About the Cover: At the conclusion of the Beatitudes, Jesus directly addresses His disciples, then and now, with the words of blessing during persecution. The key to understanding this is knowing who is with us in hardship. We are blessed because we are with Jesus. Jesus knows persecution firsthand as He faced the cross for us. But on the third day, He was raised. Being joined to Him means forgiveness and life. To be counted with Jesus is nothing but a blessing.