Blessed Are You

“You are the light of the world.” — Matthew 5:14

One day, when Jesus saw the huge crowds following Him, He went up on a hillside and sat down. His disciples gathered around Him, and He began to teach them. This teaching is called the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus began with some surprising words. Each one starts with “Blessed are...”, which means “Happy are...” or “God is pleased with...”.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,” Jesus said, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” That means people who know they need God.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” That means people who are sad.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” That means people who are gentle and humble.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” That means people who really want to do what is right.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” That means people who are kind and forgiving.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

Isn’t that surprising? Most people think the happy, blessed people are the rich ones, the strong ones, the popular ones, the people who always get their own way. But Jesus turned all that upside down. God’s blessing is for the humble, the gentle, the kind, the sad, and the people who make peace.

Then Jesus said something wonderful about His followers.

“You are the salt of the earth,” He said. Salt makes food taste good, and stops it going bad.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill can’t be hidden. People don’t light a lamp and then put it under a bowl. They put it on a stand, so that it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine in front of other people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.”

When we follow Jesus, we are like lamps in a dark room. Our kindness and love and honesty shine out, and people can see what God is like.

Jesus said much more on that hillside. He said, “Love your enemies and pray for people who are unkind to you.” He said that we should forgive people, and not show off when we do good things, and not judge others.

And He said one more thing about Himself: “Don’t think that I have come to get rid of God’s Law or the Prophets. I haven’t come to get rid of them, but to fulfil them.”

The promise kept: Jesus said He had come not to abolish the Law and the Prophets, “but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17). Everything God said in the Old Testament, every law and every promise, finds its meaning and comes true in Jesus.

Read it in your Bible: Matthew 5:1–17, 43–48

Dear Jesus, please make me gentle and kind and a peacemaker. Help me to shine like a light, so that other people can see how good you are. Amen.