“Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them …” (Matthew 5:1-2)
This world.
What a mess.
Spiritually speaking.
Emotionally speaking.
Physically speaking.
Politically speaking.
Relationally speaking.
A world-wide catastrophe in the making. A catastrophe come home to roost.
A world-wide population that is, at best, directionally challenged. We don’t know where we’re headed; we don’t know what to do next. We’re bumping into walls, and we’re bumping into one another. Bumps lead to bruises, and bruises leave us feeling damaged.
Lost and damaged. Indeed, a mess.
Jesus Christ has an answer for us. Not long ago, I heard (and saw) his answer dramatically portrayed on the screen in the Season 2 finale of The Chosen. Are you watching it? You should be. Dallas Jenkins and his array of writers and actors have given us a gift – God’s truth wrapped around dynamic dialogue and tender portraits. I’d be hard-pressed to name a favorite scene from the first two seasons; there are just too many. Each artistic license taken by the writers is carefully framed against the backdrop of scripture, leading me (and millions of other fans) to reach out for more. More truth. More Jesus. More conversations with our Savior.
And so it was a couple of weeks ago when the finale aired.
Jesus is discussing his upcoming inaugural, kingdom address (the Sermon on the Mount) with his disciple, Matthew. Jesus is working on the “intro” for his sermon throughout the episode, as Matthew takes notes. After a few days of wrestling with his thoughts, Jesus awakens Matthew in the early morning hours to let him know he’s worked out the particulars to his opening statement. Jesus tells Matthew that it’s a map of sorts … directions … where people should look for him.
And then Jesus begins his oration of the Beatitudes while tender scenes from the series mirror each of the “blessed.”
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 be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. (Matthew 5:3 – 11)
As the scene finishes, Matthew is curious as to how the blessed are equal to a map.
Jesus’ response pierced straight through to my heart.
“If someone wants to find me, those are the groups they should look for.”
I was undone by the dialogue. I haven’t stopped thinking about it.
Could it be that the way to find Jesus in this lost and damaged, catastrophe-in-the-making world, where bumps and bruises are now the norm, is through the blessed? Are they a map that can lead us to a deeper, divine intimacy with Christ?
I think The Chosen is onto something. I find peace just thinking on it.
Accordingly, count me in. Give me the map. Wherever Christ is, that’s where I want to be, even if it means I have to course-correct … take a few steps in a new direction. Venture into some places that are less comfortable for me but, perhaps, more sacred. Crowds that are better suited for soul-development rather than destruction. Dots on the spiritual map where Christ is content to make himself manifest in the consecrated blessed ones.
In those who are poor in spirit.
In those who mourn.
In the meek.
In the spiritually hungry.
In the merciful.
In the pure in heart.
In the peacemakers.
In the persecuted.
Christ in the blessed.
In finding them, perhaps I’ll find more of Jesus. They are the blessed ones; he has named them so. And whomever he calls blessed, surely, he dwells in their midst.
Friends, I want to find them, and then I want to be found amongst them. Blessed. Next to Jesus and next to the Gospel that distinctly marks me as one of his and that dramatically points me in the right direction … toward home.
In the messy now. In the glorious then. And in every dot on the map in between.
In every place, the very blessed kingdom of God.
I’ll meet you on the road. As always…
Peace for the journey,
Amen Elaine, we also have been watching the “Chosen”. That scene hit me deep also.
Such a worthy “watch” in a world so full of garbage. I pray you and Mike are well.
I’ve known such blessed ones as Jesus described: the humble who reflect God’s glory, the grieving who cling joyfully to hope in him, the meek of great spiritual strength, and more. May I too be found among them, learning from them, and walking in step with them–next to Jesus. Such a beautiful, spirit-touching post, Elaine! P.S. While family was in town last week, my daughter and I pulled out the old family photos from when she and her brothers were young. Tucked into one of the 1983 envelopes was a picture of you! Such a delight to come upon it, share with my daughter our history, and how you reached out to me in order to reconnect. I must say again how glad I am that you did!
Oh Elaine…yes! “Wherever Christ is that’s where I want to be, even if it means I have to course correct…take a few steps in a new direction. Venture into some places that are less comfortable for me but, perhaps more sacred. Crowds that are better suited for soul development rather than destruction.”
Longing to be found with them too…and spending more intimate moments with my Saviour,
Joy