True happiness through Meekness (Matthew 5:5)

Jews had been waiting for Messiah for centuries. They expected that he would come with some kind of military power and would throw off the dominion of Rome. Messiah would establish a Jewish state and rule the world. Jesus Christ was born in the house of a poor carpenter and brought up in Nazareth village. He picked up humbles fishermen to be his disciples. He had neither kingdom nor military power. He preached of non-violence and forgiveness. Therefore the Jews could not believe Jesus Christ as their long-awaited Messiah. They could not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, because they had failed to understand the description of the Messiah as Isaiah predicted. Isaiah had prophesied of Messiah as the suffering servant of Lord (Isaiah 53).

Apostle Paul writes, “… we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews …” (1 Cor. 1:23). To the Jews it was unthinkable that the Messiah would die on the cross as a transgressor.  Therefore the word of the cross was folly for them (1 Cor. 1:18). The Jews religious leaders expected that when Messiah would come, he would discuss the plan to conquer the Roman Empire. But nothing could have come to them. They wondered and shocked while they heard as Jesus said - “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”  In the world, meekness is considered to be weakness and it portrays of an ineffective person. Therefore the world views that meek cannot rule and impact the world.

WHAT DOES JESUS MEAN?

“Blessed are the meek …” (vs. 5)

The word ‘meek’ is translated from the Greek word ‘praus’ (πραΰς), which basically means gentleness of spirit. Aristotle used this term to define every virtue in its balance state. He used ‘praus’ to define the person who never gets angry for any insult or injury done to himself, but he often gets angry at injuries done to other people. Our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated it. He got angry when he saw trade going on in the Temple (Mt. 21:12-13; Jn. 2:13-17), but He remained silent while He was being condemned to crucify (Mt. 27:12).

It is used of a wild animal which is tamed and trained to do useful work. It is used to describe a medicine that smooths the wounds and brings relief, but its excessive usage can harm rather than cure. Likewise it describes the breeze which brings relief in summer, but same wind can bring destruction during hurricane. In its regular usage, it is used to describe the one who is self controlled. He has every instinct, impulse and passion, but they are all under control. He has every power to defend himself or defeat other, but he never uses it for own selfish purpose.

Often we relate meekness to humility, but our Lord Jesus didn’t speak of humility in this text. HE spoke of those who never claim their own rights, never misused their power or authority and never rejoice in sinful acts. It describes the one who is submissive to God and trust in HIM completely. They trust that God permits evil to inflict HIS elects in order to purify and HE will also deliver them in HIS time (Is. 41:17, Lk. 18:1-8). Therefore Joseph was able to see beyond the murderous intentions and cruel acts of his brothers to the sovereignty of God because of his nature of meekness. He accepted everything in the life without bitterness. He exhibits the meekness saying, “...Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good ...” (Gen. 50:19-20).

HOW DOES IT COME IN OUR LIFE?

St. Peter writes, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:21-23).  Our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated the spirit of meekness perfectly. He suffered like a lamb, but he stood against the evil like a lion. Therefore our Lord Jesus Christ invites us saying, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Mt. 11:28-30). A yoke is a wooden made frame which is put on the neck of two oxen for ploughing. An untrained ox is yoked with an experienced one that this untrained one can learn to perform properly and to follow the master’s direction. Similarly Jesus invites us to yoke with Him and learn from him how to be meek.

It is fruit of spirit (Gal. 5:23) and it cannot cultivate in the tree of self. Jesus himself said, “... Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit ...” (Jn. 15:5). A branch cut off from the tree cannot bear fruit, likewise the one who didn’t surrender his life and will to Christ, cannot cultivate this virtue. Therefore we need to understand that I cannot cultivate meekness in myself, but only the Spirit of God can cultivate in me. So surrender yourself now.

 

WHAT BLESSING DOES IT BRING IN OUR LIFE?

“... for they shall inherit the earth” (vs. 5).

David writes, “But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace” (Ps. 37:11). Similarly our Jesus Christ declared saying, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”  The word ‘inherit’ is translated from the Greek word ‘kaleronomeo’ (κληρονμέω), which means to receive the rightful inheritance. It speaks of those who receive something as beneficiary. A beneficiary is the one who obtain the assets when owner dies.

God created man in HIS own image and likeness; and He gave man to subdue and have dominion over whole earth (Gen. 1:28).  When man sinned, Satan had stolen his inheritance. Therefore God sent his Son Jesus Christ to regain the lost inheritance and He regained it and gave to those who would have become the children of God through faith in HIS Son Jesus Christ. Whoever has believed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour has become the beneficiary.

John writes, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Rev. 20:4).

CONCLUSION / APPLICATION

Graham Stains with Family

In 1965, Twenty four years old young man from Australia named Graham Staines visited India and joined Evangelical Missionary Society of Mayurbhanj (EMSM). He had been serving around 35 years among lepers and poor tribal people. On the night of 22 January 1999, Graham Stains along with his two sons, 10 years old Phillips and 7 years old Timothy went to attend a jungle camp in Manoharpur. While Graham Stains along with his two sons was sleeping in the vehicle at night outside a local church building. In midnight on 23^rd January, around 50 people led by Dara Singh, a local activist of Bajarang Dal attacked them armed with axes and other weapons.  Dara Singh poured out petrol on the vehicle and set fire to it in which Graham along with his two sons – Phillips and Timothy was burnt alive. In spite of this tragedy, Graham Staines’ wife Gladys and his daughter Esther determined to continue the work.  Gladys sang the hymn ‘because HE lives’ at the funeral of her husband and two sons. She also announced the forgiveness to those who were responsible to kill her husband and two children. She issued the statement from her residence at Baripada town at Mayurbhanj district of Odisha saying, “I have forgiven them and have no bitterness ...” almost all people of India condemned this incident and demanded from Government to punish the culprits. Gladys had every right to ask the justice and put a pressure from International community on the Government of India.  But she didn’t do such thing. She submitted her every hurts and pain to God; and accepted it.

At present, BJP, a political wing of Sang Parivaar has been emerged as powerful political party in India. They have formed government in 21 states out of 29 states of India. Minority in India especially our fellow believers are becoming panic. Recently there were elections in north east so called Christian states. Christian leaders wrote open letters to churches appealing not to vote BJP. But their efforts were in vain. BJP has formed the government in alliance with local parties. Today we need to draw near to God in prayer and to be meek in HIS presence. We need to be meek, not an open letter to oppose the government. We need to understand that authorities are appointed by God (Rom. 13:1-7) and nothing is going to take place in India without HIS permission. We should pray and forgive those who accuse us falsely and oppose our ministry. For our Lord Jesus Christ has said, “Blessed are meek, for they shall inherit the earth”, not the politicians or kings. So surrender our life to Christ today no matter what is going to happen tomorrow.

Let’s pray together !

(This Sermon is delivered on 18th March, 2018 at Phulbari Sewa Mandali)