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Friends United Meeting |
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November 1999
"And Blessed Are You..."
By Jan Hodson
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples’ “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 16: 13-17
Last month I shared two ways in which the Holy Spirit helps us to have tender hearts. The Spirit of God enters into an intimate relationship with us and the Spirit of God reveals Jesus to us. We saw in Matthew 16:13-17 how Jesus commended Peter and blessed him because he had learned to listen to the living Spirit of God. Peter had allowed the Spirit to reveal to him the truth about Jesus, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. It is the word “blessed” as used in the same verse that I wish to tap into this month, for we are also blessed when we are open to the truth of the Holy Spirit.
When we think of the word “blessed”–makarios in the Greek–we think of the favorable gifts of God showered upon us as a result of living in obedience to God. We may think of good health, material provisions, and comfortable surroundings as being the blessings of God.
In the Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, Spiros Zodhiates sheds light on this word “blessed.” He says this word “differs from ‘happy’ because happy is the person who has good luck.” “Blessed” does not mean favorable circumstances. Used in the context of Matthew 16, the word blessed means:
Possessing the character of deity.
Indwelt by God because of Christ and as a result being fully satisfied.
Zodhiates goes on to say that “to be blessed is equivalent to having God’s kingdom within one’s heart” and “a blessed person is one whom God makes fully satisfied, not because of favorable circumstances but because God indwells the believer through Christ.”
This is precisely why Peter finds favor in the eyes of Jesus. Peter is blessed because the deity of Christ has been revealed to him through the Spirit of God. This is evidence of the Spirit in-dwelling Peter’s heart. Peter is learning to be open to and to be taught by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Personally, I have had a “blessed” week. Not because everything has gone smoothly, but because Christ indwells me in the midst of my circumstances. I have been very ill with seasonal allergies but I am “blessed.” Jesus’ presence was with me as I sought treatment. I am blessed, not because I am better now, but because Jesus was with me. Even if I were still sick, I would remain blessed.
On the eve of our 21st wedding anniversary my husband and I have had to confront some serious issues. But our marriage is blessed, not because we never have problems, but because Christ indwells our marriage. Christ is at the heart of our relationship, helping us through the difficult times.
Just two days ago we took our oldest daughter to college to begin her freshman year. As parents, we are excited for her but it has been an emotional struggle. We realize that things in our family life will never be the same. We will no longer relate to one another as adult to child but as adult to adult. When she comes home for fall break she’ll be a different person. I called to check on her and see how things were going. She was anxious to get off the phone. She had places to be, things to do, friends to meet. She wasn’t homesick at all. When I told her I loved her at the end of our conversation she replied, “Okay, bye” and hung up.
It hurt a little bit. My heart ached at the loss of the little girl who would smother me with kisses and affirmations of love. She must have been embarrassed to say “I love you” to Mom in her new independent surroundings. There must have been people with her when I called.
But I was blessed. The Holy Spirit’s presence warmed me and I heard the inward Voice whisper, “I love you.” I sensed that God was not only telling me that He loved me but He was also speaking for my daughter. I understood her “condition” and knew that she loved me. Truth was revealed. Things will never be the same in our family, nor should they be. But that’s okay. We know we love one another. We know God indwells us.
No matter what the circumstances, we possess the inner kingdom of God. We are truly blessed.
Formerly pastor of New Garden Friends Church, in Indiana Yearly Meeting, Jan Hodson naow attends Walnut Ridge Meeting, Indiana Yearly Meeting.
Copyright (c) 1999 Friends United Meeting
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