Christus

Christus
By Mihaly Munkácsy

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”
Isaiah 53:7

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This painting was a study for Munkácsy’s monumental work Christ Before Pilate, which depicts a serene and composed Jesus standing before Pontius Pilate at the center of a boisterous crowd clamoring for harsh judgment. Yet, amidst the chaos, Jesus remains still, embodying a divine strength that transcends the turbulence surrounding Him. Jesus’s silence before Pilate is an act of deliberate restraint, reflecting His submission to the Father’s will. His composure challenges us to consider the power of divine meekness in our own lives.

Of all the attributes He might have used to describe himself, Christ chose “meek and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29), and He famously promised that the meek would inherit the earth. In a world that prizes loud voices and bold displays of power, meekness can sometimes be mischaracterized as weakness or cowardice, permitting abuse at the hands of stronger wills. But in God’s kingdom, meekness is not weakness or passive resignation. It is strength under control, power tempered by grace. Matthew Henry wrote, “Meekness is calm confidence, settled assurance, and rest of the soul. It is the tranquil stillness of a soul that is at rest in Christ.” This kind of quiet strength reflects Jesus’s own peace and poise even in the face of unimaginable abuse and suffering. But this stillness and poise is what is often misunderstood. As David A. Bednar explained, “Meekness is strong, not weak; active, not passive; courageous, not timid; restrained, not excessive; modest, not self-aggrandizing; and gracious, not brash. A meek person is not easily provoked, pretentious, or overbearing and readily acknowledges the accomplishments of others.” To borrow from C.S. Lewis, meekness is not thinking less of ourselves—it is thinking of ourselves less. Meekness enables us to love others without demanding our own way, to serve without seeking credit, to suffer without bitterness. To act as the Savior would act.

Charles Wesley put it plainly: “The person who bears and suffers evils with meekness and silence is the sum of a Christian man.” And John Chrysostom declared in the 3rd century, “Nothing is more powerful than meekness.” Why? Because it reveals Christ in us. Let us not shy away from this virtue, so essential to becoming like Christ. May we seek the meekness of Christ—a strength the world may not understand, but heaven honors above all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~