John 13:1-17, Meekness vs. anger (1)

1)    Definition: yielding my personal rights and expectations to God.

Let me add a few thoughts on this definition.

a)    Vine’s Expository Dictionary of the New Testament: "the meekness manifested by the Lord & commended to the believer is the fruit of power...the Lord was 'meek' because he had the infinite resources of God at His command...meekness is the opposite of self-assertiveness & self-control...is neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is not occupied with self at all."  Here are additional thoughts from Vine.

i)      In Scripture it has a fuller use than in Greek writings.  The Greeks would have considered “meekness” to be “weakness,” much as Western society today would think.  The common assumption is that when a man is meek it is because he cannot help himself.  However, it is not weakness. It must be clearly understood that the meekness manifested by the Lord and commended to the believer is the fruit of power.  The Lord was 'meek' because he had the infinite resources of God at His command.

ii)   It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good and therefore without disputing or resisting. It is closely linked with "humility."

b)    Phillip Keller: "The most heavily laden branches always bow lowest on the tree."

c)    One of the best Scriptures that illustrate this trait is Phil. 2:3-4: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

2)    Scripture: Matt. 5:5; Gal. 5:23; Eph. 1:19; Phil. 2:3-4,5-11; Col. 3:12; 1 Tim. 6:11; Titus 3:2-3; Jas. 1:21; 1 Peter 3:4,15; Prov. 14:17,29; 15:1,18; 19:11,19.

3)    Underlying principles: I am complete in Christ and have all things, including the power of God, at my disposal (Col. 2:9; 1 Cor. 3:22-23; Eph. 1:19).

4)    Illustration:

a)    1 Samuel 20:24-35.  Everyone is angry it seems in this story.  Saul is angry at Jonathan because he has made friends with David, whom Saul considers his enemy.  Jonathan is angry with his father because he knows David has done nothing wrong, nothing deserving of Saul’s anger. 

b)    The entire earthly life of Christ is a picture of meekness, but in John 13 it rises to the forefront.  Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, laying aside His rights as the “Master and Teacher.”  The context out of which Christ did this was that He knew who He was, that the Father had given Him all things, and that He would be returning to His glory soon (13:1-3).