Crisis Revelation

“Crises always reveal a person’s true character.”— Oswald Chambers

A verse that the Sprit has been keeping in the forefront of my mind is, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” For some reason, the true meaning of “meek” in this verse seems to have been lost and replaced with an understanding of meekness as someone who is demure, diffident, or spineless. Whereas the true meaning of Jesus’ Greek here (praeis), means “strength under control.”

The meekness that Jesus speaks of, is the ability to have unreserved restraint in the face of unrestrained provocation. It is the ability to be prudent in the face of gross injustice, and the ability to remain patient in the face of extreme frustration. It is the ability to have mastery over one’s reactions— confidence without cockiness, and assurance without arrogance. It is to be a stoic, fortified wall of bronze in a land full of shadows and strongholds that relentlessly hammer at the gates of righteousness and truth.

Jesus was all of these things during the time of His early ministry. Crisis after crisis, He stood in the midst of ignorance, confusion, and rebellion as a beacon of truth, holiness, and hope. He never wavered, He never relented, and a bruised reed He did not break, nor a smoldering wick did He snuff out. And when His body and dignity were crushed at the end of His life in this place, the wine that poured forth was not bitter, angry, and full of spiteful self-preservation, but sweet, selfless, and meek. 

Because Jesus understood that “it is mastery in circumstances that is needed, not mastery over them.”—Oswald Chambers. 

(Jer 1:17,18) Get yourself ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land.

(Matt 12:18-21) Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel nor will he cry out; nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

(Matt 27:29-31) And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt down before Him to mock Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly. After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.

(Luke 23:34) Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.