Our Hearts Burned Within Us

Luke 24: 13-32

After Jesus was crucified, the disciples were confused and deeply in grief; even though Jesus told them this would happen, they still were not prepared. So on Sunday morning when the women came and told them that Jesus had raised from the dead it seemed like idle tales, some kind of nonsense to them. "However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again wondering what had happened."  Luke 24: 12 NLT

Later that same day two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus. It was about 7 miles outside of Jerusalem. As they continued along the road, they were in an intense discussion about what had just happened. Then Jesus Himself came along side of them; though God kept them from recognizing who He was. "He asked them, 'What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?' They stopped short, sadness written across their faces." Luke 24: 17 NLT "You must be the only person who does not know all the things that has happened in Jerusalem in the last few days." "'What things?' Jesus asked." Luke 24: 19 NLT

 
They proceeded to tell Him about Jesus of Nazareth, who "was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and He was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests... handed Him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified Him. We had hoped He was the messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago." Luke 24: 20, 21 NLT Then they told Him about what the women said that morning and some of the men went to the tomb to see and the body was in fact gone.

Jesus Christ is Risen

The Tomb is Empty!  

Christ Jesus is Alive!!! 

Reading John 20: 1-18

Very early in the morning, while still dark on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. When she arrived she saw that the stone covering the entrance had been taken away. She ran to Peter and John and said to them "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and I don't know where they laid Him." Peter and John ran to the tomb. John arrived first, stooping down he looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there. Peter came behind him and entered the tomb. John followed him in and he believed. Then they went away again to their own homes.

But Mary lingered, totally distraught over the death of her Lord and now His body is gone. Standing outside of the tomb weeping, she stooped down and looked in to see two angels in white sitting where the Lord had laid. They said to her "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

After she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Him. He said to her, “Why are you weeping? Who are you seeking?” She, thought He was the gardener and said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, "Teacher". Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”  Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her." John 20:11-18 NKJ

"...these things are written that you may believe 

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, 

and that by believing you may have life in His name." 

John 20:31 NKJ

The tomb is empty! Christ Jesus is Alive! 

What does this mean to you, to me?

We are free and forgiven, heavens gates are open wide!

Enter in to the empty tomb and believe.

You will have life in His name.

More Eye Witness Accounts to come

What Does Christ's Death Mean to You and I?

Saturday

"Then Jesus shouted out again, 'It is finished!' and He released His Spirit. 

At that moment the curtain in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom." 

Matthew 27:50, 50 and John 19:30 NLT

Lord, Jesus You finished what You came to do. You "poured out Your soul unto death and bore our sins. Isa. 53:12 NLT You Lord, 2000 years ago bore my sin, and now through faith in Your finished work, I am free and forgiven... reconciled to God. The veil that separated me from You is now torn in two, opening access into the very presence of God. Thank You Father, for You have...

Silent Sabbath

Saturday: Genesis 1:26, 2:1-3, 7, John 1:1-14, 19:28-30,

On the sixth day of creation God said;

"Let Us make man in Our image, according to our likeness... So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:26,27

On that day God formed the man Adam, the first human being, from the dust of the ground.  Then He breathed the breath of life into him and Adam became a living soul. Genesis 2:7 On the sixth day God finished His marvelous work of creation. Then on the seventh day He rested from all of His work. We are told in the gospel of John that God created everything through the Word, who is Jesus Christ. (John 1:1-5, 14) Now consider the death of Christ and Him lying dead in a tomb. How could that be? The Creator of Life laying dead in a tomb?

On the sixth day of Passover week, Jesus Christ, the Son of God was crucified.  His arms were stretched out across a wooden beam and His beautiful hands that touched and healed people were now nailed to the cross, securing His death.  As He hung there, a breath away from death, He said:  "'It is Finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His Spirit."John 19:30 NKJ  He breathed His last breathe on this earth as a human on the sixth day of Passover Week. He was taken down in the evening and laid in a tomb for preparation day for Sabbath. His body needed to be put away.

On this sixth day of His Passion, He finished His work. He died in our place to reconcile us with God; and then on the seventh day He rested in the tomb. On that holy Sabbath day the author of life laid lifeless. He rested from all His work. The Creator who spoke Creation into existence lay silent... in a cold dark tomb. What was this Work that Christ accomplished? And why was it necessary? 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. On the first day, He created light. The second day He created the sky... the third day, the land, the sea and plant life... the four day, the sun, the moon and the stars... the fifth day, sea creatures and birds... then on the sixth day, after creating animals God created something completely unique and different.

On the sixth day of creation "God said, 'Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.'" Genesis 1:26, 27 Amazing! The God who created this incredible, intricate universe created a creature to be like Him, us, human beings, created in the image of God!. There is something sacred about us, different than any other creature. God made us in His own image, His own likeness to be like Him! He didn't just make us and leave us on our own either. He made us to be companions; so He could walk with us and talk with us.

How did He make us? ".. the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.' Genesis 2:7 NKJ  After speaking the rest of creation into existence, God formed the man from the dust of the earth. He breathed with His own breath into the nostrils of this lifeless man; and brought him to life! Then God planted a garden and He put the man in it. It had beautiful trees that grew fruit for the man to eat. They could eat the fruit from any of those trees, except for the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

At the end of the sixth day, the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God rested.  He blessed the seventh day and declared it to be holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation. Genesis 2:1-3

Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, walked with God and talked with Him in the garden. But they did not obey Him, and ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they were banished from the garden, God could no longer be in the presence of sinful man, and they were now subject to eventual death. From that time on prophecies emerged of a Chosen One to come who would reconcile people with their Creator. Someone perfect had to die in their place. With an inheritance of sin, there would be not one person, no not one that could be saved by their own merit. The scripture also speaks of the beginning of creation in the book of John.

"In the beginning the Word already existed.
      The Word was with God,
      and the Word was God.
 He existed in the beginning with God.
 God created everything through him,
      and nothing was created except through him.
 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
      and his life brought light to everyone.
 The light shines in the darkness,
      and the darkness can never extinguish it."

John 1: 1-5 NLT

Who was the Word? Lets look further for more clues:

"He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son." John 1: 10-14 NLT

The verses above describe Jesus Christ.  He is the Eternal Word, who spoke creation into existence, the One and Only Son of God Almighty! He came into the world, the very world He created, only to be unrecognized and rejected by His own people. However when we believe in Him (completely rely, trust and cling to Him) we have the right to become children of God, once again... cleansed of the sin that separated us, that we may once again walk with Him and talk with Him in our minds and hearts. Yes, Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word, the one who made us to be like Him... chose to set aside His divinity, to become a human. He was born as a helpless baby and subjected Himself to human parents... human rulers. All these people descended from Adam and had an inheritance of sin. However God still had a plan for reconciliation. His unfailing love and faithfulness are greater than our sin!

He became like us in every way and lived the full human experience in a sinful world; yet He was without sin. He experienced temptation, pain, hunger, betrayal, grief when a loved one dies, and even a brutal death. He was betrayed and denied by His friends. The most religious, who were waiting for Messiah, pressured the Roman governor to put Him to death. Messiah came, stood before them and they didn't recognize Him, they completely missed their visitation from God, though He walked among them. (Luke 19:42-44). All these things were occurring during the week of our Lords Passion. Below is the beginning of this post. I use it once again to thread the whole story together. The last passage is powerful in light of Christs death.

On the sixth day of creation God formed the man Adam, the first human being, from the dust of the ground. Then He breathed the breath of life into him and man became a living soul. We are told in many instances in the Bible that God created everything through Jesus Christ.  Now we see Christ dead in a tomb.

 On the sixth day of Passover week, Jesus Christ, the Son of God was crucified.  His arms were stretched out across a wooden beam and His beautiful hands that touched and healed people were now nailed to the cross, securing His death.  As He hung there, a breath away from death, He said:  "'It is Finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His Spirit."John 19:30 NKJ  He breathed His last breathe on this earth, as a human on the sixth day of Passover Week. He was taken down in the evening and laid in a tomb. It was preparation day for Sabbath and His body needed to be put away.

On this sixth day of His Passion, He finished His work. He died in our place to reconcile us with God; and on the seventh day He rested. On that blessed and holy Sabbath day the author of life laid lifeless. He rested from all His work. The Creator who spoke Creation into existence lay silent... in a cold dark tomb. He who raised Lazarus from the dead was laying dead in a tomb. However, as we know, He will not stay there. Come back tomorrow for the rest of the story.

Here is a final passage:

"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. 

He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 

for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. 

He made the things we can see 

and the things we can't see 

such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. 

Everything was created through him and for him. 

He existed before anything else, and holds all creation together.... 

He is the beginning and supreme over all who rise from the dead. 

So he is first in everything. 

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 

and through him God reconciled everything to himself. 

He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross. 

This includes you who were once far away from God. 

You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.  

Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. 

As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, 

and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault." 

Colossians 1:15-22 NLT

The King on the Cross

Reading: Matthew 27:26- 61

Pilate gave his soldiers the order to flog Jesus with a whip with metal tips on it. (The whip had nine "tails" each with sharp metal tied to them.) Then he turned Him over to be crucified. The soldiers took Jesus into their head quarters and gathered more soldiers around. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him, so fitting considering the blood now running down His body. They wove thorny branches together to form a crown and pressed it on His head, causing blood to run down on His face. They placed a stick in His right hand to be a scepter and knelt before Him... mocking Him... taunting Him, saying 'Hail the King of the Jews!' They spit on Him and hit Him on the head with the "scepter". When they tired of this cruel game, they stripped Him of the robe and put on His own clothes and led Him away to be crucified. Along the way, Jesus became weak and had difficulty carrying the cross; so they found a man named Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross for Him. They went out to Golgotha, the place of the skull, where they nailed Him to a cross and divided His clothes, casting lots, that the scripture of David was fulfilled. "They divided My garments, casting lots. 

"They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." Psalm 22:1

In Pilate's Court

Reading: John 18: 28-40, 19:1- 16, Matthew 27: 24, 25 NLT, Luke 19:41-44 NKJ, Matthew 23:37-39 NKJ

Dear Reader, This is a very powerful, painful and passionate time in Jesus' life.  God bless you as you see His heart and partake of His pain on this Good Friday.

"Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor. His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover. So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?” “We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted. “Then take him away and judge him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied.

Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him. Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked. 

Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?” But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.)

Christ is Mocked by Carl Bloch

Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face. Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.” Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Look, here is the man! ”When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” “Take him yourselves and crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.”The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.”
When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. (His wife sent him this message:'Leave this innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about Him last night.' Matthew 27:19) He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

Betrayal, The Kiss of a Friend and a Rooster Crows

Thursday 

Mark 14:27-31, Mark 14: 35,36, Luke 22: 48

"You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: " 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not." "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times."But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same.  Mark 14:27-31

After the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples went to a grove, among the olive trees called the Garden of Gethsemane. He told them that His soul was crushed with grief. "He went along a little further and fell to the ground. He prayed to the Father, that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass Him by. ' Abba Father,... everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.'... 

Judas Betrays with a Kiss Thomas Coutere

Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived (with group of people armed with) swords and clubs... The traitor, Judas had given them a prearranged signal: 'You will know which one to arrest when I greet Him with a kiss'... As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus. 'Rabbi he exclaimed, and gave Him the kiss." Mark 14: 35,36 NLT

"... Jesus said, 'Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?' Luke 22: 48 NLT

After a scuffle, Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the temple guard: "'Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn't you arrest Me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.' So they arrested Him and led Him to the high priests home. 

Peter denies Jesus by Carl Bloch

  Peter followed at a distance" and joined the guards around a campfire in the courtyard. A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and said, "'This man was one of Jesus' followers!'" Later someone else looked at Him and said "'You must be one of them!' 'No, man, I am not! Peter retorted. About an hour later someone else insisted, 'This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.' But Peter said, 'Man, I don't know what you are talking about.' And immediately, while he was still speaking the rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, 'Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know Me.' And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly."

"Then the guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating Him. They blindfolded Him and said, 'Prophesy to us! Who hit you that time?' And they hurled all sorts of terrible insults at Him." Luke 22: 52- 64 NLT 

The pain Jesus felt was not just the beating and mocking but the betrayal and denial of His friends. Judas, actually was paid to bring the soldiers to Jesus in the dark of night. Judas betrayed Jesus to His death. He was never reinstated as an apostle. Satan entered into him and he committed suicide. However Peter, who, while among friends, said He would die for Jesus. In that terrible night, all the disciples ran away for fear of being beaten and killed. Peter at least followed along at a distance.Yet, when surrounded by soldiers and those who did not like Jesus, He denied Him three times, then the rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. He remembered what the Lord said, and left the courtyard weeping bitterly." Oh, the anguish Peter must have felt for not standing up for the Lord in that moment.

Today, we live in a time where there are many enemies of Jesus. When in a crowd, what will we say? Will we admit to being a follower of Jesus? Admit to being a Christian? Speak Truth?

Though Judas was not reinstated; Peter was forgiven and fully restored after Jesus died and was resurrected. Our God is a God of second chances. You will find that story in John 21 and in future posts.

What did Jesus do for us and His disciples that awful night and following day? How did He show us His love?

"Greater love has no one than this, 
than to lay down one's life for his friends." 

John 15:13 NKJ

Jesus laid down His life knowing that His friends would deny and betray Him.

Gethsemane, the Garden of Tears

Thursday

Matthew 26:38- 39 NLT,  Luke 22:42-45 NLT

Gethsemane by Carl Bloch

After His last supper with His disciples, Jesus went with them to an olive grove called the Garden of Gethsemane. He told His disciples  

"'My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.' He went on a little farther and bowed with His face to the ground, praying, 'My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from Me.'" 

Matthew 26:38- 39 NLT  

"'Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.'" Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened Him. He prayed more fervently, and He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. At last He stood up and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief." 

Luke 22:42-45 NLT
 

What began in a garden must be restored in a garden. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the fruit that brought evil into this world. Human beings were made to live forever with God. Deep inside we sense this and long for it. However, when sin and evil came into this world; for humanity to continue to live forever would bring an increase of evil that would be unbearable. Just look at how much evil has been in the world since; even with a limited life span. So in grief, Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden and separated from the God who walked with them in the cool of the day and loved them deeply.

It was in the Garden of Gethsemane, that Jesus in great sorrow had to make a choice. Would He allow the full force of evil to be thrust upon Him? Would He be a ransom for all people? Would He through sacrifice and suffering, pay for the sin of every human being since Adam and Eve ever to live? Only as a sinless human could He be the perfect sacrificial lamb that would once and for all, pay for all sin. Only then could people be reconciled to their Creator once again. Would He leave the disciples He loved? Would He suffer as a human, the incredible pain of the beatings and then the excruciating pain on the  cross? Would He bear all the evil every committed and be so vile at that moment that His own Father turned away? Could He bear separation from the Father?

It was in this garden His choice was made. And His body would soon be in a garden tomb. It was there that His body would lay still and lifeless.

"My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, Your will be done." 

Matthew 26: 42 NLT

He chose us! He chose us to be reconciled to God once again!

 

"..He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him." Ephesians 1:4 ESV

"For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault." Colossians 1:19-22 NLT

"Greater love has no one than this, that He lay down His life for His friends.

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you." 

John 15:13

 

* I have seen this painting above in real life. It is very large, life size. So poignant. 

 

There were chairs in front of the painting for people to sit quietly and consider His sorrow that night, knowing that He would leave His disciples and that He would soon suffer horrible cruelty and severe pain. 

He endured this for us. For you, for me.

 I sat there in awe and gratitude.

 

 

This is likely Carl Bloch's initial sketch to lay out his composition.

The Full Extent of His Love

Wednesday:  

John 13:1-17, Matt. 5:43-48

Thursday night was the Last Supper that Jesus had with His disciple.  In our readings this week we’ll focus on that last intimate time Jesus spent with them. They did not know that this was His last time with them, before He would be crucified. In these closing moments, what were the most important things He would do and say to His disciples before He left them? (Because so much happened on Thursday, I am posting some of these events before Thursday, so you will not have so much to read at once).

"It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love. The evening meal was being served... Jesus... got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around 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 around Him.

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? 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 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 blessed if you do them.'" John 13:1-17 NIV 

Little did His disciples realize that night as He washed their feet, what would follow so very soon. In their final moments together this evening, Judas came into the olive grove with Roman soldiers and temple guards... their torches and lanterns blazing; and weapons ready to squelch any resistance. They arrested Jesus and took Him away. The NIV Bible say's in John 13  "He now showed them the full extent of His love", even as He was beaten, whipped and carried the cross to place of His death. It was there that His arms were extended and nailed on that cross, demonstrating the full extent of His love. As blood poured from His wounds from the whipping and the nails, His life drained out until He died. In this He fulfilled His final act of service for humanity. It was on the cross that He showed the full extent of His love. 

"God demonstrated His own love toward us 

in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." 

Romans 5:8

The True Vine

Tuesday

  John 15:1- 13

Jesus celebrated the Feast of Passover with His disciples. Little did the disciples know that night, that incredible night; that it would be the last night Jesus would spend with them before His death on the cross. For them and for us today all of His words in the New Testament are truth and powerful for us as believers. However, I do believe there is a special significance in what he said to them that night. Image their depth of sorrow when Jesus said to them: 

"Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world... Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer.'" John 13:1, 33 NLT

The John records the Last Supper that Jesus spent with His disciples in John chapters 13-17. The following is a portion that particularly speaks to my heart. Jesus explains the relationship He wants with His disciples after He is crucified and even with us today. It is being IN Him, IN Christ. Paul speaks much of being IN CHRIST. Here is one example:

“... if anyone is IN Christ, he is a new creation; 

old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 

2 Cor 5:17 NKJ 

Various versions of the Bible use the words, Abide in Me, Remain in Me. I look at it like abide means to live, to dwell in Him. Other versions say remain. I like both... we abide IN Him, living IN Him daily, throughout the whole day and to remain steady IN Him, as much as possible staying connected with Him. Jesus explains what being IN Him is like through this metaphor:

"I am the true vine and My Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that does not bear fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch can not produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me, you can do nothing... But if you remain in Me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!!! When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great glory to My Father... Remain in My Love... I have told you these things so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will over flow." John 15: 1 - 11 NLT  

As believers, this is to be our life... abiding, living and remaining IN CHRIST. When we are connected to Him, as a branch is to a vine; His life flows within us. It is there that we find our true life source and our true purpose for living. For "IN HIM we live, move and have our being." When we are abiding IN HIM, living IN His words, His message finds expression in our lives with His Love flowing in us, through us and touching others with His love for them. Here are these verses from an amplified Bible:

“Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. 

Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, 

neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. 

I am the Vine; you are the branches. 

The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit,

 for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] 

you can do nothing. 

If any one does not remain in Me, 

He is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; 

and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 

If you remain in Me and My words remain in you 

[that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], 

ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.” 

‭‭John‬ ‭15:4‬-7‭AMP‬‬

Remaining, abiding, living IN CHRIST is not easy in the day and age we live in. There is so much distraction and worldliness everywhere we look. Our world is fast paced, so many things to do and see; it is far easier to just enter and remain in the flow of worldliness. James speaks of being double minded, that is having divided loyalty, between God and the world.

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you... 

But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. 

Do not waver,  for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled 

as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 

Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 

Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, 

and they are unstable in everything they do.” 

James 1: 5-8 NLT version

What’s a person to do?

Go into your secret place in the early hours of the day. Enter God's presence in humility and brokenness. Read small portions of His word and behold His beauty... abide in Him. As Jesus says

"When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." Matthew 6:6 NKJ

Your secret place is not only a quiet place to go to where you can hear His voice above the noise of life; but it is also in your heart, where you meet with and connect with God. Abide in Him and remain in Him as you live your day. He will delight in being with you, even in the simplest things He calls you to. When you remain in Him, you can trust Him to remain in you.

Abide in Him today.

Friends of Jesus

Tuesday

Reading: John 15:12-14, Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28 -3 Mary, Martha and Lazarus were friends of Jesus. He stayed with them, shared meals with them on occasion and just relaxed with them. Imagine that… a friend of Jesus… a friend of God!  In the Gospels, He talks about His friends, what He will do for them and how to be His friend.

Often people assume that they are His friends, because Jesus is loving and of course He would want everyone to be His friend, right? People make a lot of assumptions about Jesus without really reading His words. He is very loving, so loving that He doesn’t want any of us to miss out on the gifts of salvation and sanctification that He has offered.

 

On the last night He spent with His disciples He said, “Greater love has no one than this, that He lay down His life for His friends.  You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.“ John 15: 12- 14  Little did His friends realize what those words would mean in the coming hours! He laid down His life for His friends then and even His friends today. How does one become Jesus' friend? Is it by going to church? Saying a prayer? Look closely, He tells us how; by doing whatever He commands. Didn’t we get rid of commandments in the new covenant? What commandments does Jesus give to us?

Actually, on Monday of Passion Week He was asked by one of the leaders ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to Him, ‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and the greatest commandment. And the second is like it; you shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’” Matthew 22: 34- 40 NKJ

The wisdom of Jesus… He took all the writings in the Old Testament, all the laws of Moses, and all the 600+ other rules they made along the way and condensed it into the two most important commandments of all.  Jesus was actually quoting from Deuteronomy 6. In the Gospel of Mark it includes more of the quote, beginning with “The first of all commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength….” I like how the scribe replied to Jesus. “'Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart , with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love ones neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices'. Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to Him, 'You are not far from the Kingdom of God'. But after that no one dared question Him.” Mark 12: 28 – 34 NKJ

The Wisdom of Jesus! That's it, two commandments that sum up all of the law and commandments; to Love God with your whole heart and love others as oneself. Are these two of the commandments we are to obey to be His friend? I believe so. Here is what He said in John: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." John 15:12 NKJ  Wow, that takes it to another level. To love one another as He loved us; is far greater than we love ourselves, it is sacrificial love. Jesus also loved Judas, His betrayer. He washed His feet with the other disciples at the last supper, showing him the full extent of His love as well.

How are we to love like this? To love God with our whole heart and others as He loved us? How can we do this, if by nature we are sinners? I don’t know about you, but there are many times that I struggle to love God and people with a whole heart; especially when I am distracted, with the busyness of life. Over the years I have learned that life with Christ is both a conversion and a transformation; to convert my old ways to His ways and to be transformed into His likeness... to have more of His goodness living through me.  Hopefully there is progress year to year, after conversion; though we may not see it. But at times, we can just get distracted and need a fresh start.

Friendship with Jesus starts with true conversion; when we recognize our need for God and are broken with the pain our sins have caused Him and other people in our life. It is called godly sorrow. “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” 2Corinthians 7:10 NKJ  James says it this way, “Come close to God and He will come close to you. Wash your hands you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief… humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor.” James 4: 8-10

Often we don’t realize the extent of the pain that our own sin causes others, especially those closest to us. We also don’t realize that our sin is first against God. David said in Psalm 51 “Against you and you alone have I sinned.” He asked God to create in him a clean heart. In this place of sorrow God meets us, forgives, cleanses and transforms a willing heart.

Jesus tells us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength. When you have a hard time with that, come to Him, give all of your heart and life to Him. Let Him shine His light in your heart to reveal any sin that is keeping you from victory in Him.  John says it like this: “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1: 5-9 NLT, NKJ

Ahhh! A clean heart… so much better!!! This is real grace; the grace to move past the hindering sins, that keep us from victory in Him.  He loves us and through the sacrifice of Jesus; we are not only saved for eternal life, but for transformation now. We are dead to sin and alive to God. See Romans 6 Who wants to live miserable like that anyway?

It will change your life, as you find Him and His new life for you.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. 
The old life is gone; a new life has begun.” 
2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

In belonging to Christ… my whole heart belongs to Him… I am His Friend

By What Authority?

Monday

Matt. 21:14-16, 23-46

The next day, after Jesus cleansed the temple He returned:

"Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said,

"By what authority are You doing these things? 

And who gave you this authority?" 

Matthew 21:23 NKJ

He insulted them the day before by turning over far more than just their tables. What gave Him the right to interfere with their temple business like that? Who is this man, that He should insult them and their religion? Going deeper, look back to immediately after He cleansed the temple. "Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them." Right there in front of them He healed many people. When was the last time one of them had miraculously healed someone? Jesus demonstrated an authority and an authenticity they did not have. When they asked, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave you this authority?" The answer is 'Who else but God? The Pharisee Nicodemus recognized where His authority came from. He came to Jesus at night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher that comes from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." John 3:2 Sadly, the other Pharisee's missed their long awaited Messiah, the Son of God.

Jesus Heals a Blind Man - Eustache Le Sueur

 

 

 

 

"But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, 

and the children crying out in the temple and saying 

'Hosanna to the Son of David!' 

they were indignant..." 

21:15 

Jesus Clears the Temple

Sunday:

Matthew 21:12-17,

This event occurred after His Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem:

Merchants Chased from the Temple- James Tissot

 "Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. he knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, "The Scriptures declare, 

"My Temple will be called a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves!" Matthew 21:12, 13 NLT

What a ruckus Jesus made! Can you picture this... tables being turned over, money scattering across the stone pavement, birds flying and animals running in fear. Imagine the noise of this... the money, the birds and all the animal sounds. Why did He do this? As just a person here, I can not completely know the mind of Christ; except by reading His Word guided by His Spirit. (I Corinthians 2) From my reading of Matthew I see Jesus acting in righteous indignation, angry at the false religion deceiving people and preventing them from coming to true knowledge of God. He says something very shocking to the people early in His Sermon on the Mount. 

Palm Sunday

James Tissot

Readings: John 12: 12- 15,  Matthew 21:5, Zechariah 9:9, Luke 19:28-44, Revelation 19:11-16

Today is Palm Sunday, the day that Jesus made His Triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The whole city was buzzing with excitement. They were in a festive mood with the approach of Passover. But also in the excitement there was talk of a man named Jesus, who had recently performed an unprecedented miracle. He raised a man from the dead!!! It was His friend Lazarus, who was from Bethany, a village not far from Jerusalem. It is likely that many knew Lazarus and  his family. News of this miracle spread among the people of Jerusalem and those who came from afar to attend the Feast. The crowds must have wondered... "will Jesus come into Jerusalem, that we may see Him who raised a man from the dead? Will we see Lazarus, who was once dead and now is alive? Then we can see for ourselves if this is really true. Perhaps He is Messiah, The One Israel has eagerly waited for centuries. Believing that perhaps He is to be revealed in our time." Lets join Matthew as he tells us about this day:

"Tell the daughter of Zion,
'Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey...'"
Matt. 21:5 NKJ

The Fragrance of Sacrifice - Saturday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Mary took  a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil." John 12:3

What was Mary expressing to Jesus in these beautiful verses? What does this mean for us followers of Jesus? Here are some impressions I had. I believe that Mary loved Jesus with her whole heart. She gave and did not withhold even such an expensive fragrance. It was an extension of her love and appreciation for bringing her brother back from the dead. But even more, someday Jesus would raise her up to eternal life with Him. Imagine being there in that moment. The fragrance filled the house and affected everyone there, especially Jesus; as He was watching her wipe His feet with her beautiful hair.  Mary's love was poured out through the oil. She held nothing back. She expressed her whole heart devotion to Jesus for all to see.  Perhaps there was a moment of silence, awe, as they experienced her passion in spirit and beauty in love,... until the silence was broken by Judas.

Blessed are the Merciful

 "Blessed are the Merciful, for they shall receive mercy." 

Matthew 5:7 ESV

These beatitudes describe the nature and Spirit of Christ Himself. He calls us to live in these blessings of a Christlike attitude; so that in our daily lives we will express the nature of Jesus.

Merciful - Strongs #1655 eleemon. The word eleemon describes a person who is kind, compassionate, sympathetic, and merciful. This sensitive word combines tendencies with action. A person with this quality finds outlets to express His merciful nature. 

When Jesus Christ came; He lived among us and witnessed and experienced the struggles of humanity. One particular time, there was a feast for the Jews and He went up to Jerusalem for the feast.  He was led to go to the pool of Bethesda. In this place there were many sick people laying around the pool. They were blind, lame, paralyzed, with no hope of recovery, just waiting for the movement of the water, believing it would heal them. He came for the one who had been there the longest. He was ill for 38 years. 'When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He bent down and said to Him, "Do you want to be made well?" The man said, "Sir I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise up and walk." And immediately the man was made well. He picked up his bed and walked.' John 5:6,7 This healing is illustrated in the "Chosen" movie series in Season Two, Episode 4, "The Perfect Opportunity".

Jesus was moved with compassion for suffering people. He demonstrated mercy as He approached the man. He showed us what God is like. He made a path of forgiveness that we may follow Him. As a man, He experienced all that we experience; pain, heartache and temptation. Let's look at some scriptures in Hebrews and I John:

"Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest... to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (That's us.) For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted." "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 2:17,18,  4:16

Because of His incredible, sacrificial mercy, He was willing to go to the cross to make propitiation for our sins. What powerful mercy He has obtained for us! 

"My Little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not ours only but also for the whole world." I John 2:1, 2

 What does the word "Propitiation" mean?

Propitiation Strongs #2434 Related to hileos, "merciful" Used in the NT only in I John 2:2 and 4:10. The word describes Christ, through His sacrificial death, as appeasing the wrath of God on account of sin. It also pictures His death as expiatory providing a covering for sin. By means of the atoning death of Christ, God can be merciful to the sinner who believes in His Son, and reconciliation is effected. 

 Propitiation is Merciful!!!    God's Mercy... Jesus' Mercy... Our mercy to others.

Jesus was moved with compassion

"When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them; because they were weary, confused and helpless. Matthew 9:35,36 NLT and NKJ

Blessed are Those Who Hunger

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."

Matthew 5:6,  

Lord, I come before You in humility. Open the eyes of my heart... eyes to see and ears to hear that I may grasp this beautiful Beatitude that You spoke on the Sermon on the Mount nearly 2,000 years ago. Over the millennia, millions of Your followers have read and meditated on these Beatitudes, seeking the meaning and how each one of them could bring godly changes in their lives. Lord give me insight that You want me to share in this blog. 

Righteousness

How can any of us attain to true righteousness? "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Only Jesus Christ was completely righteous, having no sin at all.

"As it is written:

'There is none righteous, no, not one;... none who understands;... none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside;... there is none who does good, no, not one.' 'or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...' Romans 3:10-12, 23, Psalm 14:1-3

Seems to be a pretty bleak and discouraging, right? Where is our hope of ever achieving righteousness? He tells us to hunger and thirst for righteousness. How do we do that?

Hunger -  To pine, to long for... to famish... fig. to crave... to be hungry and starving.

Thirst - to thirst 

These are both powerful action words. Jesus wants us to seek after and crave righteousness... to desire righteousness with our whole heart. In the world that we live in it seems like righteousness is impossible to achieve. As the verse above say's "There is none righteous, no not one..." 

Those listening to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount were likely very convicted in their hearts from the messages Jesus gave that day. As He spoke they could envision in their own hearts where their sin was. They longed to make things right. They hungered and thirsted for righteousness. That hunger deeply inspired them to repent of`their sins.

It is the same for us today. If we have been in conflict in a relationship, it is important to repent to the one who we hurt. We need to come before God and ask Him to reveal our responsibility in that conflict; so that we may reconcile with the person we have hurt.

There is a favorite verse of mine in Psalms penned by King David:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me to the way everlasting!" Psalm 139:23, 24

So how do we remedy unrighteousness and sin?... basically to hunger and thirst for righteousness, to repent before God. We need to seek His righteousness. So what is righteousness? Here are some definitions.

Righteousness: dikaiosune Strongs #1343, equity of (character or act) specifically justification and righteousness.

Righteous: dikaios Strongs #1342, equitable, innocent, holy, just, righteous

Equity, Equitable: Thorndike Barnhardt Dictionary Fair, Just

Faith in Christ

'For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,.. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: "The just shall live by faith."' Romans 1:16,17

Here is the good news. The verse above says that "There is none righteous, no, not one;..." 

Continuing in Romans 3, here is the hope! 

"But, now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For their is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God sent forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." Romans 3:21-26

What I love about the word of God is that truth is found through so many authors, kings, prophets, disciples, and apostles. And yet, through so many voices speaking through the inspiration of God we find consistency of truth, each a verification of the truths through thousands of years. 

In this blog post we are "hearing" from Matthew, Paul and next is John. Herein lies more truth.

"This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." I John 5-10

"My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for our only but also for the whole world." I John 2:1, 2

Propitiation: Strongs #2434 Atonement

Wow!!! God is our light. If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and through the precious blood of Jesus, God's Only Son we are cleansed from all our sin. When we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins. And He cleanses us from all unrighteousness!

We hunger and thirst for Him, our Jesus, our righteousness!!!

*Note: When John wrote his gospel, Revelations, and his epistles he was an elderly man... persecuted, and then banished to the island of Patmos. He lived and wrote in a cave. So as he was writing to his readers, he called them his little children. John was the only apostle living. The other apostles were martyred for their faith in Jesus.

(My husband and I had the incredible opportunity to go to this island and peek into the cave... seeing the place where he did his writing.)

Blessed are the Meek

Reading: Matthew 5:5, Matthew 21:1-5,

"Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth." 

Matthew 5:5

Blessed are the Meek:

What is meek? Does it mean weakness? Does it characterize a weak person? Or is it a character trait that is expressed in our dear Jesus? Is it also a character trait that is abiding in us as His followers? Let's seek out that blessing as we search the meaning and depth of this beautiful word. We will also journey through a some verses where it is used.

Before I understood the true meaning of meek, I thought it was weakness. However, meek does not suggest weakness. Rather it is controlled strength. That strength brings a confidence with humility and self control. Meekness is an important part of our character. When Jesus included this word in His Sermon on the Mount it was a trait He wanted us to have. The very foundation of all of these Beatitudes are actually Jesus' own nature, His innate character. These character traits are the life qualities He desires for us to rise to.  So let's dig in a little deeper. 

The Triumphal Entry 

In Jesus' last week of life, He drew near to Jerusalem. The Jewish people longed for Messiah to come in power and majesty. They had heard about the miracles He had done... He must be the One... their Messiah. They envisioned Him coming down from the Mount of Olives and ride into Jerusalem on a majestic horse to rescue them from Roman occupation and tyranny. But that is not what Jesus' decent from the Mount of Olives was meant to be. Rather a humble entry... Him riding on a little donkey, as seen in Zechariah's prophesy from long ago. In their hopes and longing for Messiah, they missed Him!!!Even though Zechariah's prophesied this very thing. (We will see more on this during Passion Week)

"Tell the daughter of Zion, Behold, your King is coming to you,  Lowly, and sitting on a donkey." 

Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21: 5

Meek is also translated as lowly. Here is the definition from the Strong's Concordance. It is a great word describing Jesus' character.

Lowly, praus (prah-ooce) Strongs #4235 & #4239 A humility that is considerate, unassuming, gentle, mild, meek. The Zealots were looking for a warlike Messiah who would use force. Jesus showed a greater power than armed might, rather the power of humble wisdom and penetrating love. Meekness is not weakness, but power under perfect control. 

Wow, what an incredible word... better yet what an incredible Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ!!! 

Here is another verse where Jesus used the word, Lowly:

"Come to Me, all you who labor 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..." Matthew 11:28, 29

I love this verse. It speaks right into our hearts... hearts longing for rest in the busy culture we live in. When we are overwhelmed, He calls us to come to Him... to seek His rest. 

 "Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth."

 For they shall inherit the earth:

What does this mean, to inherit the earth? And why would the meek inherit the earth? How could this happen in today's world that we live in? Many powerful, arrogant people are controlling the earth. How could this be that the meek shall inherit the earth? I believe that this lies in the mystery of God's plans into the future. There is a verse in 2 Peter that comes to mind:

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away... Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness...?  

Nevertheless  we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."  2 Peter 3:10-13

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus taught His disciples, (us too) how to pray:

This is our hope and prayer even now:

"Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your Name. 

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven... 

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen"  

Matthew 6:9-13

Yes, the meek will inherit the earth in the future. Though, this is now as we look forward to the day that the Lord will come. We look forward to Him coming soon as we live in difficult times. While we watch for the new heavens and new earth where true righteousness dwells, in the meantime, it is our time now on earth to live in the strength of meekness... to be filled with the Holy Spirit, demonstrating the power of humble wisdom, and penetrating love. Let's follow Jesus and to reach out to others to come into His Kingdom.

Meekness is not weakness, but power under perfect control.