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The second beatitude: “Blessed are those who mourn…” talks about how God works in us so that we become compassionate with others who struggle with the same weaknesses we are fighting to overcome. It purges the hard-hearted judgmental attitude towards the weakness of others and replaces it with a tender compassion and an attitude of meekness. And, says Jesus, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Meekness is a prized character trait. We don’t see it often in our world today. Meekness is not weakness. Meekness doesn’t mean we are too weak to do something. It means we can do something. We have the power to do it, but we choose not to. That is rare in today’s world. Most powerful people abuse their position to achieve selfish goals. They oppress the ignorant, the poor and the defenseless. Jesus Christ, on the other hand, is our prime example in meekness. When He was disgraced by Roman soldiers and while hanging naked on a Cross, bearing our shame, He was mocked by passers-by who dared Him to come down from the Cross to prove to them that He is indeed the Son of God. Matthew records the cruel details of their mockery:

“They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His hand and knelt in front of Him and mocked Him. ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ they said. They spit on Him, and took the staff and struck Him on the head again and again.” (Matthew 27:28-30)

Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from that Cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests and teachers of the law and the elders mocked Him, “He saved others,”they said, “but He can’t save Himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the Cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue Him now if He wants Him, for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” (Matthew 27:39-43)

But Jesus’ only response to this was: “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Peter writes about His attitude while He was suffering:

“When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23)

He had the power to come down from the Cross. He had the power to retaliate and threaten them not with just any army, but with God’s army. He had the power to destroy His mockers too. But He chose not to. He had the power to restrain His power. That is meekness. With one word He could destroy them, but instead prayed for their forgiveness. The meek shall inherit the earth. The writer of Hebrews confirms that God was addressing His Son when He said the following through David in Psalm 2,

“I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.” (Psalm 2:8b)

Jesus, our first example in meekness, inherited the earth. By faith in Him, we are transformed into His image and He works His meekness into our hearts through His Spirit. For that reason, those who believe in Him share in this inheritance. The book of Revelation sheds a future light on this when it speaks of Jesus’ past sacrifice:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and with Your blood You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)

And so, because of the sacrifice of Jesus, the meek shall inherit the earth. We share in His inheritance because of God’s great mercy.

Scripture Reference: Matthew 5:1-12