5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
-Matthew 5:1-10 NIV
The first verse of Matthew 5 is a crucial one to set up what has become known as the Sermon on the Mount. We often imagine Jesus delivering this most famous teaching of His to the crowds, but the text goes out of its way to inform us differently. Jesus left the crowds and went up on a mountainside. And it was those who were willing to follow Him and make the climb that heard these extraordinary teachings of Jesus.
Today, Jesus is still inviting anyone willing to make the climb to come to Him. The question is are we willing? Discipleship isn’t found where the crowds tend to gather, rather it’s found on the mountainside. Crowds come to receive from Jesus. Disciples come to learn from Him. Crowds settle for what is comfortable. Disciples are willing to climb uphill to get to Jesus. Crowds seek amazement and astonishment. Disciples seek instruction that will most certainly challenge and correct them. Crowds want to see Jesus. Disciples want to get to know Him on His terms, not their own.
Today, will you make the climb? Will you sacrifice what is comfortable, what is status quo, and what is convenient in exchange for knowing Jesus more closely, growing in your understanding of the Kingdom of God, and seeking His will above your own?
Today, make the climb. It’s always worth it.
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