He saw the crowd. He saw you.

I have a confession to make.

I was a Christian women’s speaker groupie.

There. I said it.

Two of my closest friends and I used to love going to big women’s events together. Driving distance, four hours away, two-day conferences. It didn’t much matter. We’d sit in those arenas with thousands of other women, soak up every word, and then head straight for the book table. We told ourselves we were growing spiritually. And we were. But if I’m being completely honest, we also just loved being together.

I’ve thought about that a lot lately as I’ve been sitting with Matthew 5.

I can’t imagine what those Galileans must have felt as they made their way up that hillside to hear Jesus. The whispers had been spreading. Some had heard stories. Some may have seen him heal someone with their own eyes. They came curious, hopeful, maybe a little desperate. Each one carrying something heavy they hadn’t been able to put down.

Sound familiar?

“When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to teach them.” Matthew 5:1-2 (NIV)

Jesus is the master teacher. He knew exactly who would be sitting on that hillside that day. He knew exactly what they needed.  He wasn’t about to give them five easy steps to a simpler life. He wasn’t going to promise them that following him would make everything okay.

He was going to show them something far better.

These people were living under Roman rule. Taxed into poverty. Many of them sick. Overlooked. Worn down by a life that hadn’t gone the way they’d hoped. They came to that hillside carrying all of it – their failures, their fears, their grief, their unanswered prayers.

Just like we do.

And Jesus saw every single one of them. Not the crowd. Them. In their need. In their longing. In the places they’d stopped letting anyone look.

What he was about to teach them wasn’t the easy way. But it was! Still is! A new way of being human. A new way of being his.

He was about to show them what it truly means to be blessed.

And friends, I think he’s about to show us too.