Meekness

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:

15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.”

18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby slapped him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”

26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow. (John 18:15-27, NIV)

REFLECTIONS:

In today's passage we see two scenes play out before our eyes.  In one scene Peter, who had claimed boldly that he would never deny Jesus, is doing just that.  In the other scene Jesus is being accused and abused.  I can see two definitions for meekness being displayed in these verses.  For Peter’s part we see the typical definition for meekness, that is: spineless, weak, and wimpy.  With Jesus just the opposite is true.  The high priest is questioning Jesus, expecting him to cower and humble himself.  Jesus, instead, questions the high priest with authority and refuses to be baited into an argument or defensive position.  Jesus models meekness as power under control.  He has complete confidence in his being.  To that point, when he is struck, Jesus doesn’t seek to physically defend himself or to verbally lash out.  He instead boldly speaks truth, which seems to so confound his accusers that they send him on to Caiaphas.  Imagine what it would be like to try to stir anger in someone else, only to find you’re the only one who’s getting angry and losing control.  That’s the power of Godly meekness—it confounds this world and those in it.    

POINT OF ACTION:

How can we gain the confidence of Jesus and avoid the pains of Peter?   The answer lies in faith.  Jesus had a great and complete faith.  Peter suffered from the same faith most of us discover we have at one point or another, small and little.  Not small or little as in quantity or quality but as in what we have our faith in.  Peter had yet to put his complete faith and trust in Jesus.  The "Jesus" that Peter had placed his faith in would never submit to arrest, be beaten, and executed.  How could that happen to the Messiah who is supposed to restore the kingdom of David?  Often the god we put our faith in isn’t big enough for the problems we face.  The problem doesn’t lie with God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit—it lies with us.  Without a leading of the Holy Spirit it is easy to lose sight of how awesome the Creator of the universe is.  Only by faith can we have the confidence of Jesus before the high priest.  Faith must be grown and proved.  We are told this is one of the reasons God allows for trials in the life of a believer.   My desire is to have the bold meekness of Jesus, to fearlessly stand the trials and be unmoved in my faith in the great and all-powerful God whom we serve. 

PRAYER:

Father, help us to grow in faith, and move us to a faith in your Son alone.  We stand against any other gods which would cause our faith to be weak or divided.  We ask these things in the name of Jesus.        

WHO AM I?

I’m Paul Babb and I’m working very diligently to put away my small faith and gain a great faith.