I AM Gentle and Humble in Heart

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. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

“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.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Message Intro/Review:

Alright my friends, if you're just tuning in with us for the first time, we've been studying together and learning about the identity and character of The Great I Am. This is the translation of the name God chose for himself when he encountered Moses at the burning bush, and it's also a phrase that Jesus identified with on numerous occasions. So we've looked at seven different "I Am" statements that Jesus made, from the Gospel of John. Then, for the last few weeks, we've been dialed in on some of the promises Jesus made that also start with this same phrase: "I Am..."

So what shall we study together this morning? That was essentially the question my daughter Annika asked me earlier this week....

Illustration: Annika's Favorite Sermon

"I remember that sermon... that was one of my favorites. Are you gonna do the same message over again?"

She asked me that as if to say, "Don't screw it up!". I got the sense that because she liked it so much the first time, that she would actually be happy to hear it again.

For that reason, my answer was probably disappointing: I said, "No.... I can't just preach the same message over only one year later. I'm going to focus on something different that I kind of skimmed over last time.”

However, we will review some of what I spoke to a year ago… and, if there’s any consolation for those who might prefer something completely fresh, at least this message is more timely right now, with everything happening in the world around us.

So, if you were here for Mother's Day last year, and you have any vague recollections of the message I preached on being yoked with Jesus, let me encourage you to muster up those memories. They'll come in handy as we look at the same passage of Scripture from a different vantage point.

You see, the phrase I want to focus on this morning is the one phrase I didn't give much attention to a year ago.... but the one that fits perfectly into the series I've been doing on the "I Am" statements of Jesus.

So this morning we're going to turn our attention to Matthew 11:29, where Jesus declared...

Ref. Matthew 11:29 "I am gentle and humble in heart."

Message Point 1 (Revelation): The reality that Jesus is gentle and humble in heart invites us to let him help us with our burdens.

Let me start with a question this morning that gets right to the heart of how this passage of Scripture is meant to speak to us.

How do think of Jesus? How do you imagine him interacting with people? What kind of a person do you like to think he would have been?

It can be hard to decipher this as we read the gospel accounts, so I think most of us use our imagination.

For some people, like my kids, he probably thought of like a Marvel superhero. Able to do stupendous and miraculous things. Powerful and confident. Always looking for a bad guy he can defeat.

For others he's probably more like a great teacher. Erudite and intellectual. All-knowing. Able to answer any question he might be asked.

The other day we watched an Indiana Jones movie and it struck me that Indy is a combination of these two types of people. Maybe that's what Jesus was like!? Superhero and intellectual all wrapped into one body.

Or maybe you think of Jesus as an ascetic... that is, the kind of person who doesn't have much use for this world and is constantly praying and fasting, and trying to avoid the corruption of this earth. I remember visiting Ukraine years ago and learning about the Orthodox ascetics who would live in a cave for years at a time all by themselves. They were into social distancing before it was "essential". Bu they did it for spiritual reasons, not to avoid some virus.

As I've mentioned a few times already over the last few months, I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the new series about the life of Jesus called "The Chosen". And if I had to pick just one reason, I'd say it's because I love the portrayal of Jesus.

I love it because it represents Jesus as incredibly approachable and warm. He's not too religious to make jokes now and then, or even to dance at a wedding reception. He's able to do incredible miracles, yet he comes off as so down-to-earth Human.

That, my friends, is what I'd like to focus your attention on this morning... the humanness of Jesus.

Yes, of course, he is the Great I Am. He is all the amazing things we've studied together over the last 2 months. Yet, in considering all of that we might tend to forget that Jesus was simply a beautiful human being. That's what I think of when I read this phrase in Matthew 11:29.

When Jesus says “I AM gentle in humble in heart”, I believe he's giving us an honest and insightful look it’s at his genuine humanity.

So think with me about these two descriptive words... these two adjectives that Jesus chose to use to describe himself: Gentle and Humble.

Does it surprise you at all that Jesus chose those two words to describe himself?

As you think about this with me, remember that what we're aiming for here is revelation from God. What does the Lord Most High want us to see and understand about the character of Jesus, so that we'll know him even better than we did before?

Revelation is seeing things in a new and different way, consistent with the truth of how God sees things. It's what the truth of Scripture and the ministry of the Spirit are meant to produce in our lives. When we devote ourselves to studying God's Word, it reveals things to us that we wouldn't otherwise know... and especially when we invite the Holy Spirit to illumine the Words of Scripture for us. In fact, I've been praying for myself for us for some time now what Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus:

Ref. Ephesians 1:17 " I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better." [Pray this now!]

But revelation without application is like information without transformation. They're best when they go together.

So let me start with the word 'Gentle'. Why is this word significant, and what can we learn from Jesus' use of it?

Well, let's start with the simple observation that gentleness if one of the nine fruit of the Holy Spirit's work in people's lives. So it's a good thing to see that characteristic in the life of Jesus... for it reminds us that in everything he did Jesus was Spirit-filled!

But the other thing about this word that I'd love to have you consider is disarming it is. It's the kind of word that makes us think of little lambs or soft cuddly kittens. It's a word that describes how we're meant to act when we're dealing with something fragile... or something delicate.

You don't take your Mom's best china out of the cupboard for Mother's Day brunch and toss it across the room like the Dwarves in a Lord of the Rings Movie. You have to be gentle with it... heaven forbid that you would break Mom's favorite china on Mother's Day!

As I think about this word, I can almost hear my wife saying it to our kids, or my mom saying it to me, on one of those occasions when something needs to be treated with special care. It's a great word for Mother's Day, don't you think? Not for Father's Day so much, for it's not often thought of as a manly word. So maybe it's a bit ironic that Jesus, the Son of Man, is actually the one using it here.

But here's the thing that should really capture our attention: When he used this word, Jesus wasn't talking about how he treated his mother's china. He was talking about how he treated us... his followers. He was talking about our need for special care. He was saying that he was gentle because our souls can be just as fragile as our mother's china.

In fact, what I love about this word in this context is the amazing juxtaposition of it with the analogy Jesus is using.

Think about this: He was describing how we should be yoked to him like a young oxen to older more experienced oxen, so that he could help us carry the burdens represented by that yoke. Our yoke is heavy and burdensome when we carry it alone. But his yoke is easy and light.

So basically, Jesus is saying he's a gentle Ox. He's the powerful more experienced and more capable ox when compared with us. Yet, he's not like the proverbial bull in a china shop. He's gentle as he leads us... not forceful, but gentle.

Ref. Philippians 4:5 "Let your gentleness be evident to all..."

Ref. Colossians 3:12 "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

Friends, why should we do that? Because that's what Jesus did... that's what Jesus was like. Our aim is to become more like him.

Illustration: Paul’s Apostolic Example Referring To A Mother’s Example

Ref. 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.

Then, pair the word 'gentle' with the word 'humble' - like Paul did in that verse - and you've got a tandem of adjectives that really undermines the Superhero characterization.

Let's be honest. "Humble in heart" is not the way we tend to think of a great ruler or leader. Instead, we think of them as brash and confident. Strong and bold. And perhaps, because the role seems to call for it, somewhat arrogant. After all, when you're constantly submitted to the critiques of others it can be pretty hard to respond with genuine humility. Can you think of an example that comes readily to mind?

Humility is one of those characteristics that nobody really aspires to unless they are supremely self-confident and/or religious. If you're proud and you know it's a problem you might aspire to be more humble. Or, on the other hand, if you're a follower of Christ Jesus and you know humility is of value to him, you might aspire to it that way.

In either case, to be humble in heart is to not think too highly of yourself. It's to consider others before yourself. It's not to think you're the best and act like you're the best, even if you are, and especially when you're not. Instead, it's to think of yourself as least and last. Like gentle, humble is soft word... an inviting word... the kind of adjective that makes someone completely approachable and relateable.

I like the way one preacher put it that stuck with me: Humility is confidence properly placed... in God, not in self.

Perhaps I don't need to remind you of this too, but I will just for good measure. Humility is the doorway of our hearts that allows and invites the presence of God to be with us. As the Apostles James and Peter both famously put it, "God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble." And they both said that, by the way, because they were essentially quoting from Proverbs 3:34.

Ref. Proverbs 3:34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

So is it any wonder then that Jesus would not just describe himself as humble, but actually be humble!?

Of all people, Jesus knew that a big part of his mission was to exemplify for us what relating to God the Father was supposed to look like... how it was supposed to work. So he emptied himself, Paul tells us, and humbled himself, by becoming one of us, even unto death on a cross.

That, my friends, is what qualifies Jesus to help us carry our burdens. He was gentle enough to know how to handle the fragile state of our souls, and humble enough to help us.

So banish the lies that Jesus is too good for you.... too good to care about you, or to help you. Banish the lies that he's so far above you and beyond you that he's looking down in judgment on you for all the burdens you're struggling with.

These words, gentle and humble, are an incredible picture of why and how Jesus can actually help us. They represent the fullness of his humanity and the best of his humanity at the same time. What they tell us is that Jesus is available to help us. In all his glory he's not so high and lifted up that he refuses to stoop down and lift us up out of the mud.

When we're carrying a load that is beyond our own ability to bear, Jesus is gentle and humble enough to say, 'Hey, let me help you with that... My yoke is easy and my burden is light, so you'll find rest for your soul if you'll let me work with you."

Yet here's the point: If you had to share your burdens with someone else would you rather share them with a brash person or gentle person? And would you rather share them with a proud person or a humble person?

To see the statement "I am gentle and humble in heart" in it's broader context... a whole sentence that is actually a promise and an invitation... is to appreciate the importance of why Jesus felt compelled to describe himself in this particular way. He didn't want us to think that he would judge us or treat us harshly if we share the burdens of our soul with him. For the sake of being able to fulfill the promise, he wanted us to know how he would respond to our transparency and vulnerability.

Ref. Matthew 11:29. 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.

As the previous verse indicates, Jesus is talking about the weariness that comes from what burdens our souls. In other words, this promise is really about mental and emotional weariness. It's about those things... those experiences in life... that weigh heavily upon our souls. Your soul is your inner man or woman. It’s that combination of your mind, your will and your emotions that controls what your body decides to do or not to do.

Jesus knows that life is hard! He knows there are difficulties we all face from day to day. He knows that our souls grow weary from bearing the cumulative weight of life's ongoing challenges and adversities. He knows we need help to bear those burdens, and he's offering to be the one to provide that help.

Look and listen closely and you’ll realize that Jesus is not simply offering to take all our burdens away. He’s not offering to snap his fingers and immediately banish every adversity from our lives. So if that’s what you expect him to do for you on the basis of this promise, beware! What he’s really offering to do is to help us carry our burdens, and teach us how to carry them more efficiently.

So Jesus’ offer of peace and rest is an amazing promise, and he's able to make that offer to us out of the depths of his gentleness and humility.

But how do we actually experience this? How does rest and refreshment actually come to us? What do we have to do to receive it?

Message Point 2 (Application): Experiencing rest for the soul comes by learning from Jesus example.

Friends, how have you been dealing with the added burdens of these circumstances we find ourselves in?

There are added financial burdens, relational burdens, physical burdens… even political burdens that are presently weighing upon the souls of almost everyone in our nation. This is a trying time, and uncertainty about how it will play out is… even anxiety and fear, is certainly a burden that many people are trying to bear right now.

This means it’s a great time to have someone who’s willing to share the load of those burdens with us. Amen!?

Like most of the promises of God, this one comes with a condition. We have to activate it. We have a role to play. The Lord doesn't just do this for us... he offers to do this with us.

What are we to do with all this baggage... all these burdens that weigh upon our soul? The invitation is simple: Come to me, Jesus says. That's the invitation. Come and bring it all to me. Paraphrasing verses 29-30, Jesus says this about his yolk: Take my yolk upon you and learn from me... for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Notice that this is an invitation from the Lord that we have to respond to.

Jesus wants what's good for us... an abundant life of rest and peace, as opposed to a life of weariness and anxiety. As one who is gentle and humble, he offers us what he already has... a way of life that is better than what the world offers us. To take his yoke is to learn from his example.

The analogy Jesus uses here gets right to the heart of what he’s really offering to do with us. It’s the analogy of the yolk. A “yoke” (zygos) is a wooden frame joining two animals (usually oxen) for pulling heavy loads. In Jesus’ day, farmers commonly used a yoke — a kind of collar — to link two oxen to each other. The yoke was then attached to some other object, such as a plow. Linked by the yoke, the two oxen could then work together, pulling whatever burden was attached to the yoke.

Jesus applies this image to our life with Him. So how exactly do we yoke ourselves together with Jesus?

I love the way blogger and author Kerri Weems describes this. She writes:

"Don’t you think it’s a little bit strange that Jesus’ idea of getting us to rest in Him involves putting on a yoke? A yoke was not created for rest; it was created for work. It literally has nothing to do with rest at all. When Jesus invited the weary and heavy laden to come to Him and find rest, we would expect Him to say something like, Take off that yoke you’re wearing — you don’t need it anymore! Doesn’t that feel great? Now run… be free! But Jesus’ solution for yoke-weariness was not to cast off the yoke entirely; it was to yoke ourselves to Him, to walk in step with Him."

Did you know that farmers would commonly train young oxen by partnering them with a stronger and more mature oxen? The job of the younger partner ox was simply to follow in the same direction and keep pace with the teacher ox, the leader. The older ox pulls most of the weight and understands all the commands of its master. So the point of this analogy is not that Jesus will carry our burdens all by himself, but rather that he will teach us how to let him help us carry them. We still have to carry them in part... we still have some work to do, but Jesus is offering to help us in an arrangement where he leads and we follow. Only by keeping pace with him can we carry the burdens that come our way more lightly.

Here’s my point: Jesus is the mature ox in this picture…. Yet, in all of his strength he is also gentle and humble of heart. What this means for us, if we are willingly yolked to him, is that Jesus is easy to work with. He’s not a domineering ox, who is resistant to the taskmaster or to those he would be yolked with. Instead, he is willingly submitted to the Father's will, and to working with us at the same time. This is what makes being yoked to him workable and appealing.

Think of the Father in this analogy as the taskmaster… the plow driver. Jesus is perfectly committed to working with him and for him. So if we are partnered with Jesus - or yoked to Jesus - then he will always lead us in the right direction... in submission to the Father. Being yoked with Jesus is all about having him as our partner, pulling with us, toward the Father and His Kingdom. In this way, if we are in sync with Him by being bound together with Him, pulling in the yoke together with Him, we will find rest, and our burdens will become easier to bear.

To receive his help however, we have to willingly respond to his invitation. We have to choose to bring him our burdens. We have to take his yoke upon our shoulders so that we can learn from him. And we do that, daily, through the simple act of submission called prayer.

In other words, this act of being yoked to Jesus is a inward spiritual reality. Nobody is going to come along a cast a real wooden yoke over your neck and shoulders. Again, this is an analogy Jesus was using, in order to give us a visual aid regarding the kind of relationship he wants to have with us. And the heart of any relationship with a significant other, be it a friend or a spouse, is communication. That’s how we share our burdens with one another.

So what I’m saying is that we walk this out in communication with Jesus. We bring our burdens to him, and invite him to help us and teach us how to bear them more easily. We submit our troubles and trials to him, and he grants us wisdom, comfort and peace.

Illustration: Taylor Family at Fidler's On The Grand.

Perhaps some of you saw the article in the LSJ by Graham Couch that came out on Thursday. It was about how the Restaurant industry in Lansing is surviving the pandemic, and it featured a nice little quote from our friends and CCV members the Taylors.

“It’s just ugly, man. It just is,” said Mark Taylor, owner of Fidler’s on the Grand in Lansing, which immediately lost 85% of its usual business when it closed its dining room. “I went to DEFCON 1, trying to figure out how we’re going to survive.”

Mark and Lisa Taylor, owners of Fidler's on the Grand pose for a portrait Friday, May 1, 2020, at their restaurant on N. Grand River Avenue in Lansing. Due to the stay-at-home order, they've had to close the dining room, but they're staying open to continue to provide jobs for their employees, and food for their customers.

For Taylor, who opened his restaurant in August 2018, that meant becoming a one-man band some days and having his family become his staff again.

So I went in to see the Taylors on Friday, both to check on them and to support them. If you’re tired of cooking, they’re open for take out every day except Monday… and today for Mother’s Day. Mark said to me that Lisa needed the day off, so they shut down. Who knows… maybe they’re even listening in.

How are they getting by with the burden of this coronavirus lockdown? Mark said to me, “We’re keeping the faith. We’re working long hours but we’re going to be ok.”

Keeping the faith… that means trusting Jesus to help us carry our burdens. The burden is not entirely gone, but Jesus is helping us carry it.

Are you letting Jesus share his yolk with you? What burdens are you carrying alone, that would be lighter and easier to bear if you were to bring them to Jesus?

Let’s pray.

Important Reminders/Announcements:

Zoom Room Home Group on Weds. at 7pm

Prayer Focus for May - Family Ministry & Lydia DeMass

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Benediction:

The Aaronic Blessing from Numbers 6:24-26

"The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;

The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."

Mark 14:62

62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2024:49&version=NIV" Luke 24:49

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

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HYPERLINK "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A29-34&version=NIV" https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A29-34&version=NIV