Christ's Gentle Example - Devotional

GracetoYou.org ^ | 2001 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

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“Walk . . . with all . . . gentleness” (Ephesians 4:1-2).

Jesus is the greatest example of gentleness: He became angry when God the Father was dishonored, but not when He, the Son, was.

Jesus Christ is our supreme example of gentleness. Paul refers specifically to this in 2 Corinthians 10:1. Jesus Himself said, “I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matt. 11:29).

Jesus showed righteous indignation when it was proper. When He found the Temple filled with people selling exorbitantly priced sacrificial animals, He drove them out, pouring out their money and overturning tables (Matt. 21:12). He told them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den” (v. 13). Jesus later said to the scribes and Pharisees, “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how shall you escape the sentence of hell?” (23:33). He did not stand idly by while the Temple was defiled. He spoke out in judgment against hypocrites who dishonored God.

Even though Jesus became angry when God was maligned, He neither retaliated against nor condemned those who attacked Him. “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:21-23). When God’s Temple was defiled, Jesus cleaned it out. But when the temple of His body was defiled, enduring the agony of the cross, with mockers all around, all He said was, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). That’s supreme gentleness—total selflessness.

It’s so easy to strike back when someone criticizes or attacks us, but that’s not the way of the gentle Christian trying to walk worthy. The only time we should let the lion in us roar is when God’s honor is at stake. Jesus forgave those who crucified Him. How can we do any less to those who hurt us?

Suggestions for Prayer

We all fall short of Christ’s example of gentleness. Pray that God would help you each day to reflect more and more the gentleness of Christ.

For Further Study

Read the account of Christ’s arrest and crucifixion in Matthew 26:47—27:50.

Did He have the power to strike back (26:53)? Find all the instances you can in which Christ demonstrated His gentleness.

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Studying God’s Word ping

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There is no finer example of humbleness than the Lord Jesus Christ. Who was forordained to lay His life down for the guilty. 1’st Peter 1:19-20.

As one of the greatest converts to follow the Lords example was the Apostle Paul. Paul describes his former lifestyle, and the zeal to persecute the church as a misguided confidence in his flesh. Yet he described his former self as blameless concerning the law. But he counted it all but dung to win Christ as he pressed toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:3-14

Shipwrecked and beaten on multiple occasions, yet he prayed for his jailers when his cell doors were miraculously opened. Paul would say, follow me as I follow Jesus. Chosen as the Apostle unto the Gentiles.

To know the Grace of God given to undeserving man, we need to understand the message given to Paul to give to us. He warned against those preaching another gospel. Even going as far to to include himself to be accursed if he ever preached another Christ. Galatians 1:6-10

When Jesus returns, it will not be again as a Lamb led to slaghter, but rather as King of kings and Lord of lords.

That day will soon be upon us. Which is why we also must place our former self upon that dung pile as we press toward that same mark for the prize in Christ Jesus.