Before I hit I-94 that morning, I read about how on the cross Jesus didn't think of Himself in order to free me from myself. I asked Him to help me live free of self that day, and then—in the smallest of tests in the Art Institute of Chicago—I failed.
It happened under Mark Chagall's America Windows—after a lunch of hummus and tabouli in the Garden Café. With leftovers in hand, I asked a security guard the way to the Picasso and Chicago exhibit.
He ignored my question and fiercely told me I was not allowed to have food in the Art Institute. "Oh, I didn't know," I said and repeated my question about the location of the Picasso Exhibit.
"I won't tell you until you throw your food away," he growled.
Muttering to myself, I dumped my food in the nearest trashcan and got the directions I needed.
I knew I shouldn't mention it to my mom and sisters—after all, I'd asked Jesus to help me live free of self—but I couldn't resist. The security guard had treated me with less respect than I felt I deserved, and my self wanted to flare up and kick back.
In that moment, I lost sight of the fact that Jesus was willing to be treated in a way He totally didn't deserve...in order to take God's wrath that I did deserve because of my sin...so I might receive what Jesus deserved—God's love, favor, and righteousness.
What's the big deal, you ask? Isn't it perfectly natural for someone to resist being treated disrespectfully? Sure, but Jesus didn't give me His Spirit so I could continue acting "naturally." One of the marks of Jesus' Spirit is meekness. It's also the third beatitude:
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matt. 5:5).
What does it mean to be meek? Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains it this way:
The man who is meek is not even sensitive about himself.
We think those who exert their power and defend their rights will rule the world. Jesus says just the opposite. Those who are meek (gentle) like He is will rule the world with Him in the end.
It's what we see the night Jesus was arrested. He knew what was coming, pleaded for a way out, but surrendered to His Father's will: "nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will" (Matt. 26:39). It's how we see Jesus responding to the insults flying at Him from all sides while He hung on the cross: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
But we're not Jesus. And meekness isn't just tough...it's impossible! Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains why we fight meekness:
I am aware, when I am honest with myself, of the sin and the evil that are within me, and that drag me down. And I am ready to face both of these things. But how much more difficult it is to allow other people to say things like that about me! I instinctively resent it. We all of us prefer to condemn ourselves than to allow somebody else to condemn us.
Meekness only becomes possible when we have Jesus' Spirit living inside of us. I will try to remember that the next time I find myself being talked to in a tone I find offensive.
How about you? Do you know this meek Jesus? Are you allowing Him to exhibit His gentleness through your life when you feel wronged, belittled or under-appreciated?
