Today we’re going to talk about a quality of Jesus that I think is much too overlooked.
· How would you describe Jesus’s character?
We so often think of Jesus as ALMIGHTY! POWERFUL! MESSIAH! But the more I’ve gotten to know Jesus, the more I love some of His other qualities… Jesus is kind. Jesus is patient. Jesus is peaceful.
Jesus is GENTLE!
· What do you think of the word gentle? What does it mean to you?
· Having or showing a mild, kind, or tender temperament or character
· Gentleness is a “strong hand with a soft touch.”
· A gentle person speaks truth in a way others can receive.
We see Jesus use the word “gentle” a few times…
· In the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, Jesus commends gentleness in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–12). In the first three, he blesses the poor in spirit, those who mourn, and the “meek”. These go together. The poor in spirit know their need of God’s grace and gentleness.
· “Come to me… I will give you rest… For I am GENTLE…” Matthew 11:28-30
· For out of his gentleness he longs to gather his people together, “as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings” (Matthew 23:37)
· 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.
· Paul proclaimed “gentleness” as a fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5. He also said in Philippians 4:5, “Let your gentleness be evident to all.”
GENTLENESS!
Read Mark 5:21-43 - Jesus healed Jairus’ daughter.
Little girl…. He says this with such an intimacy, of a Creator calling out to the Created. The God of love calling out to His beloved.
Jesus loves His people. He’s strong enough to protect us from harm, and powerful enough to rescue us from what seems like unreachable places. No one’s too far gone for Him to reach.
