There are a lot of ways to describe the cross & the things Jesus did while on the cross but gentleness is not always one that comes to mind.
Tortured...Definitely. Grueling...Yes. Dark...Of course. Gentle??? Hardly.
Except when you know the outcome & the ending of the story & you decide to take a step back & try to see it from a different perspective...Then you can see gentleness.
I hardly think His being beaten, mocked, abused, spit on, & cursed for MY sins is gentle. But, if gentleness is one of His traits, then He is gentle always & without fail. As I thought about this, I read through each gospel to see the different words spoken & the different perspectives & I noticed a few things.
Matthew 26~As the high priest was looking to charge Jesus with anything in order to condemn, he said, "Tell us if you are the Son of God." Here's where I first saw gentleness: "Jesus replied, 'You have said so.'" He didn't get upset or angry or roll His eyes...He didn't get smart with him or point out the obvious thousands of miracles He had performed in the most recent days. He simply spoke the truth ~ gently.
Mark 16~As the women went to prepare Jesus' body with anointing spices, they never had to figure out who would roll the stone away! In the open grave, they saw a man sitting there who told them to "Go & tell His disciples AND PETER." I emphasize Peter for a reason. Yes, to the faithful He shows Himself faithful, which is why I believe this man said go & tell His disciples; But Peter? Geesh ~ He denied Jesus! In this day & age, that is normal & many people follow one thing but in the thick of the throes, they declare another. Not in Jesus' day, though. So why would God speak into this man, telling him to specifically add Peter? I have come to this conclusion: WE DENY JESUS ALL THE TIME! Whether it's with our words, actions, lack of action, or attitudes...Our disobedience is a form of denial. This is why the scriptures tell us to deny our flesh & take up His cross. I found it very moving that God wanted us to know that EVEN PETER was to be included...And His gentle way of letting us know that every time we deny Him, He is there to welcome us back.
Luke 23~As one of the condemned criminals shouted at Jesus to save himself, mocking whether or not He really was the Messiah, the other noticed his guilt & His innocence. "Don't you fear God? Since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done no wrong." He then turns to Jesus (and I imagine with tears in His bloodied eyes) & asks Him to "Remember me when You come into Your Kingdom." Did Jesus laugh at him or go through the laundry list of things that, in fact, this criminal had done wrong? Nope! He simply & gently said, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." He could have laughed at him thinking, 'Sure, NOW you want to believe in Me' or rolled His eyes thinking...'Did I not prove myself long before this unbearable cross?' He didn't do those fleshly things, though. He stayed true to Himself & His character & gently led this filthy man, who was at that moment washed white as snow, into Paradise with Him.
The gentleness of the cross is a different perspective ~ I'll admit. But don't you think if we are charged with "being like Him," that we should turn these God-breathed scriptures inside & out searching for His Ways & His truths? And wouldn't that include reading & rereading & looking through different eyes to see the totality of Him?
Jesus was gentle all the time. The bible says, "I am God. I change not." Never. Not once. And this can be modeled to our children as we are raising them to be Christ-minded. When they don't follow your instruction the first time, gently remind them. When they come running back to you telling you that you were (shock of all shocks!!!) right, don't mock the growth in their learning. Do you have a limit of how many times your children can disobey you before you put them up for adoption? OF COURSE NOT! You sit them down & you discuss their choice. THIS IS PRIME TIME ladies~Teach them when they are in that moment that He tells us that we are "all sheep who have gone astray" but then proceeds to tell us that if EVEN ONE wanders, He will retrieve it. Then give them a hug~for they just gained a bit more wisdom!
Listen to Jesus' gentle voice today. Sometimes it's more of a lightening bolt, yes...But other times, you can hear the gentle thunder rolling in the distance if you just stay still long enough to listen.
Gently speaking ~
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