Become Truly Blessed Through Obedience
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out,
“Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
(Luke 11: 27, 28)
The life of Christ Jesus teaches us many lessons on obedience. Jesus's lifestyle was not only an exception but a challenge. All that seems so significant to us were insignificant to Him. And, all that never mattered to us were the most important things to Him. A great contradiction is found in the general views and opinions that we have about the world and its order around us. Above anything, the words 'blessed', 'privileged', 'gifted' and 'lucky' have extremely evolved over the past years. Their meanings are not the same as they were meant to be.
The passage that we are looking at today is one such incident where Jesus changed the perspectives of those around Him. This is not just a revolutionary thought or an eye-opener, but a life-changing expression. This way of looking at 'being blessed' reminds us that it is not the labels or the belonging that matters but the obedience. Jesus is teaching us an important lesson here. Who can be called "truly blessed?" There are so many of us who claim ourselves to be blessed because we have faith in divine power. There are some other of us who believe that we are truly blessed because we are 'Christians.' Sometimes we feel we are privileged because we belong to Christ. Few of us even think that we are special and unique because of our relationship with God. But let us remember, these are all labels that we have fixed on ourselves.
Once, one of the women who were in the crowd around Jesus called out “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” Yes. She referred to the motherhood that gave birth to Jesus and nursed Him. And these two acts of human beings points out two of the most beautiful and wonderful parts of our life. One of the closest moments for a mother and her child and these two moments continue to be the signposts that claim the belongingness. What else would come more powerful to prove the belongingness of a person? This is a relationship that nobody could refuse. Physically, they could claim each other! A mother could prove that a person is her child because she gave him/her birth and nursed. And this most wonderful relationship and belongingness are challenged in this passage. The woman indirectly claims that those who belong to Jesus are blessed. His immediate family members, his neighbours who have been part of His growth, His society, His village, His disciples, His friends and everyone who were part of Him. In today's words - "Christians!" But isn't it life-changing to see how Jesus responds to what this woman said?
Jesus responds to this woman from a totally different perspective. Jesus challenges this view. Christ goes against 'by defaults.' He says, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Such a powerful response! It is not about how and where you belong. It is even not about how influential and closely-related you are and how many years of friendship and childhood experiences you have. It is not also about how long you have been going to church, how many generations of your family has been attending church, where and how did you get your baptism, whether you are a preacher, a worship leader, an evangelist or a Sunday-school teacher. These are all the labels and trophies, belongingness and possessiveness which do not matter in the presence of God.
What really matters is our willingness to hear God's words and to obey that word. It is those who hear and obey the word of God are those who are truly blessed. It is not the label that we carry saying "I am a follower of Christ and I belong to Him" but it is in the expression of our belongingness to Him by hearing and obeying His word. Isn't that so challenging? Yes. And this is the way Jesus has shown us. It is not about going around with the label 'Christian' that would make a truly blessed person, but the willingness to hear and obey God's word.
I pray that all of us will learn to see the labels around us to be insignificant when it comes to enjoying a true and fruitful life with the blessings of God. Let our hearts learn that it is not what we 'are' that matters but our willingness to hear and the obedience to the word of God.
May the power of God the Father help us to understand, the grace of Christ Jesus keep us closer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit teach us to hear and obey the word of God and to see how truly blessed we are when we diligently do this in our lives.
May God bless you.
Yours in Christ,
