What’s the heartbeat and essence of Jesus? What’s His driving force?

Jesus revealed His deepest core when He said, “I am gentle and humble in heart.”[1] Gentleness and humility are His center. They are what move Him.

He humbled Himself choosing to enter the world as a helpless dependent baby in a lowly place made to shelter animals. The birth announcement was reserved for shepherds, and they were the first guests of the Christ child.

Jesus was gentle and humble kneeling before His disciples with a basin of water and a towel. His gentleness and humility were displayed in His care for the little ones and in His tears of compassion for the grieving. They’re displayed today in His tender love for me when I struggle and fail.

His heart is gentle and kind, and His arms are never crossed. They’re always open to embrace me just as I am where I am. But He also opens His arms to be embraced.

“He astounds and sustains us with His endless kindness. Only as we drink down the kindness of the heart of Christ will we leave in our wake, everywhere we go, the aroma of heaven, and die one day having startled the world with glimpses of a divine kindness too great to be boxed in by what we deserve.”

“This is the One so unspeakably brilliant that His resplendence cannot adequately be captured with words, so ineffably magnificent that all language dies away before His splendor. This is the One whose deepest heart is, more than anything else, gentle and lowly.”[2]

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.[3]

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[1] Matthew 11:29

[2] Ortlund, Dane. (2020) Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers. Wheaton, IL: Crossway

[3] Matthew 11:28-29