Life of Christ #4 – The Beatitudes Explained: What It Really Means to Follow Jesus

Well, He is now surrounded by this small group of men, who are a result of a night of agonizing prayer. He has seen something that they have not seen. They have never been to the Sermon on the Mount, and they don’t know all the things that He knows. He knows which one is going to betray them. He knows exactly who will preach at Pentecost. He knows all sorts of things, but He’s also captured in time and space, and He’s going there for them, and He’s going to live out this drama. He’s going to pace Himself with these men, and He’s going to teach them according to their needs…and they are very needy.

Some of these men have not had a good meal in several days. Some of them have sold everything they’ve had and spent what little money they had left. Some of them are very rich and very well to do. They are a sordid lot. They are all gathered around Him, following Him. With the twelve nearest to Him, it’s probably around eight or nine o’clock. Already from out of the cities and the villages around, thousands and thousands and thousands of people are beginning to gather on the hillsides to see what this man is going to do, when He’s going to call for a time to heal, or when He’s going to speak to them. They just want to watch something spectacular.

The Lord walks up; first, He sees the multitudes while He’s in a valley, a flat plain, and He sees them. He sees them beginning to come from there and from there and from everywhere. And He sighs. He walks up the side of a hill, and His 80 followers follow Him. Some of them haven’t had breakfast. They’ve got no food. Some of them have eaten really well this morning. Some of them are not smart. Some of them are confused. Each one has a different need. Some of them are just bent over double because of their sinfulness. Some of them really feel unworthy. Some are determined to see their lives changed.

The Lord turns around and looks at them. While they are standing there looking at Him, He sits down. They are standing. He looks up at them as they stand around Him, and while thousands of people are coming out of the villages around, He addresses these 80 men, with the apostles standing in front of the 80. Have you got the picture?

He turns around, looks at them, and says this. Remember, we’re talking to 70 men and 10  women. I’m sure it’s more than that. And this is what He says to them. He’s sitting there staring down at them. I’m going to tell you this before I tell you what He says. The Beatitudes. A message delivered to Christian workers. The original Christian workers. These are the Beatitudes…to Christian workers who just become extremely or keenly conscious of the fact that there is such a thing as going to be some workers. He has got disciples, and twelve of them. He has selected them to be very, very personal and very close to Him, but they are all now aware by the very fact that they were not chosen. Twelve out of that group were chosen, and now they’re aware that there’s a group. They belong to it, and they feel special, whether they be the twelve or the eighty, because it was from this group He chose the twelve. I’m sure you follow.

There have been questions for weeks, perhaps months, and perhaps a year, and He’s going to answer many of them today. The questions are not universal in the minds of all these people. Some of them have one thing in their mind; others have another. He’s going to answer their questions. He looks up at them, and He sees a brother over here, who a few weeks ago was a middle-class, middle-income follower, a human being, and now He’s following the Lord around; he is no longer middle class. He is poor.

(Jesus speaking) Some of you are poor. That’s all right.  Spiritual blessings are yours because both realms belong to you. Some of you are poor. Spiritual blessings are yours because both realms belong to you. Some of you are poor, but that’s all right because the kingdom of God belongs to you. You may not have a lot physically, but you have great spiritual blessings. The kingdom of God is yours. Please note, I also know what it’s like to be poor. I am poor, and the Kingdom of God belongs to me. Both realms are mine. You’re weighted down with spiritual blessings because the kingdom is yours.

Some of you have not had any breakfast this morning. You’re hungry.  You don’t have anything, not even food. I’ve been hungry; despite who I am on this earth, I’ve missed meals because I’ve had nothing. Spiritual blessings are yours, and you’re going to eat, and eventually you’re going to have enough food. It’s alright to be hungry this morning. You will get enough to eat; I will too.

This morning, some of you cried. You wept bitterly, deep sobs. Some of you cried yesterday. I’ve cried right here on this earth, but I have laughed after I’ve cried. You’re not going to cry forever. You’ve cried, and you’ve wept, but it will soon end. You will laugh again.

His eyes swept the crowd, and He said ”Some of you are rich.” Now, I don’t know what that did to that group when He said to them, “Some of you are rich,” in light of the fact that some other brothers in that group didn’t even have breakfast. Some of you are rich, and right now you’re having all the comforts you’re ever going to have. All the comfort you will ever know is the comfort you’re having right now. Your comfort is in your wealth. I’ve never been rich. I will never be rich. Your riches are giving you all that you will ever have. Some of you ate this morning. And some of you have never missed a meal. Well, some of you are eating right now.  Be assured, you are going to be hungry. A day will come when you, too, will be hungry.

Some of you are having a great time at this. You’re jovial. This has been a wonderful experience for you. I want you to know that you are like the rich brother and the full brother.  Your day will soon be like the brother who was weeping this morning. This time of joy and fun will pass. You are going to weep and cry just as they have and as have I.

They’re standing there, and the Lord’s looking at them, and I think at this point they are getting an interesting reaction within each one of them. But now He says something that includes every one of them. All of you have been disturbed about the persecution that has befallen Me, and the slander you’ve heard about Me, and the things some of you feel are lies. Perhaps some of you heard them and wondered if they were true, but you’ve all been disturbed about the vicious and ugly things that have happened, and you don’t like it.