This Sunday we arrived at Luke 6:20-29, which is the start of the “Sermon on the Plain”. In this passage, we encounter many familiar phrases from Matthew’s “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew ch. 5-7). If you have not listened to the sermon it can be found here.
#Blessed
Here Jesus sets up the mandate of his new kingdom, after coming down from a night of mountain-top prayer. He uses the term “blessed” to define the state of those who are in his kingdom,
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” – Luke 6:20
The word “blessed” in the original language is “μακάριος” (makarios). The word means “happy” or “fortunate”, and is usually translated as “blessed” in our bibles. It is a familiar religious word, but also has a more modern usage: #blessed. On Twitter or Instagram you can find posts tagged with #blessed featuring everything from family pictures and new cars, to sunsets and fancy food. We are a blessed culture and we love to “share” our blessings with others.
But, when Jesus uses the word “blessed”, he does not mean capturing a moment of temporal comfort and general thankfulness on Instagram. He is speaking of something else, and we need to know what he means. Because if we are to pursue the blessed life through the words and life of Jesus, we need to have a proper understanding of what kind of life we are aiming for, otherwise, we might not feel so #blessed after our efforts.
Not in “Now”, but “Will”
Jesus enhances the definition of “blessed” from the immediate setting, to hope in future promises:
Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. (Luke 6:21)
Do you see that pattern? Your current situation has no effect on your status as “blessed” by God. Jesus places our identity as #blessed not in now, but in will. Blessedness is a state of faith where God’s unbreakable promises become the foundation for our joy, not our current circumstances.
This seems like a major shift from the Old Testament pattern of material blessings for Godly obedience, but if we look closely, Jesus is simply amplifying what was there all along. In Genesis 15:6 it says,
And [Abraham] believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
This is one of the foundational passages for the doctrine of salvation by faith alone. Abraham was not given a son and a nation as his heritage because of his works, he was given those things because God told him they would be, and he trusted in that promise. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for the physical promise of a son, but they received the blessing of trusting God each day. Even when it was hard. Hebrews 6:13-18 expands this idea, saying,
For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.
The blessings of Abraham and, by inheritance, the blessings of Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David, and the New Testament Church, are all grounded, not in our stuff or situation, but in our patient waiting for what God has promised to do. Blessedness in God has always been a present peace in a future hope. Blessed is the one who believes God and waits patiently for Him to work.
Blessed Now
The greatest treasure of these statements, however, is that the unshakable hope of God’s promises has power in our lives today. The blessed person joyfully echoes the words of Philippians 4:11-13,
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
The secret that the Apostle Paul writes about in this passage is that blessedness of which Jesus speaks in Luke 6; the blessedness to be poor, hungry, thirsty, sad, lonely, and persecuted for the sake of Jesus.
Patiently Waiting
The deadly lie of the social media #blessed trend is that what we have right now is all their is. So, when poverty, or loneliness, persecution, or pandemic comes, our world is shattered. The world’s wisdom says, what has happened can’t be changed, what I have is mine, and what will be is uncertain.
But the Gospel of Jesus says something different. The Gospel says in Christ, what was: God meant for your good and his glory. What is: is a gift from God and an overflow of his love and delight in you, and what will be, is certain, immoveable, and unchangeable, because God does not lie or change his mind. The gospel says, the best is yet to come, and that truth will make us truly blessed today.
