"Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil" (John 12:1–3).

"With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2).

Meekness in a Proud World

We live in a world that celebrates power, position, and pride. Yet in the kingdom of God, greatness looks very different. Jesus elevated meekness as a mark of spiritual strength, not weakness. When Mary knelt to anoint Jesus's feet, she demonstrated one of the most powerful yet overlooked virtues in Scripture: meekness.

Mary's act of worship in John 12 revealed a heart fully surrendered. The perfume she poured out was worth a year's wages, yet she did not hesitate. What made her action remarkable was not only its cost, but its spirit. With humility and reverence, she wiped Jesus' feet with her hair—an act of meekness that filled the entire house with fragrance.

In this noisy, self-focused world, meekness often goes unnoticed. Yet to God, it is precious. The meek are those who serve without seeking applause, forgive without keeping score, submit without resentment, and love without expecting reward.

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Listening Before Speaking

One of the first expressions of meekness is restraint—choosing to listen before we speak. Meekness requires patience, understanding, and self-control. Scripture reminds us, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."

What flows from our lips reveals the posture of our hearts.

Proverbs 4:23 (MSG) warns, "Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip."

Before responding in frustration, pause and consider your words. Gentle communication in marriage, parenting, and ministry prevents unnecessary conflict. Meekness listens to understand, not merely to reply. When we speak with gentleness, we reflect the nature of Christ, who was "meek and lowly in heart."

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Apologizing and Forgiving

Apologizing and forgiving are among the hardest yet holiest expressions of meekness. Pride resists both. It whispers, "I'm not at fault," or "They don't deserve forgiveness." Meekness responds, "I will humble myself because Christ forgave me first."

The proud heart justifies itself; the meek heart yields to God.

Lucifer fell because of pride. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram perished in rebellion when they refused correction. King Saul's jealousy of David cost him his anointing. Pride always precedes destruction.

Proverbs 16:18 (MSG) reminds us, "First pride, then the crash—the bigger the ego, the harder the fall."

By contrast, meekness chooses restoration over resentment. Ephesians 4:32 commands, "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."

Jesus told Peter to forgive "seventy times seven." True meekness releases offense again and again. It refuses to hold grudges that poison the spirit. Forgiveness may free the offender, but even more, it frees the one who forgives.

When we struggle to forgive, we must remember how often the Lord has forgiven us. Every time we sin, He is faithful and just to cleanse us. How, then, can we withhold forgiveness from others?

Unforgiveness leads to spiritual bondage. It hardens the heart until joy fades and vengeance takes root. Absalom's refusal to forgive his brother Amnon allowed bitterness to grow into rebellion and ultimately cost him his life.

To forgive is to imitate Jesus—to choose mercy over pride.

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Being Open to Correction

Meekness is also revealed in our willingness to be corrected. Pride resists rebuke; meekness welcomes it as a pathway to growth.

When the prophet Nath...