Lamblike

when we think of who God is, and what characteristics He possesses i feel like we might often forget about His gentleness. we might hear more about His love, His joy, or His forgiveness that His gentleness may take a backseat in the way that we think of Him. yet, when i looked up the definition of ‘gentle’, i decided to look at similar words; i found myself reading off all these different characteristics of who Jesus is. words associated with gentle are kind, merciful, forgiving, compassionate, loving, humble, peaceful, reverent, meek, and to me one of the coolest lamblike.

i thought it was so cool that one of the fruits of the Spirit that isn’t the first to pop into my mind actually encompassed exactly who Jesus is, even all the way down to Him being ‘lamblike’. when John the Baptist sees Jesus and exclaims ‘behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ John 1:29. he was speaking right to the character of who Jesus is. that Jesus was a King who would act in humility, putting others before and above himself, to eventually sacrifice His life to pay for our sins so that we may come before God as holy and blameless, Ephesians 1:4.

when we look at Jesus’ death on the cross do we see it as a gentle act?

i see it so clearly. i used to associate His sacrifice with His love for us, or His faithfulness to fulfill what has been written. while those are still true, i now see His gentleness exemplified on the cross as well.

in the Old Testament when Israel would sin against God, they would offer an animal sacrifice to be made right with the Lord once again. in Leviticus 1, God speaks to Moses about animal sacrifices and how they are to be ‘without blemish’, without mark or problem. then in the New Testament, there are no longer animal sacrifices, for Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in Isaiah 53:7 ‘He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and like a sheep is silent before its shearers, He did not open his mouth.’ Jesus was the last sacrifice, the ultimate unblemished sacrifice for the sins of the world.

after His prayer in the garden, Jesus came to terms with God’s plan. saying ‘not my will but yours be done’ Luke 22:42. He was silent in His defense because He knew there was no other way but the cross, yet He was not silent while He was on the cross. despite all the pain, and all the mocking, as Jesus is having nails driven into His hands and feet He says ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’ Luke 23:34.

those words aren’t just being spoken over the ones in the crowd that day, but over you and i as well. we are all guilty of nailing Jesus to the cross, we are all guilty of falling short of God’s glory every day. yet, Jesus saw your face, saw my face, and said you are worth it.

the cross exemplified humility.

the cross exemplified compassion

the cross exemplified His gentle spirit.

He is lamblike.

-n0tbychance