Gentleness & self-control
The entire world recognizes gentleness and self-control as admirable pursuits, yet we enlist endless systems, programs and priorities that seem to scream the opposite. We are quick to trade our desire to exemplify gentleness and self-control as soon as convenience, self-preservation, and our conception of situational control gets their toes stepped on.
Our world is shouting that strength is loud, untamed, and flashy. The way Jesus walked and lived was gentle and humble. Could it be that humility, gentleness and self-control are actually markers of true strength?
The Greek word for gentle is praus, which means meek or mild. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says of Himself, “I am gentle and humble in heart.”
Meekness is not a passive resignation. Meekness, or gentleness, is the ability to accept circumstances, no matter how undesirable, due to a deep trust in God for His plan and sovereignty. Long-suffering and endurance amidst difficult or unjust circumstances can sometimes lead people to mistake a meek or gentle person as weak. However, what they likely do not see outwardly is the resilient strength they exemplify within. Meekness is, in fact, strength.
Meekness is often best understood when applied to wild animals: an animal is meek when they are tamed. A tamed animal does not give up its power, but instead masters their strength and controls their desctructive instincts in order to live in harmony with other animals. The tamed lion is the perfect depiction of power under control; might restrained. Like the lion, we too can hone and master our fleshly, sin-fallen nature because of the power of the Holy Spirit. We no longer are slaves to our ever-changing, fleshly passions and desires (Galatians 5:24) but can act in opposition to the flesh by walking in step with the Spirit of God.
The Greek word for self-control is egkrateia, which means true mastery from within. This can only be accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit.
In 2 Peter 1:5-9, we are exhorted to grow in our faith:
“ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.”
Remembering what Christ did for us keeps us in a posture of humility and protects us from being ineffective and unfruitful!
So how do we remember Christ’s finished work at the cross in our day-to-day in order for us to remain fruitful? First, we ask Him for help! Jesus promised His disciples that they would not be left alone but would have the help of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them in all truth. Next, we can exercise the privilege of what Christ bought for us at Calvary - to draw near to a Holy and loving God, enjoying His presence and fellowship.
As we invite Jesus into our daily life, He will transform our hearts and minds in order for us to know the will of God. He will fragrance our lives to resemble Jesus’ as we look to Him in our daily rhythms and mundanity.
JESUS AS THE LION OF JUDAH
When I was younger, I asked God for a lion to be waiting for me when I arrived in heaven; one that I could pet and keep as mine. I knew lions were dangerous untamed, but I found the idea of having a lion that I could get close to and keep as my defender as epic! I wanted a lion dangerous to enemies and friendly to me - in other words, a good lion, not a “safe” lion. Narnia lovers, anyone?
The lion is at the top of the animal kingdom, meaning all other animals bow before it. They have no predator to fear. Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah! Jesus is God and does not need to be tamed. however, when He took on flesh, He willingly exemplified meekness out of full submission to the Father.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy that one day, a Messiah would arise to redeem and rule the world (Numbers 24:17,19).
In Genesis 49:9 Jacob gives a prophetic blessing on Judah’s line saying, “You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?” Jacob also prophesies that Judah’s line would always hold the scepter and the ruler’s staff “…until the One to whom it belongs shall come
and the obedience of the nations shall be His” (Genesis 49:10).
Many expected that their coming Messiah would be a conquering king who would finally free them from the Roman Empire’s oppression. Jesus, who is the long-awaited Messiah, flipped the world and its expectations on its head.
Jesus is all-powerful, yet He endured the affliction of those He came to save.
Jesus is all-knowing, yet He was patient when those all around Him wrestled with doubts about Who He was.
Jesus is supremely good, yet in the face of the very people He came to save, He endured unjust circumstances, trusted in God’ perfect will, pressing on to overcome sin and death, offering salvation to all who would call Him Lord and Savior.
JESUS AS THE LAMB OF GOD
I confess I have found it easier for me to envision Jesus as the Lion than it is as the Lamb.
Jesus, the much anticipated Messiah, didn’t begin His public ministry until He was 30 years old! Think about how much life He had lived, with His divine identity being hidden until the proper time. There were plenty of moments where Jesus could have revealed Himself, or exercised His full might and authority to JUSTLY enact judgement. But He patiently waited on the Father each day, until the Father revealed that it was time for His ministry to be public.
When Jesus began His public ministry, He found John the Baptist in the Jordan river, prophesying and baptizing about the coming Messiah. When John the Baptist sees Jesus coming toward him, he cried out,“‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29).
All throughout the Old Testament, we see symbolism for the Passover lamb and additional Old Testament sacrifice-centered atonement for sins. These served as shadows of what was to come - Jesus as the final and sufficient Atoner of sins. Jesus, the Lamb of God, would come to bring salvation to His people through His death and resurrection. The Lamb of God overcame death, sin and satan by His blood and body poured out for us. Jesus is the only and truly sufficient Atonement for the sins of the world. Jesus is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise. Jesus came to bring the abundant life to those who would receive Him as their LORD and Savior.
The Lamb is the ultimate depiction of gentleness and self-control, as we see in Isaiah 53:7 -
“He [Jesus] was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth”
Jesus, the Lamb of God, obeyed the Father even unto death on the cross! He did not reject the will of God, but instead fully embraced the circumstances the Father purposed in order to bring eternal salvation and redemption to heaven and earth.
Jesus’ life perfectly models meekness and total submission to the will of God. His unjust trial and crucifixion revealed His perfect trust in God the Father.
The Good News is this: As we abide in Christ who is The Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God, He empowers, equips and enables us to follow His example. While we have times that we stumble, it is here, in nearness and intimacy with God, that our lives can produce the Fruits of the Spirit, on the soil of humility, that ultimately brings glory to God and blessing to others.
May we reflect on the truth and imagery of Jesus Christ as the Lion who holds all authority and power, and as the Lamb whose submission to God’s will leads to the ultimate redemption of the entire world!