There must have been an expectant atmosphere among the assembly gathered on the green hillside northwest of Capernaum to hear Jesus speak. Hearts were high with hope for future glory; Rome might soon be chased from their land by an Israeli army under the leadership of this God-sent miracle-worker (another Moses was among them)! No longer would they be poor and hungry as they filled Rome's coffers with their hard-earned money. No longer would they mourn over their oppression, hardships, and constant fears. No longer would Israel appear meek before the mighty Roman "Goliath" who persecuted them (another "David" was among them)! But when Jesus "opened His mouth, and taught them," the people heard nothing about warfare with Rome. Instead, they heard teaching so full of wisdom, spoken with an authority never before known - yet with a tone of genuine love and compassion that the crowd was mesmerized. Their dry, thirsty souls and starvingly hunger spirits felt the raindrops of Heaven softening the hard, crusty ground of their hearts. The people that day were hearing the words of the greatest sermon ever preached from the lips of the greatest Preacher Who ever walked the earth! They were the privileged, initial recipients of the Lord's famous, "Sermon on the Mount," which He began with what is called "The Beatitudes". In Lessons #29 to #32 of our Life of Christ study, we refer to the 8 Beatitudes as "The Highway to Happiness".
