photo #9115259

17. And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, Luke 6:17. Jesus teaches a large crowd about the kingdom of God. From all the disciples, He chooses 12 Apostles, the closest of His followers. Jesus works with the Apostles like a team, welcoming everyone to learn the Gospel and experience physical and spiritual healing, without discriminatio. Jesus preached blessings on the spiritually poor; God's kingdom is theirs. Those who hunger for God's word will be filled. Those who weep in this world will have eternal joy in God's kingdom. Those persecuted for following Jesus shall be honored and rewarded in heaven. Jesus also taught of the woes in life. The rich have comfort but miss the deeper blessings of God. All who are content with worldly pleasures will have spiritual hunger. All filled with the enjoyment of this world, refusing God, will face sorrows. Jesus teaches that true joy comes from God, and following Jesus leads to what God sees as good and eternal. The world's temporary pleasures will never outweigh God's kingdom, nor His rewards. Amen.