Today’s verse in the Sermon on the Mount says that those who are “meek” will inherit the earth. “Meek” isn’t a word that’s used much anymore. And when it is, it typically means timid and spineless. But that’s not what it means when it’s used in the Bible.
I remember a pastor once saying that meekness does not equal weakness. He said that meek means “power under control.” I like that definition.
Jesus’s life is a great example of meekness. That’s how He lived. Powerfully. Under control.
Jesus didn’t live His life in reaction to circumstances or other people’s drama. He lived life on purpose and on His terms.
Jesus had “power” but He didn’t use it to promote Himself. He used His “power” to fulfill His life’s mission.
Jesus shared His mission at the onset of His ministry in the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown. His words can be found in Luke 4, but also in Isaiah 61, which is the scripture Jesus was reading from that day.
Essentially Jesus’s mission was to preach the good news that He was bringing heaven’s kingdom to earth and to heal and restore whatever needed healing and restoring. And that’s what He did.
There are some very good examples of meekness in Scripture. Jesus’s crucifixion and the hours leading up to it probably best illustrate “power under control.”
But I think there are also other examples that may help you and me with situations we face in our own personal lives.
And there’s a particular example that I think can really help us in our interpersonal relationships.
I’m talking about when Jesus forgave the woman caught in the act of adultery.
Think about the situation and what Jesus could have done and what He could have said. To ALL of those who had a role in this drama.
Jesus had a captive audience and He could have preached them all a sermon. Instead he bent down and started writing in the sand.
He was meek. He was powerful–the crowd’s focus was on Him. And He was under control–He didn’t react to their drama.
Jesus didn’t degrade the woman any further, but He did acknowledge her sin. And He stopped the religious leaders from continuing to exploit the situation but He didn’t let them leave without facing their own sins.
Jesus restored the woman’s dignity instead of declaring His superiority.
And He saved the religious leaders a lot of embarrassment by NOT naming their individual indiscretions.
Through His meekness, Jesus provided the woman and her accusers GRACE.
How well do you do when you face this type of situation?
How do you treat a person who you know for a fact has done something wrong?
How do they feel in your presence?
How do you feel in theirs?
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Matthew 5:5 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!