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I wonder what people were thinking when they gathered on that mountainside to listen to Jesus. Probably they were imagining more great teaching and good fellowship with Jesus. Obviously because of the crowds gathering, Jesus had previously said things to entice them to come back for more. His delivery must have been intriguing or people wouldn't hang out or search Him out to listen to Him.
Did they have any clue of the breadth and depth of what He was about to say? Probably not. In this passage, the peoples’ reactions aren’t recorded. Were they stunned? Were they cheering? Sometimes when I hear bold words, I have different reactions.
How do I react to the word of God? The “words in red” clue me in that these are supposedly Jesus’ words. Do I read His words with the same attention as a good novel? Because I am much more aware that the Kingdom of Heaven is something that can be experienced here on earth, I want to be more intentional in my reading of His words. I want to “hear” as though He were speaking to me alone. It’s as though I’m scooting in near the group of those assembled on the mountainside to listen and ponder how I might make His words a reality in my every day life.