Meditation on the Text of the Week

The True Superman

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5

There have been those in the history of Western thought who have argued that Jerusalem has done a great deal of harm to humankind. In particular Nietzsche believed that Christianity had emasculated man and turned him into a wimp. Man needed to re-claim his rightful place in the cosmos which was to thrust his chest forth in arrogance and do battle, once again, with the gods.

Texts such as “blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”, are usually seen in a Nietzschean light. This particular text is often seen as calling for a life of self-negation, a life of poverty, chastity, non-violence, and withdrawal from the power structures of the world. Francis of Assisi would be a typical exponent of this “ideal.”

But such interpretations or glosses miss the mark completely. First is the need to understand what is meant by “meek” or “humble”. Moses is declared in scripture to be the humblest man of his generation in all the earth. But Moses was a warrior, a leader, a commander, a judge, a lawgiver, a wielder of the staff of God and of divine curses and blessings. He defeated and annihilated Pharaoh and his armies singlehandedly. The contrast between Moses and the self-negation of Francis of Assisi could not be deeper or stronger. It is clear that the meekness of which the Scriptures speak is very different from what is commonly understood.

The term meekness here means to be under the authority, command, and instruction of God. In this sense it does indeed refer to the opposite of Nietzsche's Superman—he with the swollen chest and the strutting step—for Moses and those to whom our Lord referred are people who live with bowed knee before the Almighty in reverent fear. They are not their own. They are bondslaves of the Lord Jesus Christ and bear His slave-yoke.

But in the world-view of Jerusalem and of the Scriptures to be under authority is to bear and exercise authority. When God commands no human authority can interdict. One of the most graphic examples of the meekness of which the Scriptures speak is given to us by our Lord before Caiaphas. There is a steely quietness, a resolution, a determined willfulness, a “setting of the face like a flint” over which Caiaphas and Herod and Pilate and their minions have no control.

Christ, as bondslave of the Father, is captive before Caiaphas, but is about to inherit the heavens and the earth. He will descend to Hell, and will be raised up to the right hand of God the Father, Almighty. All power and authority in the heavens and upon the earth is to be given to Him. We, as bondslaves of Christ, inherit in Him and with Him. As He rules, so we are ruled and rule in our turn.

The earth that is our inheritance is very tangible, here and now, and real-worldly. The Greek word employed by our Lord is the word from which we get “geography” and “geology” and “geo-physics”. It refers to the tangible material world. The bondslaves of Christ, the citizens of Jerusalem, inherit the Americas, the Indian sub-continent, Africa, Asia, the Southern Ocean—and so forth. As Christ's stewards, they come to rule over the entire globe, in His Name.

Now this process is not yet complete. But it will be. This is as certain as Christ's sitting at the right hand of God. Even as all authority in heaven and upon earth has been granted to Him, so through His servants on earth He will progressively implement His authority over all nations, until all are discipled and all are meek and all bow the knee to Him alone.

Thus, the meekness of which Jesus speaks, and upon which He bestows His blessing is meekness which carries within it the realities of power and dominion. Rule and dominion over self, so that heart mind and soul are progressively conquered for service to the Lord. Rule and dominion over family, so that children are raised after the image and character of Christ. Rule over extended families, so that the needy and the weak are nurtured and strengthened. Rule and dominion over scholarship, commerce, health, welfare, agriculture, the natural environment—as far as the curse is found.

We live amongst a people who see themselves as Nietzschean supermen. They strut, swagger, and lord it over others. They despise the weak and the down trodden. Their voices are like brazen trumpets. Their deeds are fell and hard. They forficate humanity into “us” and “them” and despise the latter.

But neither the earth, nor humanity belongs to them. In their dividing they shall not conquer. Christ alone has conquered through meek obedience to the Father, and has inherited all the lands of earth—all that is in them and upon them. We, His followers, walk in His train and summon all who will to share in His inheritance. Bit by bit the Kingdom comes and the curse removed.