This #ScriptureSaturday I had the pleasure of chatting to Ian about why The Beatitudes are such special scripture to him …

Ian told me of his trip to the Holy Land where he found himself stood at the top of the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee as part of a guided tour. He said the views were breath taking and he stood in awe of the beauty of God’s creation.

The guide then handed a Bible to Ian and asked him to read The Beatitudes from Matthew 5:1-7. There were around 100 people there, only a handful of them Christians. Ian told me as he began to read, the magnificence of speaking Jesus’ words in the place that He once spoke them began to dawn on him. His hair was tingling and he said you could have heard a pin drop.

With confidence he finished by proclaiming ‘This is the Word of the Lord’.

What an incredible experience!

Matthew 5:1-7 (NIV)
Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
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.
The Beatitudes
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.