“Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.” (Matthew 21:5)
We worship an uncharacteristic King. Everything about Jesus did not fit the common model of kingship. He knew He had come in a different mold and called His disciples to pattern themselves after Him. “And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.” (Luke 22:25-27)
Abraham Lincoln observed: “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” When one is given power or authority, oppression often follows. Even otherwise good men can be corrupted by power. “Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.” (2 Chron. 16:10) How ironic that the same people who hate to be told what to do can become the greatest tyrants when they gain power. “Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child …” (Eccl. 10:16) The mindset of those in authority should not be one of childish self-will.
Great leaders are not selfish despots, making all around them miserable if their will is not done. They rule wisely and lead with gentleness, gaining respect by the way they respect and care for those under them. They don’t trample upon the dignity of those they deem less than them. They are more interested in serving than being served.
Jesus invites us to come to Him to learn of Him. What chiefly can we learn? What it means to be meek and lowly of heart. A meek king is a rare find.