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There have been seasons of my life in which I just found myself in "funk." There have been a variety of reasons for the "funk":

  • In between jobs
  • A disbanded friendship/relationship
  • An election cycle that just wore on the soul of a nation
  • Etc.

At the end of the day, the common reason for the "funk" has been unmet expectations in resources, relationships, or the republic. This can spark the soul into a "What-is-going-on?" mode.

When Jesus is addressing an eclectic crowd of Galileans, Judeans, Syrians, Arameans, and more he starts off an infamous teaching with the words, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." There's a sense in which Jesus is looking at a crowd amid unmet expectations - they've been dealing with physical, financial, relational, and religious unmet expectations. Jerusalem is more contentious and divided than some would like, Galilee is paying more in taxes than they would like (and to Rome add insult to injury), the Decapolis' religious climate is filled with licentious behavior, and on-and-on-and-on.

Yet Jesus has this prophetic proclamation that the world their hearts have been desiring is descending upon them - the kingdom of heaven is now theirs to take hold of, and in the kingdom of heaven is healing for all their physical, financial, relational, and religious heartaches. It is the revealing of the world offered by the Messiah, and it's a world that lifts up the beaten down.

This is the world Jesus offers in the Epiphany, and later solidifies and seals at his resurrection during Holy Week.

The kingdom of heaven is good news for the beaten down indeed.