An Introduction to True Happiness (Matthew 5:1-2)

(It is preached in Phulbari Sewa Mandali on 18th February, 2018 at Sunday Service.)

About 500 BC, Isaiah the Prophet said, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters, and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come; buy wine and milk without money and price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.” (Is. 55:1-2) He saw people who longed for happiness, but they were looking for it in wrong place. They were running here and there for searching happiness; and spending their money to buy things to satisfy themselves. But there was no permanent happiness and satisfaction in their lives. Therefore, Isaiah stood before these people and asked them simply, “Are you getting what you want out of life? If no, then why do you spend your money for what is not bread and to labor for what does not bring satisfaction in your lives?”

There are people around us who have been spending their whole life to get something which could give them true happiness. But their search for happiness has not ended. A famous film actress said, “I have money, glamour and popularity. I have everything what a woman could imagine to have for happy life. I should be the happiest woman in the world, but it is not.” A millionaire acknowledged that he thought money could buy happiness, but he was wrong. Once, a famous politician said to Billy Graham, “I am an old man. Life has lost all meaning. I am ready to take a fateful leap into the unknown.” He asked him, “Young man, can you give me a ray of hope?”  A British social leader said, “I have lost all desire to live, yet I have everything to live for …” Whole world is searching for the true happiness, but they don’t know about the source of it and our Lord Jesus Christ who came to give us ‘abundant life’ (John 10:10), discloses the secret of happiness in the Beatitudes.

UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE HAPPINESS
"Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “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.”

There is 9 times the word ‘Blessed’ within vs. 1-12, found in vs. 3, vs. 4, vs. 5, vs. 6, vs. 7, vs. 8, vs. 9, vs. 10 and vs. 11. Each Beatitudes begins with the word ‘Blessed’ and it is a very special word. In Greek, the word ‘makarios’ (μακάριος) is used for ‘Blessed’ and it is one of difficult words in the New Testament to translate into our modern language. However, most of Bible translators have used the term ‘happy’ which is not appropriate with the word what Jesus had used in particular time of history. The English word ‘happy’ doesn’t convey the appropriate meaning of ‘makarios’. The word ‘happy’ itself contains the root word ‘hap’ which means chance. It describes that happiness is something which depends on the chance or circumstances of life. It can be obtained and lost both equally. But the Greek term ‘makarios’ goes far beyond mere happiness. 

William Barcley comments, “The meaning of makarios can best be seen from one particular usage of it. The Greeks always called Cyprus he makaria (the feminine form of the adjective), which means The Happy Isle, and they did so because they believed that Cyprus was so lovely, so rich and so fertile an island that there was never any need to go beyond its coastline in order to find the perfectly happy life. It had such a climate, such flowers and fruits and trees, such minerals and such natural resources that it contained within itself all the materials for perfect happiness.” [William Barcley, The New Daily Study Bible – The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 1 (Theological Publications in India: Bangalore, 2009) pages 102-103] The term ‘makarios’ describes such happiness, which is self-contained and has nothing connection with outward world. Therefore, we need to understand that it talks about the happiness, which is never produced or perished by our any situation. Even our pain and grief; sorrow and loss; life and death are powerless to touch it and to take away. In other words, we need to understand that there are two kinds of happiness; temporary happiness and true happiness. The world can give you the happiness but it is temporary. This kind of happiness comes to us when our circumstances are pleasant and free from troubles, but a change in our circumstance like losing health, failure of the plan; and even a change in the weather can take away this kind of happiness. But in other side, true happiness endures in all kinds of circumstances. There is no end for this kind of happiness, which God alone can give us.

A QUEST FOR TRUE HAPPINESS
Vs. 1a – “Seeing the crowds, HE went up on the mountain …”

Though the author of Gospel, Matthew does not pinpoint the exact location of the mountain, the traditional site of the sermon is above Tabgha, near Capernaum, on a ridge of hills northwest of the town, from where the Sea of Galilee can be viewed with its magnificent view. Mt. 4: 23b-25 says that Jesus healed every kind of diseases and because of it, a large crowd followed HIM from Galilee and the Decapolis (federation of Ten cities), and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. In this crowd, there are different kinds of people. Some people came for healing, some with curiosity how Jesus heals, some to find faults, but some came to find something they didn’t know exactly. When Jesus saw the crowd, HE saw their inner quest for happiness.  
 
Blaise Pascal, the French mathematician once said, "There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God ..." Man was created in the image and likeness of God. There was a perfect fellowship with God before Adam and Eve sinned. But when they disobeyed HIM, they lost the relationship with their creator. Not even they lost the relationship with God; they lost peace and their purpose of life. The vacuum in the soul, which only God can fill - forced man to look for the fellowship of God.  Instead of going to God, man rush to the world to satisfy this inner quest by acquiring more knowledge, gaining economic security and worldly pleasure. Often we can find some happiness in these things, but they are just for a moment. When our circumstances or moods change, our happiness also vanishes soon. We may say we are happy, but down inside we know that is not true.

King Solomon had power, position, wealth, possessions and women. If he would have found the happiness in all these world things, he would have never written in Ecclesiastes, “Meaningless! Meaningless! … Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” (Ecc.1:2)  King Solomon describes beautifully in this book the futility of pursuing the happiness in life into the world and its things. Millions of people climb the ladders of worldly success, but later they discover after reaching in the top that they are leaning against the wrong wall. Having good look, relationship with important people, right job and a fat bank account may help you in some extent, but they can’t help you fulfill the vacuum in your heart and for having true happiness. Therefore, Jesus saw the crowd of people who are searching for true happiness; therefore HE went up to the mountain and spoke out the Beatitudes.

A CALL FOR TRUE HAPPINESS
Vs. 1b – “… and when HE sat down, HIS disciples came to HIM.”

Teachers in Judaism sat while teaching. This position was considered officially for teaching. Still we talk of a professor’s chair, which conveys us that it is officially. When Matthew writes that when HE sat down, it manifests his official act as a Rabbi. When HE sat down, HIS disciples came to HIM. A crowd was following after Jesus, but this crowd had been divided into two kinds of people – disciples and common people. Disciples followed HIM to learn while it may be common people followed HIM for different reasons. A disciple follow to learn from HIS master, and to understand what he taught. And other side, common people has a different kind of motive to follow.

Though Jesus primarily taught to HIS disciples who came to HIM, whole crowd heard HIM. Jesus knew the heart of people among the crowds, but HE never ignore to anyone. HE taught to everyone, but few have listened HIM eagerly. HE never left anyone without teaching them. Actually Jesus served as faithful preacher, who never bothered of how many would respond. HE preached always with the hope that some people may repent. Mt. 4:25 tells, “A great crowds followed HIM …” Jesus healed all people with all kinds of sicknesses, but few people had decided to become HIS disciples and rest of crowds were curious of his teachings and ministry yet they remained neutral and uncommitted.  

In Exodus 19-20, we read the Lord came down upon the mountain, but Jesus went up the mountain; HE spoke in thunder and lighting, but Jesus spoke in a still voice and people were ordered to keep distance while the Law was given to Moses, but Jesus invited people to come near. The Law was given us to show our sins and its punishment, but our Lord began with these words: “Blessed are they …” in these three words HE was telling us that there is way for true happiness. HE is calling all kinds of people with stretched arms saying: “Come to ME, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest …” (Mt. 11:28)

A KEY FOR TRUE HAPPINESS
Vs. 2 - And HE opened HIS mouth and taught them saying:”

There are newspapers and TV channel are full with the advertisements which allure people to find peace and happiness in their life. There are people around us who have been spending a huge amount of money to find peace and happiness, but their all efforts are in vain. Psychiatrics and psychologists are paid with a huge amount by people to get a key for peace and happiness in their life. But their tips and techniques never helped them to receive peace and true happiness. Then question comes in our mind: where and how can be peace and happiness found?

Before answering the question, I would tell the story of one woman from the Bible who had found peace and happiness in her life. John 4 chapter tells a story of Samaritans women who came to draw water at Jacob’s well. She has had already five husbands and still she was living a man who was not her husband. We can assume this woman’s condition. She was longing for peace and happiness by pursuing fleshly desires, but there was no peace at all. And Jesus said to woman, “everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (Jn.4:13-14). In vs. 39 tells us that many Samaritans believed from the town in Jesus, because of her testimony. Why did many Samaritans believed in Jesus? There is no doubt that people had seen something which they had never expected before to happen to this woman and when they saw the transformation in her life, they compelled to believe in Jesus. This woman knew something about Jesus which inspired her to transform. She came to know that Jesus is the Messiah who is about to come (John 4:25-26). As she believed HIM as her Lord and Savior, Jesus gave her the water which quenched her thirst for true happiness and she became the witness of the Lord among her own people. Presently, she invites us to Jesus, the key where the whole world can find the peace and true happiness.

And HE opened HIS mouth and taught them saying…” is a Jewish idiom. It has a double significance. It is used for saying of an oracle. It is also used when a man really open his hearts and fully pour out his minds. When Matthew used this idiom, he manifested that Jesus opened HIS heart and mind and teach people about the way where they can find the peace and true happiness.

CONCLUSION / APPLICATION  
Jesus looked at the crowds, who searched for happiness; and HE called HIS disciples to have it and finally he opened HIS mouth saying the secret of true happiness. What HE taught is known the Beatitudes. True happiness is not found in pursuing the world and its pleasure, but in Jesus HIMSELF.

A brother brought up under with sticks and rod. There was no day when he was not beaten up by his step parents. After coming back from school, the step mother did not offer food to him until he had not brought water from 2 miles far. It was his daily routine. He always ate food with tears. It seemed him that there is no end of this kind of life. The day came when he passed matriculation with the help of villagers who paid his board exam fees. He had desired to study further and had ambition to peruse Ph. D. in Science, but the behavior of step parents, he decided to run away from home. Finally he left his study, forgot his ambition and ran away from home. He began to work in private company at the age of 17 years. When he began to earn, he came in touch with bad company and began to drink of wine; and soon ended with different kinds of addictions. Actually he thought there would be true happiness in drinking wine, but it made situation more worst.

One day he heard about Jesus and he remembered that someone had told him of Jesus while he was in school. He began to study the religion and philosophy with his scientific mind. Finally, he confused with many facts of Bible like virgin birth of Jesus, healing of leprosy, opening the eyes of blind, raising dead people. But God in his sovereignty, quenched the curiosity of this brother, and revealed the truth about the destiny of human life through his word. He received Jesus as the Lord and Savior and experienced the true happiness.  

This is the story of this brother, who was struggling with basic things of life. He was looking for love, care and happy in his own small world, but everything went wrong and he went away from his dream to pursue higher studies. But he found true happiness by following simple steps of accepting and receiving Jesus as his Lord and Savior.  Always remember, true happiness cannot find in things of this world, but in Jesus who sacrificed HIMSELF on the cross that all of us have true happiness which this world can either produce or end.

Jesus declared in John 10:10, “… I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”  The Samaritans woman is the symbol of the whole human race. Her longings are our longing! Her heart cry are our heart-cry! Her sin is our sin! But her savior can be our savior! Her forgiveness can be our forgiveness! Her joy can be our joy! But we need to be ready to surrender our life to Jesus Christ begging forgiveness.


Let’s pray together …!

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