THE MEEKNESS OF CHRIST

Devotion #8 of 13

"I am meek and lowly in heart" -- Jesus

BEHOLD THE MEEK ONE! Jesus brings salvation

"Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass" (Mat 21:5). This is a reference to Zechariah's prophecy. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass" (Zech 9:9). The point of this prophecy is not a triumphal procession, although that is involved. The human race did not need a spectacle, but a Savior! The sight of a King riding a "colt, the foal of a donkey" had salvational significance. Jesus humbled Himself in order to bring us salvation! That is why He is called "meek and lowly in heart."

The people that saw Jesus were enthralled with Him, yet missed what He was bringing to them. "He is just, and having salvation." Who would ever have conceived the merging of justice and salvation!! The two seem antithetical to one another--and ordinarily they are. However, the meekness of Christ has enabled them to come together. As it is written, "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other" (Psa 85:10). Under the Law, mercy and truth could not meet together. Nor, indeed, could righteousness and peace kiss each other. But now, since Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient, these divine qualities have joined together for our salvation.

Just and Justifier

God is not only the Justifier, He remains Just in the very act of justifying sinners. As it is written, "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom 3:24-26). A salvation that is "just!" A salvation based upon "righteousness!" This is the result of Christ "humbling Himself."

It seems to me that heaven still cries, "Behold your King!" Still, we are summoned to consider a Ruler that comes to us "meek and lowly." He has come within our reach. He is accessible to us! He is "not far from every one of us." Truly, He is "meek and lowly in heart."

-- TOMORROW: LOWLY IN HEART --