It’s Jesus speaking. He’s sitting on a mountainside. Can you picture it? A rocky place perhaps or a grassy ledge. Perhaps a warm day with the sun bearing down. Teaching his disciples. Wouldn’t it be awesome to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to him?
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10
Jesus had been going throughout the region of Galilee, teaching, preaching and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him had spread all over Syria, and people came, bringing to him all who were ill, those who were suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed. And Jesus healed them. Crowds of people from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. The crowds had become so large that Jesus had to withdraw to a mountainside to have some quiet time.
Sound familiar? We, too, need to withdraw from the busyness of our lives and the cares of this world to spend time with the Saviour. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. The Beatitudes. Jesus gently teaches his disciples, speaking of many qualities and characteristics that the world does not view as desirable and then tells them they are blessed and what their reward will be. What kind of qualities you ask? How about ‘poor in spirit’, ‘those who mourn’, ‘the meek’, ‘those who hunger and thirst for righteousness’, ‘the merciful’, ‘the pure in heart’, ‘the peacemakers’, and ‘those who are persecuted’. Are these qualities that the world values? No. But God does. Do you have these qualities? If you do, the Lord says you are blessed!
Persecute means to harass or to annoy persistently, especially because of religion, race or beliefs. It can be a painful trial to be persecuted for your faith. Do you feel persecuted because of your Christian beliefs and the way you live? Take heart; Jesus says you are blessed! The kingdom of heaven belongs to you.
There are some encouraging words about persecution in I Peter chapter 4, verses 12-19. If we are living as we should, we should expect to be persecuted, (verse 12). We are even instructed to rejoice that we participate in the sufferings of Christ. We should count it an honor to suffer, even as Christ suffered. Verse 14 says that if you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
Peter warns us not to confuse persecution for righteousness with persecution for other reasons. He specifically mentions three sinful conditions that would cause us persecution: being a murderer, thief, or a meddler. His point? We are not blessed when we are persecuted for sinful actions.
Next Peter tells us that if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. Lastly, if you suffer according to God’s will, commit yourself to your faithful Creator and continue to do good. Don’t be dissuaded by your friends or by the world. Never give up. Because Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness.”