The Beatitudes Page 13
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Dark shadows had fallen on the land. The long spring day was spent and now many more of the people were ready to return to their villages. They had listened to a discourse on religion during which the inner meaning of the law and prophets was understandably revealed for the first time in the history of Judaism. The whole subject of religion, justice, and human relations was made clear and given a new synthesis.
Jesus knew that the majority of the people would not exchange the old teaching for the new. He also knew that those who questioned the Mosaic teaching would be challenging the long-held traditions, denouncing hypocrites and teachers of false religion, and would meet with violent opposition and punishment. If those in power had hated and reproached the Master, how much more would they hate and reproach his followers?
Jesus' disciples and his followers were to expound the same truths and demand the same reforms for which the Hebrew prophets were put to death.
But now Jesus was looking to heaven as though asking God for mercy upon those who would be reproached, persecuted and defamed for his name sake. He spoke in a distinct and loud voice so that everyone could hear him: "Blessed are you when men reproach you and persecute you and speak against you every kind of evil, falsely, for my sake. Then be glad and rejoice, for your reward is increased in heaven; for in this very manner they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
And as Jesus spoke he held out his hands to some of the faithful men and women whose eyes were fastened upon him. Jesus knew that the world would heap scorn and reproach upon the teachings of the New Way. He knew that his followers would be termed revolutionary, lazy, mad, and would be blamed for all kinds of crimes and disturbances because of his teaching. And that was not all. Even if the whole world were ready for this great change, there were men in power who would fight and die if necessary for their ideals of practicality and realism. How many times has a small but ambitious group succeeded in imposing its will upon a nation!
On the other hand, there were some who believed in Jesus, but who were afraid to exchange the old way for a new and unproven way. Even today, two thousand years after these words were spoken, humanity is hesitant to change the old order for the new.
Jesus warned his followers not to be dis-heartened because of the immediate opposition to his teachings and the slow acceptance of his gospel. It took many centuries before the truths in the Jewish religion crystallized and men of God started to teach them. All great things start small, like a mustard seed which is so small it can hardly be handled, but grows into a plant so large that it offers shade and shelter. All great things have been born in pain and travail and have taken time to grow in order to have deep roots. That which grows fast soon disintegrates and dies.
These new seeds of truth that Jesus scattered among the listeners on the mountainside were to be carried away as by gentle winds to the far corners of the world where they would produce abundant spiritual fruit.
Opposition could only serve the cause of the Gospel instead of retarding it or destroying it. Opposition would help to spread it. Truth can be opposed, but it can never be destroyed.
Jesus knew that the majority of the people would not exchange the old teaching for the new. He also knew that those who questioned the Mosaic teaching would be challenging the long-held traditions, denouncing hypocrites and teachers of false religion, and would meet with violent opposition and punishment. If those in power had hated and reproached the Master, how much more would they hate and reproach his followers?
Jesus' disciples and his followers were to expound the same truths and demand the same reforms for which the Hebrew prophets were put to death.
But now Jesus was looking to heaven as though asking God for mercy upon those who would be reproached, persecuted and defamed for his name sake. He spoke in a distinct and loud voice so that everyone could hear him: "Blessed are you when men reproach you and persecute you and speak against you every kind of evil, falsely, for my sake. Then be glad and rejoice, for your reward is increased in heaven; for in this very manner they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
And as Jesus spoke he held out his hands to some of the faithful men and women whose eyes were fastened upon him. Jesus knew that the world would heap scorn and reproach upon the teachings of the New Way. He knew that his followers would be termed revolutionary, lazy, mad, and would be blamed for all kinds of crimes and disturbances because of his teaching. And that was not all. Even if the whole world were ready for this great change, there were men in power who would fight and die if necessary for their ideals of practicality and realism. How many times has a small but ambitious group succeeded in imposing its will upon a nation!
On the other hand, there were some who believed in Jesus, but who were afraid to exchange the old way for a new and unproven way. Even today, two thousand years after these words were spoken, humanity is hesitant to change the old order for the new.
Jesus warned his followers not to be dis-heartened because of the immediate opposition to his teachings and the slow acceptance of his gospel. It took many centuries before the truths in the Jewish religion crystallized and men of God started to teach them. All great things start small, like a mustard seed which is so small it can hardly be handled, but grows into a plant so large that it offers shade and shelter. All great things have been born in pain and travail and have taken time to grow in order to have deep roots. That which grows fast soon disintegrates and dies.
These new seeds of truth that Jesus scattered among the listeners on the mountainside were to be carried away as by gentle winds to the far corners of the world where they would produce abundant spiritual fruit.
Opposition could only serve the cause of the Gospel instead of retarding it or destroying it. Opposition would help to spread it. Truth can be opposed, but it can never be destroyed.