Whenever we think of Jesus, we appropriately gravitate to His self-description, “I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29). We picture how He joyfully received infants or tenderly spoke to a social outcast by a well in the heat of the day (Luke 18:15-17, John 4:17-18). John rightfully told us that when Jesus dwelt among us, He was “full of grace” (John 1:14).
And truth. Jesus’ gentle and lowly heart in no way meant He lacked boldness. As His ministry set the country on fire, He caught the attention of Herod the Tetrarch. This was not a good thing, as John the Baptist would have attested had Herod not beheaded him (cf. Luke 9:7-9). When His cousin, forerunner, and baptizer died, gentle Jesus mourned by withdrawing “to a desolate place by himself” (Matt. 14:13). Yet when Jesus was later warned that Herod wanted to kill Him, too, He did not flinch: “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course’” (Luke 13:32).
Jesus would accomplish God’s will through any means necessary, including laying down His own sinless life. That did not mean He took needless risks, though: “bold” is not the same as “stupid”. As Jesus also said, “Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem” (Luke 13:33).
When Jesus did reach Jerusalem, He both forcefully drove the money-changers out of the temple and basked in the children’s cries of “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matt. 21:12-17). Before the Council, He “remained silent and made no answer” as false witnesses lied against Him but replied when an officer unjustly hit Him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” (Mark 14:61, John 18:23). He was gentle and bold all the way to His death.
And beyond it. He rose from the grave in such a powerful way that “the guards trembled and became like dead men” while telling the women who were at the same time frightened and joyful, “Do not be afraid” (Matt. 28:4, 10). Now we are His disciples, baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, learning to observe all that He commanded. So, let us live gently and boldly every day, too.
There are so many reasons to be afraid right now. Because we are with Jesus, we do not have to be. Check out our sermon series “Do Not Be Afraid” to learn more!