Blessed are the…Blessed…Blessings… Bless you… God bless you….
If you are going through some tough times, or if you are ready to give up on life, or if you’ve just about had it with people, be of good cheer; Jesus has some specific and encouraging words for you. You are not alone, you are blessed. Even in times of deep and low valleys, we are to recognize that we are blessed, happy, to be envied. You see, that is what blessed means…
I have heard many great pastors explain the Sermon on the Mount, I have also taught on this, and until recently, this word hit me like a sweet aroma of the finest of buttermilk southern biscuits! If you’ve never had the deliciousness of southern buttermilk biscuits with gravy, I invite you to go to a place where they serve them, or get the recipe and make them yourselves.
Now back to what I was saying. This word has been one I have taken for granted most of my Christian life. Sure, I read and reread the scriptures, and most of the Bible has this word here and there until you get to the Psalms and to the Sermon on the Mount, where this word is used to signify something important.
Christians use the word ‘blessed‘ to explain the incredibly joyous and meaningful description when someone places their trust, knowledge, and faith in Jesus, the Savior of the world.
You see, when you hear this word as much as we do in the English speaking world, it tends to take the importance away.
I sneeze; somebody says, “Bless you.” Someone buys a car, and someone else says, “What a blessing!” Another person says that their baby was born, and someone else will say,” Congratulations! Kids are such a blessing!”
When we study this word, we realize the true meaning has been lost, particularly in the US, which is blessed materially.
The Greek word Makarios (Strong’s H3107) is our English word blessed. Makarios means to be happy, to be envied.
Jesus uses this word extensively in His Sermon on the Mount, and He also inspired most of the writers of the Hebrew Scriptures to use this word, primarily King David and the rest of the Psalmists.
When Jesus was speaking about those who were blessed, Israel was under the dominion of the Roman Empire. The people of Israel had been waiting hundreds of years for their Messiah or Future Anointed King of Israel to come and set things straight.
Jesus came as a Humble-Sacrificial-Lamb of God-King. This poor Carpenter knew what being without meant. He also knew what meekness was.
— You see, Jesus could have at anytime, called legions of Heavenly Beings who were ready at His command(Matthew 26:53). Just one of those Angelic Beings slew 185,000 Assyrians in one night. Just a few of these powerful, heavenly host, would have taken care of all the Roman Legions! So, Jesus would not have to have lifted a finger to make the Roman Empire disappear off the face of the Earth!
—Yet, Jesus remained calm and gentle for the sake of the world, in order to come to a saving knowledge of who He was, is, and will be!
Oscar Roca
“Biblical meekness is not weakness but rather refers to exercising God’s strength under His control – i.e. demonstrating power without undue harshness”.—Help Ministries
—Jesus also knew what mourning for a loved one meant. The bible is silent on Joseph’s passing into eternity. But if Jesus’ mourning for his friend Lazarus is any indication, Jesus mourned for His adopted earthly dad with great agony.
—Jesus also knew what hungering and thirsting for righteousness meant. He, later on in the Gospels, would be overthrowing the tables in the courtyard of the Gentiles at the Temple Mount. Why? Becasue most of the Leadership of Israel during His time would become corrupt and unworthy of leading God’s people.
— Jesus knew what being merciful and showing heart for people meant. He came to set the seperation from God back to what it was in the beginning, when Adam and Eve were in the Garden, communing with God. Jesus would have Grace and Mercy for people by going obediently to the cross. His heart would be so sad for His people Israel, that He would literally die of a broken heart.
—Jesus would also know what being a Peacemaker, and being persecuted meant. Since He was All God and All man, He knew exactly what He was talking about. He on many occasions told His unbelieving disciples that He would be given up and put to death for the sake of mankind (Matthew 26:2,14,15,45; Mark 14:41,42; Luke 22:53).
—Think of this, as Jesus’ ministry began, He knew everything that would happen to Him and yet, kept His meekness about Him. Tell me if this is not demonstrating power under gentleness! Knowing exactly what laid in store for Him three and a half years into the future!
—Now if we put ourselves in Jesus’ sandals, would we be able to say Blessed are those who are persecuted, or the reviled? Or the deathly sick, or the poor?
—Jesus was able to see into His future, and yet remain calm and gentle under pressure.
Oscar Roca
If He did this for Himself, imagine how much more He will do for us when we are going through some heavy trials? He tells us to place all our problems on Him. He doesn’t say that we will stop having these problems, but He promises us that He will make them lighter. So light, that they will be bearable.
—How about you, what do you have that is so unbearable that it keeps you up at night? Give that heavy load to Jesus. Trust in Him. Ask Him to come into your life and flip that problem upside down. We are in the court of the Gentiles, His court. Come into His Temple and be set free of all your burdens; becasue in giving Jesus all of you, with all your problems and complications, He promises you to carry those things that are weighing on your heart. Be blessed, happy to be envied once you cast your cares upon Jesus, the Perfector of our lives….
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PleaseBeStillMoments by Oscar Roca 