THE GREAT PARADOX: MOURNING BRINGS COMFORT (3 OF 9)
by Jerry Branch
Scripture: MATTHEW 5:4
This content is part of a series.
The Christian Pathway (3 of 9)
The Great Paradox: Mourning Brings Comfort
Gerald Branch
Matthew 5:4
Paradox is defined as something that seems to be a great inconsistency...and no where does anything seem to be more out of place than to make the statement that mourning will bring comforting. But that is exactly what Jesus tells us here in the second Beatitude from the Sermon on the Mount.
Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted. Matt 5:4 (HCSB)
So, just as the first Beatitude seems to be at odds with itself, 'blessed are those who are poor in spirit, for they shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven,' this, the second of the Beatitudes seems to be just as ridiculous, especially to the world.
So...Did you ever stop and ask yourself this question...How in the world can some poor soul who is mourning, be happy?
I guarantee that the world says,...that's nuts! It does not compute. No way, man.
Yet, here it is...in God's Word...we read this really hard to figure out verse...blessed...or happy...is the one who mourns.
This is so much 'anti-world view' that even a lot of Christians have trouble with it...
And it is so obvious that it goes against the world's view...
If you don't think so, just stop and think about what some of the largest industries are today...They're the entertainment and the legal and illegal drug industries...
Think about it...it takes multi-billion dollar industries to fuel the need for man's pleasure...and the reason for this is because IF you can keep feeling good enough, long enough...you just might be able to keep buried the realization that something is in fact really wrong.
Even in Jesus day people tried to 'live it up' so that they didn't have to face themselves. The Romans were great at throwing big parties...they called them 'orgies' because of the excesses of food and frolic. You know something? It's is hard to face reality when you're loaded and having fun.
And things haven't changed all t ...
The Great Paradox: Mourning Brings Comfort
Gerald Branch
Matthew 5:4
Paradox is defined as something that seems to be a great inconsistency...and no where does anything seem to be more out of place than to make the statement that mourning will bring comforting. But that is exactly what Jesus tells us here in the second Beatitude from the Sermon on the Mount.
Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted. Matt 5:4 (HCSB)
So, just as the first Beatitude seems to be at odds with itself, 'blessed are those who are poor in spirit, for they shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven,' this, the second of the Beatitudes seems to be just as ridiculous, especially to the world.
So...Did you ever stop and ask yourself this question...How in the world can some poor soul who is mourning, be happy?
I guarantee that the world says,...that's nuts! It does not compute. No way, man.
Yet, here it is...in God's Word...we read this really hard to figure out verse...blessed...or happy...is the one who mourns.
This is so much 'anti-world view' that even a lot of Christians have trouble with it...
And it is so obvious that it goes against the world's view...
If you don't think so, just stop and think about what some of the largest industries are today...They're the entertainment and the legal and illegal drug industries...
Think about it...it takes multi-billion dollar industries to fuel the need for man's pleasure...and the reason for this is because IF you can keep feeling good enough, long enough...you just might be able to keep buried the realization that something is in fact really wrong.
Even in Jesus day people tried to 'live it up' so that they didn't have to face themselves. The Romans were great at throwing big parties...they called them 'orgies' because of the excesses of food and frolic. You know something? It's is hard to face reality when you're loaded and having fun.
And things haven't changed all t ...
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