Advent Daily Devotional
THIS WEEK
Lenten Devotional 2-23-23
Sermon on the Mount
February 23
Matthew 5: 3
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’
The Beatitudes have been the subject of an enormous amount of study since they were written down 2000 years ago in the Gospel of Matthew. Just what is Jesus telling us? Jesus seems to be describing the characteristics of disciples. Yesterday I likened these words of Jesus to the Boy Scout Oath (please note that forgot to include “thrifty”). Jesus seems to be saying something like this:
“If you want to be my disciples, you must adopt these characteristics.” I have this image in my head of the twelve standing up, raising their right hands and repeating after Jesus.
“A disciple will be poor in spirit.
A disciple will mourn.
A disciple will be meek.
A disciple will hunger and thirst for righteousness.
A disciple will be merciful.
A disciple will be pure in heart.
A disciple will be faithful despite persecution and hatred for being your disciple.”
When they are done, instead of shaking their hands, Jesus tells them they are blessed. They are blessed because they are his disciples. And when we decide to be disciples of Jesus, this is the oath we figuratively take, too. These words certainly raise many questions, but the first is pretty basic. What does it mean that disciples of Jesus are blessed?
The word “blessed” comes from the Greek word “makarios” (μακὰριος). Like many words, it has several different meanings depending on the context. Some translate the word as “happy”. I disagree. The idea expressed by makarios is that we are satisfied as the result of experiencing the fullness of something. A blessing can be experienced in many things. In the context of the Beatitudes, what has filled the disciples is their relationship to Jesus.
Jesus is their blessing. And in order to further their relationship with Jesus, they want to learn to be like him.
Our first set of devotionals will explore the Beatitudes. Here is the first..
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’
What does Jesus mean by this? A disciple is poor in spirit. Jesus would likely have used the Aramaic word “anah’”. In context, when Jesus used the phrase “poor in spirit”, he was really talking about humility. An understanding that we are not in charge. That we are not always right. That we will make mistakes requiring confession and repentance. That we must rely on God for strength and purpose and guidance.
When we are poor in spirit, we are humble, and so we are blessed.
Lenten Lenten Devotionals 2-23-2023
Sermon on the Mount
February 23
Matthew 5: 3
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’
The Beatitudes have been the subject of an enormous amount of study since they were written down 2000 years ago in the Gospel of Matthew. Just what is Jesus telling us? Jesus seems to be describing the characteristics of disciples. Yesterday I likened these words of Jesus to the Boy Scout Oath (please note that forgot to include “thrifty”). Jesus seems to be saying something like this:
“If you want to be my disciples, you must adopt these characteristics.” I have this image in my head of the twelve standing up, raising their right hands and repeating after Jesus.
“A disciple will be poor in spirit.
A disciple will mourn.
A disciple will be meek.
A disciple will hunger and thirst for righteousness.
A disciple will be merciful.
A disciple will be pure in heart.
A disciple will be faithful despite persecution and hatred for being your disciple.”
When they are done, instead of shaking their hands, Jesus tells them they are blessed. They are blessed because they are his disciples. And when we decide to be disciples of Jesus, this is the oath we figuratively take, too. These words certainly raise many questions, but the first is pretty basic. What does it mean that disciples of Jesus are blessed?
The word “blessed” comes from the Greek word “makarios” (μακὰριος). Like many words, it has several different meanings depending on the context. Some translate the word as “happy”. I disagree. The idea expressed by makarios is that we are satisfied as the result of experiencing the fullness of something. A blessing can be experienced in many things. In the context of the Beatitudes, what has filled the disciples is their relationship to Jesus.
Jesus is their blessing. And in order to further their relationship with Jesus, they want to learn to be like him.
Our first set of devotionals will explore the Beatitudes. Here is the first..
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’
What does Jesus mean by this? A disciple is poor in spirit. Jesus would likely have used the Aramaic word “anah’”. In context, when Jesus used the phrase “poor in spirit”, he was really talking about humility. An understanding that we are not in charge. That we are not always right. That we will make mistakes requiring confession and repentance. That we must rely on God for strength and purpose and guidance.
When we are poor in spirit, we are humble, and so we are blessed.
Lent Devotional Ash Wednesday 2023
Sermon on the Mount
Ash Wednesday
February 22
Matthew 5: 1-2
1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them …
Way back in 1967 I stood in front of a room full of people in the fellowship hall of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Pleasant Hills, raised my right hand, three fingers up with my thumb and little finger folded over so that the tips touched and recited these words.
A Scout is:
Trustworthy
Loyal
Helpful
Friendly
Courteous
Kind
Obedient
Cheerful
Brave
Clean and
Reverent.
Lowering my hand, and with a shake of my Scoutmaster’s hand, I was a Boy Scout! The words I had just recited are the Boy Scout Oath. What is interesting about those words is that they are not a list of things Scouts are to do each day. They describe what a Boy Scout “is”. They are characteristics to be emulated as a way of life. In every encounter with the world, we are not only to do these things, we are to be these things. No matter what. An approach to how we will conduct our lives every day. The Boy Scout way, so to speak. When we do, we proclaim our identity as Boy Scouts.
While we Presbyterians have an entire “Book of Confessions” that recite what we believe about Jesus and our faith, few tell us how to do it and be it. Certainly there is no “oath” like the one I recited back in the day. So, what does a life of faith look like? Jesus spends a good bit of time teaching that right out of the chute with his “Sermon on the Mount” as described in Mathew’s Gospel. It starts out with blessings and then moves on to interpretations of the law, generosity, piety, focus, worry, judgment of others and several other things. This “sermon” was perhaps the first Christian sermon and was designed to teach followers of Jesus how to do discipleship and be disciples.
During the 40 days of Lent (not counting Sundays), the JMPC Staff will offer our thoughts on what we learn from Jesus words. Who are we and what do we do? So, sit back and enjoy the sermon.
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John McMillan Presbyterian Church
