Sheep-ish

Not many Americans would put “meek” on a list of admired character qualities. The people who know how to get things done, who are able to take charge, get the promotions. Success, at least in the earthly sense, comes to those who assert themselves.  The ‘meek’ end up getting run over, used, and discarded – or do they?  I have lived long enough, endured enough losses, that I now appreciate and understand Jesus’ words about much misunderstood meekness in a different way.  The meek are vulnerable, not weak, willing to allow themselves to be touched by the needs of others, to weep along with those who are broken by life gone out of control.  In this the meek become those through which the Spirit is able to bring healing, hope, wholeness. Jesus’ apparent weakness was really meekness. He suffered but would not exercise His power to punish. He would not let his heart harden to avoid feeling the pain of life. He would not lash out, get even, or retreat.

He did not have to subject Himself to suffering at the hands of cruel people, but He did!  He made the decision to leave Heaven’s love and perfection behind and live among us where rejection was a certainty.  He was called the “Lamb of God.” Yes, that is first a reference to the sacrifice He would become in the likeness of the Jews Passover Lamb.  But, it also describes His meek nature.   A lamb is virtually defenseless.  It cannot run fast. It has no armor. It does not live in a shell. The only safety for a lamb is with the flock and the care of a shepherd. 

The Word teaches us that "our attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form." (Philippians 2:5-7, NLT)  "Become one with him. … no longer count on (your) own goodness or ability to obey God’s law, but trust Christ to save …  For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. (then you will) really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.  …. learn what it means to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that, somehow,  (you) can experience the resurrection from the dead!" (Philippians 3:9-11, NLT) Those of us who live ‘in Christ’ must, like Him, drop our defenses, love those who hate us, submit ourselves to others, as we trust in our Shepherd alone.

Vulnerability that leads to meekness can be forced on us by circumstances, but it can also be a work of the Spirit, a choice He enables us to make.   My very humanity makes me vulnerable. Jesus was “God, in flesh.” He could have crushed His enemies, but He would not.  He chose to be ‘sheep-ish.’  Will I, will you?  The Bible says,  "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5, NIV)   Will you give as good as you get, demand ‘respect’ you feel you deserve; or will you choose to be vulnerable?  In that choice, love is spilled, the most beautiful and healing experience we can know. 

When we feel the temptation to retreat into the ‘safety’ of apathy, or to push back with the defense of power, or to close our hearts from others;  let’s remember Jesus’ vulnerability. When everything in us is screaming for retreat,  try to pray something like this:  “Lord, keep my heart open.  Infuse me with the courage to live with the risk of rejection, to love those who hate, to serve those who do not understand, to be gentle to those who would wound me given the opportunity.”

Here’s a word from the Word. It is both beautiful and challenging. May the Spirit call us to greater meekness. "Who has believed our message? To whom will the Lord reveal his saving power? My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins!" (Isaiah 53:1-4, NLT)  "He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7, NLT)  "When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins." (Isaiah 53:11, NLT)

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Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)

Alleluia, alleluia,

For the Lord God, Almighty reigns.

Alleluia, alleluia,

For the Lord God, Almighty reigns.

Alleluia!

(You are) Holy, holy.

Are You Lord God, Almighty.

Worthy is the Lamb!

Worthy is the Lamb!

You are holy, holy

Are You Lord God. Almighty.

Worthy is the Lamb!

Worthy is the Lamb!

Amen.