Life’s Blessings / Echo
God’s communication through Jesus was direct. Jesus “opened his mouth” and God’s words came forth. (Hebrews 1:1-4; Acts 3:22, 23)
Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, spoke of blessings that present a picture of the type of character that should be developed in those who follow Christ. “Beatitude” is not a word found in the Bible. It comes from the Latin word for “blessed.” It refers to the blessings of those who endeavor to develop the character described by Christ. Jesus is describing a heavenly happiness, the happiness of being in favour with God, or “walking with God,” a happiness of the highest kind. (Psalm 1:1,2; Deut. 33:29)
There are eight Beatitudes, and in the Scriptures, the number 8 is associated with a new beginning. In each one of the eight Beatitudes, the person of whom Jesus speaks is pronounced “blessed” or happy. This is not only because of the prospect set before that person regarding the Kingdom of God, noted in the first and last Beatitudes, but also because of the continuing tranquility of mind of those who know and do their Lord’s will: “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” John 13:17
Like his disciples that day on the Mount, through God’s word, we have the privilege of sitting at the feet of Jesus to learn the manner of person that he would have us become. The disciple and follower of Christ can look to his words, and in these words hear the echo of our Saviour saying:
“…Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20