“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil” (John 12:1–3).
“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).
Meekness in a Proud World
We live in a world that celebrates power, position, and pride. Yet in the kingdom of God, greatness looks very different. Jesus elevated meekness as a mark of spiritual strength, not weakness. When Mary knelt to anoint Jesus’s feet, she demonstrated one of the most powerful yet overlooked virtues in Scripture: meekness.
Mary’s act of worship in John 12 revealed a heart fully surrendered. The perfume she poured out was worth a year’s wages, yet she did not hesitate. What made her action remarkable was not only its cost, but its spirit. With humility and reverence, she wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair—an act of meekness that filled the entire house with fragrance.
In this noisy, self-focused world, meekness often goes unnoticed. Yet to God, it is precious. The meek are those who serve without seeking applause, forgive without keeping score, submit without resentment, and love without expecting reward.
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Listening Before Speaking
One of the first expressions of meekness is restraint—choosing to listen before we speak. Meekness requires patience, understanding, and self-control. Scripture reminds us, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
What flows from our lips reveals the posture of our hearts.
Proverbs 4:23 (MSG) warns, “Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts. Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.”
Before responding in frustration, pause and consider your words. Gentle communication in marriage, parenting, and ministry prevents unnecessary conflict. Meekness listens to understand, not merely to reply. When we speak with gentleness, we reflect the nature of Christ, who was “meek and lowly in heart.”
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Apologizing and Forgiving
Apologizing and forgiving are among the hardest yet holiest expressions of meekness. Pride resists both. It whispers, “I’m not at fault,” or “They don’t deserve forgiveness.” Meekness responds, “I will humble myself because Christ forgave me first.”
The proud heart justifies itself; the meek heart yields to God.
Lucifer fell because of pride. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram perished in rebellion when they refused correction. King Saul’s jealousy of David cost him his anointing. Pride always precedes destruction.
Proverbs 16:18 (MSG) reminds us, “First pride, then the crash—the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.”
By contrast, meekness chooses restoration over resentment. Ephesians 4:32 commands, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Jesus told Peter to forgive “seventy times seven.” True meekness releases offense again and again. It refuses to hold grudges that poison the spirit. Forgiveness may free the offender, but even more, it frees the one who forgives.
When we struggle to forgive, we must remember how often the Lord has forgiven us. Every time we sin, He is faithful and just to cleanse us. How, then, can we withhold forgiveness from others?
Unforgiveness leads to spiritual bondage. It hardens the heart until joy fades and vengeance takes root. Absalom’s refusal to forgive his brother Amnon allowed bitterness to grow into rebellion and ultimately cost him his life.
To forgive is to imitate Jesus—to choose mercy over pride.
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Being Open to Correction
Meekness is also revealed in our willingness to be corrected. Pride resists rebuke; meekness welcomes it as a pathway to growth.
When the prophet Nathan confronted David about his sin with Bathsheba, David responded with repentance rather than anger (2 Samuel 12). When Paul corrected Peter publicly for his hypocrisy toward Gentile believers (Galatians 2:11–14), Peter received the correction with humility.
A meek heart does not view correction as humiliation—it sees it as direction.
Those who are open to reproof demonstrate maturity. Proverbs 9:8 teaches, “Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.”
When pastors or leaders correct us, it is not to shame us but to shape us. A submissive spirit says, “Thank You, Lord, for loving me enough to guide me back.”
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Meekness Is Not Weakness
Meekness does not mean timidity. It is not the absence of strength but the control of it. Mary’s anointing of Jesus with costly perfume was not weakness—it was worship. Her humility, selflessness, and sensitivity to Jesus ‘ heart displayed inner strength greater than any outward show of pride.
She ignored criticism and chose devotion. When Judas mocked her act as wasteful, Jesus defended her, saying, “Let her alone… she has done a good work for Me.”
The meek do not need to prove themselves—they allow God to be their defender.
Jesus Himself embodied meekness: “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). Though He was the Son of God, He knelt to wash His disciple’ feet. His meekness was not weakness—it was the greatest display of love and humility the world has ever seen.
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Lessons in Meekness from Sheep
Sheep are among the most gentle creatures in God’s creation, and their meekness offers a powerful picture of how believers should relate to the Shepherd.
They are gentle—not aggressive.
They are submissive—not independent.
They are dependent—not self-sufficient.
A sheep’s safety is found not in its own strength, but in its shepherd.
And then there are the “bummer lambs.”
Sometimes an ewe rejects her newborn lamb, refusing to nurse or care for it. The shepherd knows that if left alone, the lamb will die. So he gathers the fragile creature into his arms, wraps it in a blanket, feeds it by hand, and holds it close to his heart until it grows strong.
Once healed, the lamb never forgets that intimacy. It stays close to the shepherd and always runs first when he calls. It knows his voice.
Many of us are like those lambs—rejected, broken, and weak. Yet our Good Shepherd, Jesus, took us in. He feeds us with His Word, covers us with His mercy, and lets us hear His heartbeat. We are not loved more than the others—we simply know more intimately the One who saved us.
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The Reward of Meekness
Psalm 37:11 declares, “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
The reward of meekness is peace—not as the world gives, but peace that flows from a surrendered heart. The meek do not fight for attention; they rest in God’s approval. They do not boast in themselves; they glory in the cross.
In a world that prizes pride, the meek shine with quiet strength. They reflect Jesus—the Shepherd, the Servant, the Savior—who chose a towel over a throne and a cross over a crown.
7. The Fragrance of Meekness
Mary’s perfume filled the entire house, but her meekness filled eternity. Her act of worship became her memorial. In the same way, our meekness releases a spiritual fragrance that draws others to Christ.
Meekness is not measured by how softly we speak, but by how humbly we serve. It is revealed in how we treat others when no one is watching. It is proven when we listen before speaking, forgive before being asked, accept correction without offense, and serve without expecting credit.
There is power in meekness—a power that transforms hearts, heals relationships, and reflects the beauty of Jesus Christ.
