Gentleness

By Kevin Thompson January 2nd 2022

Jesus made Himself accessible to humanity. It’s a tremendous gift to have access to God. However, that access would do us no good if, when we got to Jesus, He was harsh. Thankfully He is not. Jesus describes Himself as gentle. Not only is He accessible in that we can find Him, but he is also accessible once we locate Him. We don’t have to hide our faults. We don’t have to worry about His reaction.

The word used here as “gentle” is the same word translated as “meek” in the Beatitudes. Remember, the old definition of meekness is “strength under control.”

Gentleness is not weakness. When we describe someone as a gentleman, that does not mean that they lack power or strength; it means that they can restrain themselves and use that strength for the wellbeing of others.

When I talk about meekness in marriage, I describe it as the balance between apathy and aggression. A meek person is not apathetic. They care deeply. Yet, they aren’t aggressive toward their spouse. They are kind and gentle, always trying to draw the other person out to interact with the truth.

This is Jesus—gentle. He isn’t apathetic toward our sin. The last thing we can say is that we should ignore our rebellious hearts or downplay our choices that do not bring Him glory. Yet, he also isn’t aggressive toward us about our sin. It’s not the voice of God that shames us or belittles us or tells us we can’t change. Instead, He invites us to come to Him and to allow Him to take our sin and transform our hearts.

He does so like a gentle surgeon. He’s compassionate and gracious. He is generous in ways we can’t fathom.

If you and I were asked to describe the heart of Jesus, it would be a God-honoring, Jesus-mimicking description if the first word we used was “gentle.” Dane Ortland says Jesus is not “trigger-happy” or “reactionary.”

As a parent, I’m reactionary. Often as a leader, I’m reactionary. My disposition is often defined by what I’m responding to. It’s not so with Jesus.

Consider where we have already been: When it comes to Jesus, His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness allow Him to respond to us with gentleness in every circumstance. He’s not just gentle with the little sins and outraged by the big ones. He is always gentle, which allows us to come to Him no matter our circumstances or struggle.

MATTHEW 11:25-30 (NIV)

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Reflection Questions:

    1. What is the hope about God?

    2. How is that hope for you?

    3. How can you share hope with others today?