“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel around Him.” (John 13:3-5)
A few hours before Jesus was arrested He met in an upper room with His closest disciples. As that meeting began Jesus gave a powerful object lesson. Without saying a word He took a towel and a basin and He washed the disciples’ feet. It must have been a shock to the disciples as their Master and Lord got down on the floor and took each of their dirty feet into His hands and washed them. It was normally the task of a servant. It was an act of humility. It was a visual demonstration of “meekness”.
We must be reminded again that to be meek is not to be weak. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Only those who are sure of who they are or, more accurately, whose they are can truly be meek. In the verses leading up to this selfless act we are given some insight into the assurance that motivated and empowered Jesus. The Scriptures tell us that because he knew where He had come from and He knew where He was going He took a towel. That is why to be meek is the third beatitude and not the first. We have to know who we are and who God is before we can truly be meek. Jesus knew who He was and, therefore, He had nothing to prove…no ego to protect…no protocol to preserve. With confidence and power He illustrated to the disciples what you can do when you are secure in the arms of the Everlasting God…the Good Shepherd…the loving Father.
The defining characteristic of “meekness” is the deliberate choice to put the needs of others ahead of yourself. But, that can only genuinely happen if we have an accurate view of ourselves. The first two beattitudes helped us gain that perspective. We recognized that we are sinners and are in desperate need of a savior (poor in spirit). We come to God broken and “mourn” with Him over our sinful condition and that of the world around us and we accept His mercy, grace and comfort. Therefore, because of His great unfailing love toward us we can love others selflessly. We can love because we are loved. We can serve because we are served. We can be “meek” because we know that all the good in us comes from God and not ourselves. We have nothing to boast about except the love of God that has redeemed us and given us life. Only those who have experienced the poverty and humility of the cross can express the meekness of the cross.
Today, do you know who you are? Do you know whose you are? If you do, take a towel and wash the feet of those around you.