Jesus Blesses Those The World Feels are Not to be Blessed!

Luke 6:12-23 New International Version

The Twelve Apostles 12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. Blessings and Woes 17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

20 Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,

for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 Blessed are you who hunger now,

for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now,

for you will laugh.

22 Blessed are you when people hate you,

when they exclude you and insult you

and reject your name as evil,

because of the Son of Man.

23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

Friday - February 18

This was part of the Gospel reading this past Sunday (2/13). The devotions this week have been building up to this teaching from Jesus. He has chosen (elected) his disciples and now begins to really teach them about the Kingdom of God. Remember the proper distinction between the Law and the Gospel. What does Jesus do here? He freely blesses those who the world does not consider to be blessed: the poor, hungry, sad and mourning, and those persecuted for believing and following Jesus. He blesses them with mercy and forgiveness. Whatever “legal” accusation they face, no matter the guilt or shame they experience, no matter what life throws at them they are blessed. They are children of God. That is very, very good news.