly spoken is like APPLES OF GOLD in a setting of silver [Proverbs 25v11]
Today we continue our series on the Beatitudes that form the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount. [Matthew chapter 5v1-11]. The eight statements that Jesus made whilst teaching his followers on the mountainside are a ‘benchmark’ for every Christian, on how they should conduct themselves in this world. The second Beatitude is “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted”.
The ‘mourning’ that Jesus is speaking about here, is not that which we experience at the loss of a loved one. Jesus is speaking about qualities that we are to seek and want more which is not something we would say about mourning. No grieving person would ever say “I want more of this”. What Jesus is saying is that when we have been convicted of our poverty inspirit, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”, we are immediately aware of our sinful condition before a Holy and Righteous God and this causes us to mourn.
We see this most beautifully illustrated in the parable of the prodigal son that Jesus told in Luke 15v 1-33. The young man asks his father for an early payout of his inheritance, leaves a loving home and decides to live it up with all his new friends. Soon he runs out of money and friends and finds himself destitute, hungry, lonely and forgotten. And then in verse 17 he comes to his senses! [Poor in Spirit] and goes back to his father and repents: “Father I have sinned against heaven and before you and Iam no longer worthy to be called your son”. [Mourns his sin] His father forgives him unconditionally and takes him back into his home where the son once again enjoys the blessings of a loving home. [Comforted].
Amen
Graeme Greenwood