In his second beatitude the paradox of Jesus' kingdom teaching is on full display. Blessed are those who mourn? Happy are the sad? Blessed are the depressed? Do any of us actually believe this? Just as importantly, do any of us even want to? Though we may be inclined to gloss over suffering and avoid it at all costs, Jesus models for those who would come after him a different way.

Special thanks to Dave Johnson, Brian Zahnd, Eugene Peterson, and R.W. Glenn, for their contributions to this message. For more about Mosaic, visit us at mosaiclincoln.org.