The Gentle Strength of Christ

"Who, when He [Jesus] was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously." - 1 Peter 2:23 (NKJV)

What comes to mind when you think of meekness? Too often, we confuse it with weakness. But the truth is, meekness is strength in submission—strength that’s under control. And there’s no better example of this than Jesus Christ.

Think about it: when He was mocked, spit on, and beaten, He didn’t lash out. When He hung on the cross, enduring the shame and pain, He didn’t call down legions of angels to rescue Him (though He could have). Instead, He committed Himself to the will of the Father. That’s meekness. That’s strength under control.

A motorcycle gang called Hell’s Angels once walked into a small diner. They were rough, tough, and looking for trouble. In the corner sat a quiet truck driver, eating his dinner. For no reason at all, one of the bikers smashed the man’s plate of spaghetti over his head, and another poured his drink into his lap. The truck driver didn’t say a word. He calmly got up, walked over to the counter, paid his bill, and left.

The bikers laughed, mocking him. “He’s not much of a man, is he?” one of them said to the bartender. But the bartender, looking out the window, replied, “Well, he’s not much of a truck driver either—he just ran over all your motorcycles.”

This silly story simply serves to describe someone who was "under control" in the heat of the moment (though ultimately he did get revenge, which I'm not advocating). True meekness doesn’t mean you’re powerless. It means you choose to keep your strength under control. Jesus had all the power in the universe, yet He chose to submit to God’s plan for our salvation. His meekness wasn’t weakness—it was the ultimate display of strength and love.

When you face mistreatment, injustice, or hardship, remember Jesus. Trust God to be your righteous Judge. You don’t have to fight every battle or prove your strength. True power is found in trusting the One who holds all things in His hands.

Reflection Question: How can you follow Jesus’ example of meekness in your relationships and challenges this week?

Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me what true strength looks like. Help me to trust You when I face challenges or mistreatment. Teach me to respond with humility and grace, just as You did. I commit myself to You, the righteous Judge. In Your Name, amen.

Adapted from "Meekness is Not Weakness" - https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/49hzcv8/3-meekness-is-not-weakness