November 3, 2019 – All Saints Sunday                                      Text:  Matthew 5:1-12

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Do you feel “Blessed Beyond Belief?”  Most of us look at our lives and can say we are blessed.  We have hope in Christ and heaven when we die.  Focus on the phrase “beyond belief.”  Do we sometimes act in ways that puts the message of Jesus Christ “beyond belief?”

            A former world-class athlete tells the story of his stepfather, a man who professed to be a Christian.  He would talk a good game but he had a temper that led to whippings for the young boy when he was messy.

            When the young man was 14 his mother had to have surgery.  He had to leave for a swim meet and his father went with.  At the airport his stepfather starting writing notes on a pad.  He would write, ball them up and then throw them in the garbage.  Strange thought the boy.  When his dad went to the restroom he retrieved a few of the notes and stuffed them in his bag.

            Later, when he was alone, he took them out and read them.  They were to another woman.  His stepfather was writing to another woman while his mother was in the hospital recovering from surgery.  What kind of impression of Christ do you suppose that gave this boy?

            Does our conduct ever put the blessings of the Christian life beyond belief for others?  Foul mouth, financial cheating, speaking ill of others, self-righteousness.  Yes, there is forgiveness of these sins, but the point right now is that our sins have consequences – and one consequence is that we sometimes make the blessings of the Christian life unbelievable for others.

            Today on All Saints Day the Gospel is Matthew 5:1-12.  In the Christian Church we call this section of Scripture “The Beatitudes.”  Good news of the blessings God has given us.  But is it all “sugar and spice and everything nice?”  To really understand them as Gospel, listen to them as Law.  “Blessed are the meek,” how often do you turn the other cheek?  “Blessed are the merciful,” but how many times do we withhold forgiveness from others?  “Blessed are the peacemakers” but how many times do we let our anger flow?  “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,” but do we always base our daily decisions on what the Word of God has to say?  Are you getting the point?  The Law accuses.  You are probably feeling “poor in spirit” right now.

            There is only one person who in Himself is in fact accurately described in the Beatitudes.  That’s the Son of God.  Listen to the Beatitudes and think of Jesus.  The perfect Son of God is described, not us sinners.

            Jesus died for those sins on the cross.  There is another way He rescued us and that is His “active obedience.”  Before His crucifixion, during His years on earth, Jesus kept the Law of God perfectly.  As a baby, as a toddler, as a teenager, as a mature man, Jesus did the will of the Father without fail.  Whereas, you and I buckle under the pressure of life and give in to our sinful nature, Jesus has no sin and committed no sin.  Jesus, Son of the Most High, blessed be He!

            Jesus did endure the punishment for our sins.  All those times we had not led the blessed life, all those times when you and I have put the blessings of following Christ beyond belief for others, everything was laid on Him at the cross.  He reached into your soul and mine and removed the curse.  “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’” (Gal. 3:13)  Jesus, Son of the Most High, blessed be He!

            Blessed be He!  What about us?  Can we be blessed?

            After those Beatitudes, Jesus turns to us in the text and says, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (v. 11-12)

            How can this be?  C.S. Lewis wrote:  “Christ says, ‘Give me all.  I don’t want so much of your money and so much of your work – I want you.  I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it.  No half-measures are any good.  I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there; I want to have the whole tree down.  Hand over the whole natural self . . . I will give you a new self instead.  In fact I will give you myself; my own will shall become yours.’”

            How can we empty ourselves so much that Christ completely resides in us?  It is almost beyond belief except for the Biblical teaching that the Holy Spirit works it in us.  Through our Baptism and God’s Word and The Holy Supper.  Christ lives in us.

            The climax will be the day when we are . . .

“BLESSED BEYOND BELIEF”

On that day we will no longer walk by faith, but by sight.  We will see the Savior face-to-face.  On that day we will dwell with God and all the saints in heaven.  We pray for the message to take root on those currently going down the wrong path.  We pray the Holy Spirit will work on their hearts with the Gospel so that Revelation 7:9 comes true:  “A great multitude that no one could count.”  “With them numbered may we be here and in eternity!” (LW 370). 

                                                                                    Amen.