INTRO: This poem introduces the Beatitudes, or blessings, found in Matthew chapter 5 verses 1 to 12, one of the well-known passages of the Bible, yet one of the most misunderstood. The Beatitudes is like a multi-faceted diamond. When you pick it up and inspect it closely, it sparkles in its many brilliant facets, each one presenting a different perspective of a believer’s life.
The Beatitudes is part of Jesus’ first sermon during His three years of ministry here on earth over 2,000 years ago. By this time, Jesus had called all his disciples. Now He began to teach them how to live a God honouring life or, in other words, to live a life like Christ, ‘Christlike’. Jesus did not preach this sermon to the general public.
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Although the Jewish people had already faced much persecution under different foreign rules, Jesus knew the persecution of the Jewish people would continue until He returned again to reign over the earth as king, during the millennium. He also knew that His disciples, current and future believers, would face a new type of persecution in the near future because of their Christian faith. Also, this persecution of His believers would continue until His second coming.
The Beatitudes, or blessings, sparkle with the grace and love of Jesus. The night before Jesus died on the cross, He prayed for all of His followers, current and future, which includes us, in John chapter 17 verses 13-21. When I read that passage, I picture myself standing nearby watching Jesus praying this prayer. Among all the wonderful acts of love Jesus did here on earth, He physically prayed for you and me and all believers. Jesus prayed that His joy is made full in us, to keep us safe from the evil one, to make us holy by the truth of God’s Word.
Over the next nine weeks, I will be publishing a poem on each of the Beatitudes, one of the many beautiful gifts of teaching that Jesus Himself gave us. Beverley Joy.
PODCAST – You can listen to this poem at Simply Story Poetry
The Beatitudes are not a moral challenge
For us to strive to live up to
Nor are they an exchange
Of our living circumstances.
They’re not attained through education,
Lifestyle, status, or mind power
For the Beatitudes turn upside down
The world’s value system.
The world teaches to assert and elevate
To defend yourself and seek revenge
To aggressively promote yourself
Yet, the Beatitudes teach the opposite.
Those who have faith in Jesus Christ
Aim to live by the Beatitudes
Only by the power of God’s Spirit
Living powerfully from within us.
Beatitudes reflect Christian values and ethics
Toward money, ambition, and relationships
The way we think, feel, live, and speak
They show evidence of Christlikeness.
The Beatitudes carry a dual meaning
Of physical and spiritual happiness
From first century Israel into their future
From the first Christians through to God’s kingdom.
Genesis 3, begins the history
Of 4,000 years of mankind’s sin
Adam failed in his God-given purpose
And the Old Testament ends with a curse.
In Matthew begins the life of Christ
The new Adam, who did not fail
In the New Testament, where sin’s debt is paid
Begins and ends with God’s blessing.
Adam was tested in a beautiful garden
Christ was tested in a dry, harsh desert
The Old Testament shows man’s sinful regret
The New Testament shows God’s forgiveness.
To be Blessed by God is the ultimate state
Of contentment and well-being
The distinctive spiritual joy
Of those who put their faith in Him.
Jesus came into the world
To bless us, His chosen ones
His first sermon allures us
To be at peace with God for eternity.
A continuous state of contentment and peace
Despite feelings or circumstance
Not due to external happening,
Outside influence can change like the wind.
Happiness is God’s character
Of which believers are partakers
As God’s Spirit is within each one
Moulding character to be like His Son.
The world assumes that happiness is found
When misery and pain are absent
Believers know true happiness is found
In the midst of pain and suffering.
The world searches for happiness
In pleasures and possessions
But a spiritual need cannot be fulfilled
With things physical or material.
For in the blink of an eye wealth can disappear
Sprouting wings, it flies away
Hoarding wealth harms that person
And to maintain pleasure require momentum.
The Beatitudes are in being, not doing
Nor are they what we have or achieve
They are God’s blessing available
To those who believe in Him.
Beverley Joy © 2021 Simply Story Poetry. All Rights Reserved.
Read or listen to other poems in this series: You can read or listen to other poems in this series The Beatitudes of Jesus – An Introduction, Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit?, Blessed Are Those Who Mourn? Blessed Are The Meek? Blessed are Those who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness? Blessed are the Merciful? Blessed are the Pure?
You can listen to all my poems on several podcast platforms here
References: John MacArthur Grace To You, Alistair Begg Truth For Life
Matthew 5:1-12 The Zondervan NASB Study Bible copyright © 1999 Zondervan
Image by Enlightening Images from Pixabay
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