Blessed are Those who are persecuted for rightousness sake

Read Matthew 5:1-11

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
for righteousness, for they will be filled.
‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, 

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Setting the Scene:  Points to remember …

• Beatitudes => Blessing
• Blessings => “a deep joy in God’s presence”  
• Blessings 1-4 => relationship with God\
• Blessings 5-8 => relationship with Others
• Sermon on the Mount => Jesus sets context for ministry and talks about the kingdom of heaven => or reign of God
• Kingdom of heaven/reign of God => knowing God as sovereign ruler, living in the will of God, kingdom as already here but not yet fully realized … Foundation of the blessings in 3rd verse, knowing who we are in relation to God … living in total dependence upon God

This week we conclude our summer study together!

O what a journey it has been to come to this point, a point that most of us will never experience.  Persecution translated from the Greek word, dioko {dee-o'-ko}, in the form used in the final beatitude has the sense of prolonged communal suffering at the hands of others.  In our overview, we learned that a “blessing” evokes the sense of the deep joy of God’s presence, even in circumstances that are less than ideal.  If we are honest, persecution as a blessing seems beyond basic human comprehension.  Or is that just me?

The early church community was persecuted in ways that those of us who live in the United States cannot even imagine.  However, even though we are comfortable in our faith and free to engage in religious activities, we acknowledge that many of our Christian brothers and sisters AND devout persons of other faiths as well are persecuted all over the world today by many different people for many different reasons.  Join me and let us keep our brothers, our sisters, and all the people of the world in our prayers as we seek to “make” peace … especially this week as we consider the “blessedness” of persecution … but not just any kind of persecution, for Jesus is talking about persecution for “righteousness’ sake.”

Remembering the past weeks of our study, the other 2 key concepts in this passage are the “kingdom of God,” translated from the Greek word basileia {bas-il-i'-ah} which can be understood as the reign of God, and “righteousness,” translated from the Greek word dikaiosune {dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay} based upon the Hebrew concept of tsaddiyq {tsad-deek'} which means being in a “right, or just relationship with God.”

This blessing is so important and so difficult and so incredible that the writer of the Gospel expands it for 2 extra verses where we find that not only are we blessed, we are expected to rejoice and be glad for we are living a “prophetic” life.

Making Connections:   Who have you known or learned about who was persecuted for their beliefs or for the way they live their life that may be “different” than we consider to be “normal?” 

Going Deeper:  The Israelites had a long history of persecution, pain and suffering documented in the bible because they refused to accommodate themselves to the world.  That sounds a lot like Jesus but I wonder if it sounds like us?   Perhaps Joshua said it best, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  (24:15c) Have you ever contemplated the implications of a commitment to this statement?   What were your conclusions?

Read the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3:8-30.   What strikes you about this story?  Remember a time when you went through a great trial … did you feel God’s presence with you as these men did?   As you grow closer to God are you developing an awareness of God’s presence?   How do you “feel” God’s presence?

Have you ever heard the story of your birth?  Families rejoice over stories of new life.  Luke’s Jesus grew up knowing that he was born in a foreign land because his family fled the slaughter of innocent children.  He was and still is the kingdom of God.  He was the reign of God on earth and while we “say” Jesus reigns in heaven … he also reigns here on earth anytime a Christian stands up for justice and righteousness not just with words but with the way we live our lives.  As you consider the life and ministry of Jesus, what one encounter captures the sense of discipleship you want to live?

Jesus lived under the constant threat of violence and finally died of crucifixion, one of the cruelest forms of capital punishment for sedition … a crime we don’t really understand.  He told his followers this would happen but they didn’t seem to understand that most of them would literally follow in his footsteps all the way to martyrdom.  Read about the stoning of Stephen in Acts 6:8-15, 7:51-60.  What strikes you about this story?

Read the account of Perpetua’s martyrdom.  What strikes you about her and her community?  Do you agree with the way she lived and died?  What question does this account raise for you?

Pondering: Read Hebrews 12:1-2.  Who are the cloud of witnesses who help you lay aside the “sin that clings” and help you “run with perseverance?”

Conclusion:  Jesus calls us and challenges us and empowers us to live in the kingdom of heaven … under the reign of God as a way of life.  The way of the world is domination and social hierarchy.  The way of Jesus is humility and egalitarianism.   As we’ve made our journey deeper into the day by day experience of living under the reign of God, I’ve found it harder and harder to call myself a “Christian” as Jesus calls each one of us to BE and harder to act in the live-giving ways that Jesus calls us to ACT.

Marjorie Thompson says, “Deep inside the spiritual wisdom of the Beatitudes lies a paradox that runs through the heart of the gospel:  The power within and behind the entire universe does not assert itself as raw power; it is, rather, revealed in self-effacing humility and love.  Jesus shows us the transforming power of the self-emptying love of God.”  (Companions in Christ: The Way of Blessedness, 23) 

How do you understand this statement after having studied the Blessings?  As you move forward from our study, where do you plan to look for the kingdom “in your midst?”  How do you plan to “be” the kingdom, responding in love rather than violence?  What one change will you commit to in the way you live your life under the reign (self-emptying love) of God?

Prayer:                                     God our Father, Remember your followers:

Children deprived of love, joy and peace.  

Guard them and save them and give them your healing.
Show us your strength.  Show us once again!
Jesus our Brother, Remember your followers:
Men who are threatened for loving your name.
Protect them from evil, and help them bring glory.
Show us your strength. Show us once again!
Spirit our Mother, Remember your followers:
Women who suffer oppression and grief.
Give them your courage, provide for them daily.
Show us your strength. Show us once again!  AMEN!