The Beatitudes -Those who Mourn

Posted byCynthiaPosted inUncategorized

Disclaimer: This is a repost from January 2021 intended for Podcast Series

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5 v 4

The Beatitudes is a fascinating piece of Biblical text. In it we see Jesus call a people blessed whom when we look at are anything but. This particular beatitude is no exception. It addresses those who mourn, specifically those who mourn over their sinfulness.

Jesus reminds his disciples that the kingdom of heaven is not like the kingdoms of earth. What we call blessed on earth are things that bring us happiness – health, wealth, success, self-reliance, independence, marital bliss,…the list goes on. We know these things; we long for these things. These are not what Jesus calls blessed. In this intimate conversation He has with his disciples, Jesus reveals to them the blessed in the Kingdom of Heaven as

  • the poor in spirit
  • the one who mourns
  • the meek
  • the one who hungers and thirsts for righteousness
  • the merciful
  • the pure in heart
  • the peacemakers
  • the ones persecuted for the sake of righteousness.

As his disciples draw closer to Him, they will realize how unlike Jesus they are. We all will. When we realize how sinful we are, we realize how undeserving of His love we are. Jesus promises that in this revelation of one’s sinful state and their deep grief over it, the disciple will experience the loving comfort of God.

What does this comfort look like?

First and foremost, God sent Jesus, the one who knew no sin, bore our sin, that in Him we might be righteous before God (2 Corinthians 5 v 21). He also promises that those who believe in Jesus, and are redeemed through Him are no longer condemned (Romans 8 v 1).

Our realization and grief over our sin, needn’t drive us to caves in mountains to live out the rest of our lives in penitential isolation. In the Kingdom of God the one who mourns over his sin is welcomed to comes and exchange this grief for the comfort we have in Christ, our messiah. We are no longer defined by our sin but the righteousness we have in Christ.

Amen.

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