Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Gentleness has been defined as “Showing care and respect for others in the way that you act and speak, the quality of being kind and careful, being compassionate.” Unfortunately, many of us have little experience of gentleness in our lives. Perhaps our parents were not demonstrative or even absent. Perhaps we have had to struggle for years to make a way for ourselves. We have become hard and don’t know how to help ourselves.
In an article for Crosswalk.com, Molly Parker describes Jesus as the perfect example of gentleness.10 Ways Jesus is Gentle 1. His invitation is broad. “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus has an affinity for the weary and burdened. He longs to be gentle with them, much like we do with our own kids after they’ve been sick all night or had a lousy day at school. But unlike our compassion, which is inconsistent at best and reserved for a certain few, Jesus’s compassion spreads far beyond his “own kids.” His invitation to “come to me” has an all-ness to it, going way back to the promise he made to Abraham, that through him “all nations will be blessed” (Galatians 3:8).
2. He provides rest for your soul. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul” (Matthew 11:29). Before the arrival of Jesus, God’s people were living in a hopeless time. The yoke of Rome was weighty and oppressive. Pride and self-assertion—the opposite of gentleness—ruled in the hearts of the Jewish leaders. So when the Messiah came at last, many assumed he was going to be a cultural and political Savior, not a “gentle and lowly in heart” Savior. Little did they realize, sin was their problem. What they really needed was a Savior to rescue them, to provide soul rest.
3. His method of bringing about victory involves thoughtful and careful leading. “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice through to victory” (Matthew 12:20). Bruised reeds and smoldering wicks? Though we don’t often squeeze such wording into our everyday lingo, it certainly portrays our gentle Jesus in a way that really packs a punch (or more fittingly, a friendly pat on the back). The point is, when Jesus finds a bruised reed, instead of breaking it off, he’s more likely to bind it together in hopes it’ll become strong again. And should he come across a barely-there flame, he’s more likely to fan it back into a radiant flame instead of snuff it out. And we can count on him acting this way “until he brings justice through to victory.”
4. He tenderly cares for the defenseless. “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:11). I’ve heard it said that gentleness is a strong hand with a soft touch, a quality every good shepherd should possess. Not only does a flock of sheep need tender care, they need protection from predators—something David can attest to in 1 Samuel 17:14-36. But for those who think David’s shepherding skills are top-notch, they should first consider the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ. He’s the true expert in all-things requiring a strong hand and a soft touch, for it was prophesied that “he will rule with a powerful arm” (Isaiah 40:10), all the while caring for his lambs—his children—by feeding, gathering, holding, and leading them.
5. His tender nature causes even the most critical audience to soften. “By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you.” (2 Corinthians 10:1) Jesus never flexed his muscles for personal gain. Rather, he did everything to the benefit of those in need and to bring glory to God the Father. And here, Paul emulates the very nature of Jesus. He models the controlled strength of Christ, for it is the basis by which Paul makes his appeal to the church at Corinth. Gentleness goes a long way in reaching a critic. Still, many in our culture think we’ve gone soft when humility becomes our go-to virtue, making it more important than ever to “do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than [ourselves]” (Philippians 2:3).
6. He has gentleness to spare, no matter how selfish, rebellious, and lost we’ve been. “So he returned home to his father. And while he was a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). The parable of Prodigal Son is a personal favorite, not just because of what singer-songwriter Keith Green did with it, but because Jesus paints for us a picture of what he’s like; he describes his very own character. He grabbed hold of his compassionate, generous, slow-to-anger, and gentle qualities and wove them right into the narrative of the Prodigal Son. How lovely is that?
7. His gentle ways stand in stark contrast to cultural expectations. “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey’” (Matthew 21:5). As predicted long ago by Isaiah and Zechariah, Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. He didn’t waltz into town on the back of a stallion with fancy chariots in tow, something more fitting for a king. Instead, he entered Jerusalem humbly, in the same lowly manner he entered the world.But oh, that won’t be his style when he comes again. Pastor John Courson puts it this way: “The first time Jesus came, He came as the Suffering Servant. But the next time he comes, it will be as the conquering King.”
8. He is moved by our great sorrow and his even greater love. “So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is sick’” (John 11:3). Sure, Mary and Martha had already seen Jesus perform miracles, thus boosting their confidence he’ll do another. But I wonder if it’s not the miracles that brought such assurance but what they know of his character. I wouldn’t be surprised if his interactions with others—the way he kindly and respectfully talked to people, the way his all-knowing yet all-loving eyes settled on theirs (imagine Jesus locking eyes with you!)—had more to do with the manner of their request: “Lord, the one you love is sick.” Notice the sisters didn’t say, “Lord, the one who loves you is sick.” If God’s countless acts of compassion were dependent upon our love for him, we would be in a hopeless state! Thankfully that is not the case.
9. His character doesn’t change, even under intense suffering. “When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son’ . . . From that time on, this disciple took her into his home” (John 19:26-27). While he hung on that cross, he continued having precious and selfless thoughts toward others. Not even the most torturous suffering could stomp out his gentlemanliness. Though he was naked and thirsty, he thought of his mom! And he discussed her care and protection, not at a family dinner table with loved ones all around, but while he hung on the cross for the sins of the world—her sins included!
10. His gentleness is equal to his power. “Worthy is the lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:12). Jesus is the worthy Lamb who was slain. He went willingly and silently to the cross, where by his blood he “ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). He is also the conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah. He punishes evil and commands us to follow him. But hanging our hats on one aspect of his nature over the other, thinking, “I prefer a soft and gentle Jesus, not a strong and mighty Jesus,” will only lead to a lopsided, flimsy faith. Jesus is 100% Lion and 100% Lamb. We need his compassion, but we also need his resurrection power.”
How can we become gentle when we have never experienced gentleness ourselves? Ask God to send His Holy Spirit, for He is the only One who can truly make us gentle.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we confess that we are anything but gentle. We push through our days, forcing our ways through people and events. Please change us into Your Image! Give us Your Holy Spirit and let Him change us completely. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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