The meekness of Jesus Christ. Greek words: prays, praytes, praos, praotes

The meekness of Jesus

As believers grow in faith, their life will reflect the meekness of Christ in us. The starting point in understanding such meekness is Matthew chapter 21:

Comparing all the gospel accounts of the "triumphal entry", we read that the colt was not only taken from its mother, but no one had ever yet sat upon it.  Furthermore, 1Kings 1:32-40 tells us that when Solomon was similarly presented as king of Israel, the mule upon which Solomon rode had to be led by others, but there is no such leading of the colt on which Jesus sat. This young donkey carried Jesus into Jerusalem led solely by God---picturing how the meekness of Jesus was based on his willingness to submit to the Father's leading and care.

Christ's display of meekness while being led on a young donkey was in fulfillment of Zechariah chapter nine:

As we trace the above Hebrew word for "lowly" to other OT prophetic references to the Messiah, we see in Psalm 69:29 the suffering Messiah at Calvary made low and sorrowful. The Messiah would be led by God to Calvary's cross where he looked to God for deliverance.

A preacher once decribed the meekness of Christ as "power under control". And so it is. Meekness is like an ox, willingly under the yoke controlled by another. Jesus did not take matters into his own hands, but in meekness followed the leading of His Father,  even to the cross---relying on the Father's faithfulness, power and care to lead Him through Calvary to greater blessings that the Father had set before him.

 

What does it mean for believers to be meek?

Christ is our example of meekness.

The meekness of a believer is most evident when he enters into trials, especially those brought on by persecution. When Jesus first called Peter to follow him, Peter was a long way from meeknes. But by the time he wrote 1st Peter, he was following the Lord closely and could write authoritatively and experientially on trusting God to lead him, care for him and to fight his battles.

The meek trust in God to lead, protect and fight for them.

The meek know their neediness and will follow fast after the Shepherd by following His voice.

Just as the Lamb of God humbled himself under the hand of His Shepherd while he was led through the shadows of death at Calvary, so believers are to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of our Shepherd as He faithfully leads us by his word through this fallen world of sin and persecution toward our hope in heaven.

Our needy hearts first enter the sheepfold as we become broken over our sin. Then as we walk on in the Way, we continue to receive God's word with meekness and lowliness of heart, confessing our sins as we look to Him fom deliverence from the power of sin, lest we drift away by the deceitfulness of our hearts.

 

How do the meek inherit the earth?

These words from our Lord in his sermon on the mount refer to Psalm 37 where David prophesies that the world will not always be controlled by the ruthless and shrewed, but by the meek; those who don't act of their own accord, but wait on the Lord, as sheep wait on the leading the shepherd or as a yoked bullock in service.

 

The yoke of the meek

In old testament typology, the bullock that becomes the burnt offering is a prophetic picture of Jesus. As Christ walked this earth, he was meek under the yoke of the Father being led toward Calvary. He now calls us to follow him and enter into his rest, enduring persecution for His sake if that is where we are led. All other labor is empty; only what which is done in obedience, under the yoke of the word of Jesus is fulfilling and joyful in this life, leading to eternal rewards and an inheritance in heaven.