Jesus: Gentle and Humble
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25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
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5 “Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath!
6 I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets.
7 But this is not what he intends, this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations.16 Therefore, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will send a wasting disease upon his sturdy warriors;
under his pomp a fire will be kindled like a blazing flame.
17 The Light of Israel will become a their Holy One a flame in a single day it will burn and consume his thorns and his briers.The Remnant of Israel
20 In that day the remnant of Israel,
the survivors of Jacob,
will no longer rely on him
who struck them down
but will truly rely on the Lord,
the Holy One of Israel.
21 A remnant will return a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.
Jesus: Gentle and Humble
Our Gospel reading begins with these words: ‘At that time.’ It got me wondering, at what time?If we look back to Matthew 11:1 we find the answer and the context. ‘Jesus was preaching and teaching in the towns of Galilee. It is very interesting that Jesus’ ministry was not in Nazareth or Jerusalem but in Galilee. Galilee was the one place where a preacher had a chance of listeners. It’s a small region, 50 ml × 25 ml, but well populated. Josephus records 204 towns & villages. ‘Galileans were ever fond of innovations and by nature were open to change…and never short of courage…more anxious for honour than for gain.’ Josephus This place ‘up north,’ was ripe for the good news to be ‘revealed to little children’ and ‘hidden…from the wise and learned’.
Note also the place (Galilee) was where the 1st tribes were taken into exile. Prophet Isaiah promises judgement on Assyria whose purpose was to destroy the nation of Israel. 10:20 ‘That day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.’ Restoration of the kingdom begins where the exile started.
I can imagine ‘wise and learned’ Matthew recording this prayer and these words of Jesus in his notebook. It is not that Jesus is taking a swipe at education or academics; it is their pride that is the problem. Some intellectuals had no time for Jesus so, ‘these things were hidden from them.’
Jesus speaks first to his Father in prayer, he then states that v27 like the Father, he is all-knowing, and He will reveal some things to some people.
Then JC issues this unique invitation. Unique because it the only place in the bible where Jesus describes his own character – ‘I am meek and lowly of heart’ KJV, ‘gentle and humble in heart NIV. He doesn't say he's joyful and generous of heart, not unconditionally loving-hearted, not compassionate nor caring – he is all of the above but he says, “I am gentle and humble of heart”.
Listen, 28“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy & my burden is light.’”
Jesus is inviting these people and us to find rest for our souls. Not to relax on the beach, not for calm in a busy day not mindfulness. Rest is a wholesome rest, ‘shalom,’ that the world cannot give Rest of Grace. In answer to all of my striving to be good, to serve, to please - Jesus says rest - as the army Sergeant says to his troupe ‘at ease,’ that's the rest of grace. Rest of Forgiveness. Eternal Rest for our souls. ‘Your soul’ is the very part of you that will survive your last breath. Death is not the end, but the only way to find rest for your soul is by coming to Jesus. If I were to say , come you weary people and I, Kelvin will give you rest. You would say who does he think he is? This invite makes us look at the one who is making the invitation.
Jesus self-reveals the core of his innermost being as ‘gentle and humble.’ Gentle - not harsh, not reactionary, not judgmental, not impatient. Humble – ‘tapeinos.’ v27, he has all the authority of the Father but here today he is saying, ‘I am approachable and accessible and accommodating to you, come.’ AAA. The risen Christ here now says ‘come’ hear it afresh today. Jesus speaking directly to you, this minute.
His personal invitation requires a personal response from us from you here and now.
As you come, Jesus cannot be anything but gentle and humble. That’s what he is like. Your failures, fears, doubts, worries, and sinfulness can never outweigh his gentleness. I will give you rest – and that's a promise!
‘O Lord your tenderness, Melting all my bitterness, O Lord I receive Your love, O Lord Your loveliness, Changing all my ugliness, O Lord I receive Your love Kendrick -1986
Have you come to him will you come to him? This is the right place, now is the right time for you to do just that. Weary? Burdened? Jesus says I will give you Rest…
Let us sing in response:
‘O Lord your tenderness, Melting all my bitterness, O Lord I receive Your love,
