Essentials of Spiritual Growth and Multiplication

Jesus' Commandments: Meekness

Continuing our series on the Attitudes Jesus taught us to have, called the "Beatitudes," for the Latin "beatitudo," or "blessed," the word that starts each pronouncement, we reach Matthew 5:5,
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5.

Again, "blessed" is a statement like, "Joyfully serene," indicating joy in spite of circumstances...and because the definition of "meekness" has changed so much over the years, it's important to also define Jesus' use of this word. The modern dictionary definition is:
quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; overly submissive. Docile, spiritless, tame.
While the older definition is more like "courteous" or "gentle."

I heard it described once in a memorable way: "Power under control." Jesus, of course, is the One Who confronted the Pharisees with stinging hyperbole like, "generation of vipers! Whitewashed tombs! Blind leaders of the blind!" and overturned the tables of the moneychangers in the Temple--and He described Himself as: "meek and lowly of heart." (Matthew 11:29. So "docile and spiritless" certainly don't fit.

But isn't it ironic that we're never more like the supreme Judge and Ruler of the universe than when we submit to authority, when we are humble, when we don't demand our rights..?

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ
Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider
equality with God something to be grasped, but made
himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And being found in
appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became
obedient to death--even death on a cross! Therefore God
exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name
that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under
the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians
2:5-11)

As Jesus was praying with the disciples, on the night that He was betrayed, Peter draws his sword and cuts off the High Priest's servant's ear with it. As part of Jesus' protest, He states, “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53) There's lots of power there. In fact, a single angel practically decimated the Assyrian army that was besieging Jerusalem, killing 185,000. (2 Kings 19:35) Just imagine what 36-72,000 of them could have done. Of course, it's a little silly to even imagine this kind of thing, because the Bible tells us "in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28) and that it's in Jesus Himself that "all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17) The Bible calls mens' challenge against God a "vain thing," something earning the Lord's derisive laughter. (Psalm 2:1-4)

But the Bible is clear that Jesus' sacrifice was planned from before creation. (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:19,20; Revelation 13:8) and that the works of ungodly men were according to the plan and foreknowledge of God. (Acts 2:23) So Jesus' submission to men was really submission to His Father.

Again, by contrast, the wisdom of this world tells us practially from birth to demand our rights, to think of ourselves first, to be dominating and assertive. We see now that those kinds of attitudes actually take us in the opposite direction of the greatest leader the world has ever known. Our flag is "Don't Tread On Me!" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/image:gadsden_flag.svg)

I think it's interesting that Jesus had a lot to say about this kind of thing. The disciples John and James, through their mother, asked if they could occupy the supreme positions of authority in Jesus' Kingdom.

“What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant
that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your
right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” “You
don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them.
“Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,”
they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will indeed
drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is
not for me to grant. These places belong to those for
whom they have been prepared by my Father.” When the
ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two
brothers.” (Matthew 20:20-24)

Of course, why wouldn't they be indignant with them? It was a secret move to shut the rest of them out. Jesus reminded them that the great ones among them eed to become servants. The chief ones had to learn to serve the rest, just as Jesus Himself didn't come to gather underlings for His own comfort, but to serve us all, in a way:

“Jesus called them together and said, “You know
that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and
their high officials exercise authority over them. Not
so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great
among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be
first must be your slave-- just as the Son of Man did
not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his
life as a ransom for many.”” (Matthew 20:25-28)

Jesus served as an example not only in obedience to the Father, but in the washing of the Disciples' feet...

"...He got up from the meal, took off his outer
clothing, and wrapped a towel round his waist. After
that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash
his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that
was wrapped round him. He came to Simon Peter, who said
to him, “lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus
replied, “You do not realise now what I am doing, but
later you will understand.” “no,” said Peter, “you
shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “unless I
wash you, you have no part with me.” “then, Lord,”
Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and
my head as well!” Jesus answered, “A person who has had
a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is
clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”
For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was
why he said not every one was clean. When he had
finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and
returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have
done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘teacher’
and ‘lord’, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now
that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,
you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you
an example that you should do as I have done for you. I
tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his
master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who
sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be
blessed if you do them.” (John 13:4-17)

It's really easy to forget this. Because we often feel we're not being recognized, in Christian circles...that no one appreciates us, or that we should be given roles with more authority...but we're never more like Jesus, we're never more appreciated by the One Who matters, than when we're serving others out of love. Everyone who exalts himself shall be abased, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted. (luke 18:14) In God's "career-advancement" program, the way Up is Down.

Jesus often taught profound lessons by using simple stories. Here's a great one:

And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests
when He noticed how they had been picking out the
places of honor at the table; saying to them, “when you
are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take
the place of honor, lest someone more distinguished
than you may have been invited by him, and he who
invited you both shall come and say to you, ‘give place
to this man,’ and then in disgrace you proceed to
occupy the last place. But when you are invited, go and
recline at the last place, so that when the one who has
invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘friend, move up
higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all
who are at the table with you. “For everyone who exalts
himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself
shall be exalted.” And He also went on to say to the
one who had invited Him, “when you give a luncheon or a
dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or
your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite
you in return, and repayment come to you. “But when you
give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the
lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do
not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid
at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Luke 14:7-14)

The last part says it all: when you do service to others who aren't in any position to do you favors, it's God Himself Who will repay you! In other places in the Bible, it says He is the advocate of the widow and the orphan, meaning the most powerless people in their society, He takes it personally when they are offended--or when they are aided. I'd like to point out one more thing before we close. I keep saying that when we take on an attitude of meekness, we are becoming more like Him. To underline that point, I'd like to return to one of the first passages I quoted, about Jesus being the Anointed One. It's one of the most quoted Old Testament passages by the New Testament writers for that reason, because it pictures Jesus' Anointing and Sonship:
"You are my Son," says God the Father, "this day have I begotten you." (Ps. 2:7) "Ask of me and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession."

Ultimately, He is the Meek Who will inherit the earth! We inherit through Him: (Psalm 37:9) ...those who wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth" "The meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." (Psalm 37:11)

Won't it be wonderful to enjoy this battered old world in peace--without fear that a war will break out! How delightful to think of all nations coming to Jerusalem to hear Jesus Himself teach the Law to them! (Micah 4:2) That's when everything will be set aright--and He will get the praise He deserves!

by Study-Leader @ 12:34 PM