Gentle and Lowly, Chapter 1 - “His Very Heart”
Together, as one church seeking to have one mind and one voice, we are reading Dane Ortland’s book on the love Christ has for His people, Gentle and Lowly. Twice each week, we will post a reflection on a chapter of the book from one of our church members Today, lead pastor Tony Boes reflects on Chapter 1, “His Very Heart.”
I don’t remember the first time that I saw a crucifix. Although half of my family is Roman Catholic, it was the Baptist side of the family that took me to church on summer Sundays. I do remember how struck I was by the visceral image of a body hanging on the cross, a symbol that I was used to seeing bare.
One of the first times that I thought hard about the image of Jesus on that cross was at a Catholic wedding. I watched as parishioners entered, reaching for the holy water and short-bowing toward the distant and high place where Jesus hung as the overseer of the day’s proceedings. It was an image of a pained figure, distant and grimacing at the unwashed worshipers who were coming into his house.
Did I misunderstand the imagery of what I was seeing? Definitely. My Catholic friends would likely read the above sentences in horror at my young self’s mangling of their traditions. But I think that image of a distant and judgmental God is incredibly common, across all church tribes.
It is this common instinct, and the leadership culture that it has produced, that makes Gentle and Lowly such a timely book. As we seek to grow more like Jesus, we need to let the theme verse of the book sink deeply into our hearts.
”Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Jesus, at his very core, is not distant and filled with scorn for common folk. Rather he is gentle, meaning meek and humble, with those to whom he is seeking and saving. He is also lowly—accessible and approachable—with those of us who have spent our lives down in the dirt.
The Jesus that we worship loves his people and is lifting us up out of our place of distress. The burden that he places upon us is “easy and light,” meaning that he is no taskmaster. Rather, he labors to support, comfort, and strengthen us as we walk through this world of sin.
I hope that our time reading Gentle and Lowly together will be an encouragement to you and that you will join us as we spend the next few months reflecting on the heart of Jesus.