Blessed are the meek; they get it all

Posted on December 4, 2011 Written by Mark McIntyre 1 Comment

This post is number 6 in the Sermon on the Mount Series and examines the familiar Beatitude, “Blessed are the meek.” which is found in Matthew 5:5. The benefit conferred upon the meek is that they will inherit the earth.

The word translated meek (NIV, ESV, NKJV) can also be translated, mild, tame, gentle, kindly or lenient depending on the context. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus uses this word to describe himself where it is translated gentle. One other use of this word is found in Matthew 21:5 which is a quote from Zechariah 9:9, where Jesus is referred to as “humble and mounted on a donkey.” So whatever understanding we have of what it means to be meek should be shaped by what we know of the character of Jesus.

Those of us in western society, and especially those of us in 21st Century America, may struggle with meekness as being the path to inheriting anything, let alone gaining the entire world as an inheritance. In a world of self-promotion, image consultants, spin doctors and press agents, how does meekness fit in?

If we look at the immediate context into which Jesus uttered this statement, we see him speaking these words to a people group under the domination of Rome. Rome ruled much of the world with an iron fist. The Pax Romana was established, and it was maintained, by harsh, brutal domination of the conquered people. The Romans were not known for meekness or gentleness in their efforts at inheriting the earth.

The Jews, as a conquered people, longed for the day when they could throw off the yoke of Rome and be self governing once again. But to what effect is meekness in coming against a brutal Roman regime?

To understand something of what Jesus is expecting of us, let us examine what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus seeks to be relieved of the responsibility of going to the cross. Yet, his ultimate prayers is “not my will be yours.” A defining characteristic of Jesus was that he was dependent upon and submitted to the will of the Father.

Jesus’ connection with the Father and Jesus’ trust that the Father’s plan was perfect allowed him to submit to that plan. In the same way, when I walk in obedience and trust, I can be assured that God will work things out according to his plan. I can surrender control knowing that someone a lot smarter than me is controlling the outcome.

This meekness, this submission to a higher authority, this surrender of control is contrary to the course of action that the surrounding culture prescribes. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says this about a Christian living out this proverb in the world today:

“. . . we are reminded at the very beginning that the Christian is altogether different from the world. It is a difference in quality, an essential difference. He is a new man, a new creation; he belongs to an entirely different kingdom. And not only is the world unlike him; it cannot possibly understand him. He is an enigma to the world. And if you and I are not, in this primary sense, problems and enigmas to the non–Christians around us, then this tells us a great deal about our profession of the Christian faith.”

I am challenged by this. Am I living my life in such a way that the people I work with and interact with on a regular basis wonder about my grasp on the way of the world? Do I operate in such a way as to demonstrate my reliance first and foremost upon God and not myself? Sadly, I think that I often fail in this regard.

The stakes are high, a huge inheritance is waiting if we get this right. The whole world can be ours!

Why then, should I stress out about the next sale? Why then should I worry about that next promotion or how I am viewed? Why should I worry about my standing in society or the work place? All the wealth and resources of the world are offered and too often I’m content possessing a few shiny rocks of no real value.

Paul provides some words of encouragement to us as to how to live out a life of meekness. He uses the example of Jesus. They are found in Philippians 2:1-11 and are a fitting close to this post:

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so 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.

What Joseph teaches me about Thanksgiving

Posted on November 24, 2011 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment

Genesis 41 records the story of how how Joseph responded when he was presented to Pharaoh. Even though Joseph was sold out by his brothers and falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, even though he spent years in slavery and prison, even though he had good reason to think that God had abandoned him, Joseph wastes no breath in self pity or bitterness.

In Genesis 37 we read that Joseph was 17 when he had his first dream. We are not told how much time goes by before he was sold into slavery, but it seems to be a fairly short time. In Genesis 41, we read that Joseph was 30 when he stood before Pharaoh. From this we can conclude that Joseph spent at least 10 years in slavery and prison. Ten years is a long time to suffer for no good reason.

Joseph emerges from prison confident in his God and in position to be God’s man in that situation. I wonder how Joseph could have endured the hardship of slavery and prison with such a good attitude.

As a slave, he was given responsibility for Potiphar’s household. As a prisoner, Joseph was given responsibility for the the other prisoners. Responsibility is not given to people who have a negative outlook on life. Responsibility is not given to people who are bitter and revengeful. Responsibility is given to those whose attitude is such that it lifts up the attitudes of the people around them.

Joseph was the kind that lifted up those around him. This is evidence that something was going on in Joseph’s thinking that allowed him to avoid self-pity and bitterness.

While the text does not specifically say so, I think that the answer has something to do with gratitude. It is hard to be thankful and whiny at the same time. It is hard to display gratitude and bitterness at the same time. Gratitude displaces bitterness and whining.

At the end of Genesis, following the death of Israel, Joseph sums up his experience at the hand of his brothers by saying, “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20) I get the sense that this is not something that Joseph learned in the palace. This is a lesson that Joseph had to have learned in the prison in order to maintain such a positive outlook on life.

The knowledge that God was in control and that God meant it for good could be the only explanation as to why Joseph was not bitter when he became elevated. While in prison, he did not have a full understanding of what God was doing, but he must have had some sense of God’s presence and love.

My take-away is that while I have nothing in my life which compares to the hardship that Joseph endured, the petty trials that I endure often reveal me as a little bit whiny and prone to frustration and bitterness.

Since today is the day of Thanksgiving, what better time is there to start practicing thankfulness? I have much for which I should be thankful. If Joseph could go through his trials without bitterness or complaint, surely my petty issues are not insurmountable. I choose to be thankful.

To death and beyond . . .

Posted on November 21, 2011 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment

I find John 12:10-11 very informative on how I should respond to death:

10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

Perhaps it is only my warped sense of humor, but this strikes me as funny. The Pharisees preferred Lazarus dead rather than have him there to challenge their beliefs. The Pharisees, who thought themselves a light to the nation, could not tolerate the presence of one whose very existence was a critique of their life and practice.

The comedy comes in when you consider that the Pharisees are threatening to kill a man who has already experienced death and came back to tell about it. He could wear a tee shirt saying, “Death . . . been there, done that.” Lazarus’ life validated the words that the Apostle Paul wrote years later in Philippians 1:21, “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Lazarus had experienced what happens after death and come back to tell about it. As a result, the Pharisees wanted to kill Lazarus for the effect he was having on the people who heard his story. His experience validated Jesus’ claims of divinity and lordship and many believed.

I learn two things from the example of Lazarus.

First, while I do not know in great detail what it will be like following death, I have enough evidence to know that I should not fear it. Jesus promised to prepare a place for me. Paul, who experienced Heaven in a vision, tells me that what follows death is better than life. Therefore I should live a life free of the fear of death.

If death is not to be feared, what else could be worse? Should I fear rejection, poverty, disrespect or insignificance? Certainly if death is not to be feared, these others should hold no power over me. Yet often they do.

It is not enough to put away the fear of death, I should also live a resurrected life. If I believe with Paul that I have been crucified and raised with Christ (Galatians 2:20), my life should reflect the changes that resurrection brings. Like the Apostle Paul, my life should be lived differently following my encounter with the risen Christ.

My guess is that Lazarus lived life differently than he did before his experience. Were I to have Lazarus’ experience, I suppose the trivialities that now trip me up would have a greatly reduced effect on me, if any effect at all.

Perhaps a good gauge of how well my life reflects the resurrection is whether my impact on others draws them closer to Jesus. As a result of his experience of death and resurrection, Lazarus was used by God to bring people to right belief in Jesus. God wants to do the same with me. I simply need to choose to prevent my fears from getting in the way and live the resurrected life that is promised me.

The blessing of mourning – Matthew 5:4

Posted on November 18, 2011 Written by Mark McIntyre Leave a Comment

#5 in the Sermon on the Mount Series

Jesus said this about mourning:

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 (NIV)

In the introduction to his book The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis writes:

“When Mr. Ashley Sampson suggested to me the writing of this book, I asked leave to be allowed to write it anonymously, since, if I were to say what I really thought about pain, I should be forced to make statements of such apparent fortitude that they would become ridiculous if anyone knew who made them.”

In the same way, for me to write about mourning is somewhat presumptuous since I have not directly experienced much in the way of grief or hardship. Yet there is a sense, as we read these words pronounced by Jesus, that they are at least potentially applicable to all who read them.

This is another of Jesus’ sayings which seems contradictory on the surface. How is it a blessing to be in mourning? The ancient philosophers considered mourning to be pointless and like those philosophers, we expend a good deal of energy in trying to avoid mourning.

The Greek word translated mourn indicates grief which is “too deep for concealment.” (Vincent) This mourning is indicative of a grief that is at the core of the griever’s being. This is not mere sadness, but a disruption of life which feels as though nothing will ever be the same again.

Jesus experienced such grief and did not seek to hide it. At the tomb of his friend Lazarus, Jesus wept openly. Isaiah prophetically described Jesus as a “man of sorrows” in Isaiah 53:3. Death was not part of God’s original plan and the sense of loss at death is real and Jesus fully experienced that loss. Since Jesus was involved in the creation process, he is the only human other than Adam and Eve who fully understood the loss brought on by our human forebears’ rebellion.

Like Jesus, we should have some sense of the wrongness of much that happens around us. Death and destruction were not meant to be, they are not part of the original plan for humanity. Injustice, cruelty, theft, abuse and substance abuse are consequences of that first sin and are legitimate cause for mourning.

Unlike Jesus, we have to also mourn over our own participation and failure which propagates the wrongness. When we begin to understand and appreciate our role in bringing it about, it is appropriate to mourn. When a 19th Century newspaper editor asked the question, “what is wrong with the world,” G. K. Chesterton summed it up nicely when he responded to the editor with a two word response, “I am.” We’ve lost the innocence of the Garden and the desire to return to it is imprinted on our souls.

Still, while the mourning is appropriate, how is it a blessing? Mourning becomes a blessing when it is used by God to show us our need for the Savior. No politician, no actor, no pill, no group nor any religion can fix what is wrong with me and my world. It is only when I see my sin for what it is, mourn over it and seek help from Jesus, the only one who can take it away, that I can begin to experience comfort.

Notice that there is no definitive time in which the comfort will be experienced. When someone experiences the death of a family member, to expect them to be immediately comforted in the midst of it would be unrealistic and heartless. The sense of loss is very real and the mourning over this loss is appropriate. We can only stand by and weep, there is no better response.

Yes, as believers we can derive comfort from the fact that our sins are forgiven and that God is actively working in us to repair the damage from the fall. That sense of comfort is like a down payment or a movie trailer. It gives us a glimpse of what is coming. Yet, our comfort is tempered by our slow progress in becoming the person we want to and ought to be.

The ultimate comfort is when our work is done and we are by death or rapture taken from this world. In John 14:2, Jesus promises that he’s preparing a place for those who believe and are in relationship with Jesus. When I look at mountains, wildlife, rivers, and fertile valleys, I wonder how spectacular the place Jesus is preparing will be. If the one who infused nature with such spectacular beauty has been working for 2,000 years on a house, I’m certain that it will be worth the wait.

Blessed are the meek; they get it all

What Joseph teaches me about Thanksgiving

To death and beyond . . .

The blessing of mourning – Matthew 5:4

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