Powerfully Meek Leaders

Currently I’m reading Susan Cain’s Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. As someone who’s naturally shy, somewhat introverted, and deeply mistrusting of those who just can’t stop talking, this book resonates with me. Cain helpfully highlights how the world trains us to admire the loudest, brashest, and most domineering figures. The church has not remained immune from this re-training. We need to seek more restrained leaders—meek leaders.

On the other hand, I am amazed by the number of pastors who self-identify as introverts. To some degree this makes sense, because pastors must be comfortable spending long periods of time in their study preparing to preach. But I also wonder whether such a self-designation offers some cover for passivity. Introversion becomes an excuse for avoiding difficult conversations and ducking unpopular decisions. We need bolder pastors—powerfully meek leaders.

In our meek Savior we see both restraint and boldness in perfect harmony.

CHRIST’S MEEKNESS IN KINGSHIP

It is instructive to note that each Gospel author arranges his material in a particular sequence to make particular points. This is why the Gospels do not all follow an identical order. Therefore, we must not overlook the fact that Matthew precedes Jesus’s triumphal entry (21:1–11) with an account of Jesus giving blind men sight (20:29–34). Matthew is keen that his readers have at the forefront of their minds the concept of eyes being opened as they read Jesus’s revelation of himself as the King of meekness.

Earlier in Matthew, Jesus urged his followers not to proclaim his messiahship (16:20; 17:9). Now, however, Jesus is found actively and deliberately making plans to reveal who he is:

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” (21:1–3)

These verses make it clear that there has been deliberate planning on Jesus’s part. Jesus is fully aware that the time has come to reveal himself as Messiah. Some of this inevitably had been leaked already, but now Jesus is going to make the claim himself.

According to Matthew, Jesus’s actions are the fulfilment of prophecy (21:4). The Old Testament prophet Zechariah foretold that God would set foot on the Mount of Olives and, after winning victory over all enemies, return to Jerusalem (Zech. 14:4). In Matthew 21:1 we are told that Jesus is standing on the Mount of Olives. Throughout the Gospel, he has repeatedly refuted his enemies. And now, this Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. Matthew points out that this is the fulfilment of Zechariah 9:9:

Say to the daughter of Zion,
“Behold, your king is coming to you,
Humble, and mounted on a donkey,
On a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.” (Matt. 21:5)

Matthew 21 depicts a poignant scene. The long-awaited Messiah-King has arrived. The explanation, offered by quoting Zechariah, is that this individual is an individual of meekness. Jesus’s messianic reign will be different than what we expected. The people desired a valiant king who rode into occupied Jerusalem on a white stallion, ready to drive out the Romans. But the real Messiah arrives on a donkey in the city in which he will die. Donkeys were indeed a royal mount, but generally used by kings seeking peace. Rather than riding a beast for battle, Jesus trundles in on a creature of peace. In meekness, the king enters his own city with a message of peace for the occupying forces.

Just as Jesus announced his meekness to the crowds in Matthew 11, so now Jesus demonstrates his meekness to the crowds in Matthew 21. Just as Jesus invited the weak and weary to come to him in Matthew 11, so now Jesus is resolved to secure their acceptance when they come.

Given Jesus’s meekness, it follows that citizens of his kingdom should exhibit the same characteristic. This is true for all Christians, but it is particularly pertinent to Christian leaders.

For too long Christian visions of leadership have been shaped by the culture and context in which they are formed. Sometimes this has yielded biblical aspects of leadership. Far too often it results in a twisted vision.

Christian leaders are subjects in the kingdom of God. All subjects must follow the lead of the king of the kingdom, the meek Messiah. We must know and emulate our king. Our world is full of people jostling for position, power, and recognition. Sadly, Christian behavior is frequently little different. But this is not who Jesus is. It is not who we should be.

INTENSELY PASSIONATE MEEKNESS

Meekness is not weakness, however. The very next section of Matthew’s Gospel confirms this. Jesus Christ, the meek Messiah, can be angry and remain sinless. Moreover, he is not simply feeling anger; he acts on his anger, overthrowing tables and chasing people away from the temple because they are profaning this sacred space (Matt. 21:12–13).

The more I ponder this, the more incredible it becomes. How can the one who embodies meekness in perfection act in such a way? The answer to this question resides in the motivation for such anger and action. Jesus acts for the glory of God. His anger is due to the defaming of God’s reputation by the sellers in the temple. His actions work towards re-establishing the glory of God. Jesus’s intense passion in no way diminishes his meekness.

Is it possible for us to demonstrate such passion for the glory of God and yet remain meek? Given our fallen nature it is difficult. The purity of our motivation must always be assessed carefully. At times, however, it is both right and necessary to boldly confront those who are attempting to rob God of his glory. Aristotle offers some helpful advice in thinking along these lines: “The one who is truly meek is the one who becomes angry on the right grounds against the right person in the right manner at the right moment and for the right length of time.”[1]

This further underlines an important observation concerning meekness: its inner strength. Consider the level of self-control it takes to be angry on the right grounds, against the right person, in the right way, at the right time, and for the right duration.

Jesus Christ was bold, confrontational, engaging, and zealous, yet without impinging on his meekness. As his undershepherds, we must therefore represent our meek Messiah in both his restraint and his boldness. We must be gentle zealots who confront others with the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Fellow elders, join me in seeking the Spirit’s enabling to be powerfully meek leaders.

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Editor’s Note: This article is a lightly adapted excerpt from Davy’s book entitled Meekness and Majesty (H&E).

[1] As in Kenneth E. Bailey, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels (London: SPCK, 2008), 73.