The Happy ChristianMatthew 5:3-12Theme: Blessedness.This week’s lessons point us to Jesus who is the fountain of all happiness.
LessonWhere in this great world in which we live can there be found a place for those who imitate the Lord Jesus Christ and thus, in their own persons, live out the Beatitudes? This is not an easy world. It is a tough, hard, grasping, evil, covetous world. Where can there possibly be a place for those who are poor in spirit, who mourn for sin, who are meek, who hunger and thirst for righteousness (of all things), who are merciful, who are pure in heart, who are peacemakers, who are persecuted for Jesus’ sake? There is only one place. It is the place the “great” of this world assigned Christ. It is the cross. That is where the imitation of Christ is practiced, and it is why that imitation of Christ is the fellowship of the cross. The world cries to us, as it cried to Jesus, “Away with them; they are not fit to live.” But as we are driven away, we are driven to him whose very glance is precious above rubies and the knowledge of whom is life eternal.
We are driven to the fellowship of God. It is only at the cross that the gulf between a holy God and sinful man is bridged, sin is removed, and a wide channel for the fullness of God’s blessing is unclogged. As we draw near to Jesus we hear the world’s shrill cries: “Crucify him! Crucify them!” But we hear Jesus as he speaks words of blessing and know ourselves to be blessed. “Blessed are you,” says Jesus. “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. In the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
At the cross all tears are wiped away.
At the cross we find Jesus who is the fountain of all happiness.
Study Questions
Where is the only place we can practice our profession?
What does this mean in practical terms?
Further StudyReview Jesus’ teaching in the Beatitudes by reading through Matthew 5:3-12 and Luke 6:20-23. Also focus on Luke 6:24-26.
PrayerOur Father, we confess that many times we are not happy people. And we also confess that the fault lies not in our circumstances, but in ourselves, that we are not like Jesus Christ. And yet, our Father, we want to be like him for the joy of his fellowship and company. Father, teach us what it means to spurn the world’s way and cleave to Jesus, and so become like him – happy in the midst of a miserable world. Amen and Amen.
