Matthew 11:29, “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 [praus] and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” [NIV]
Some translations render the word “praus” in the Greek as meek. It means gentle, mild, humble. Jesus uses it in this passage to describe his demeanor, his disposition.
Jesus was gentle, humble, meek, but He was not weak. There is a Scripture in Isaiah that reminds me of both the strength and the gentleness of Jesus the Christ. Isaiah 42 begins, “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on the earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.”
God’s chosen Messiah, Jesus the Christ, will bring justice to this earth. In strength He will not falter or fail, He will not become discouraged. Nothing on earth is strong enough to hinder His goal to bring all things back where they belong. Nothing in heaven or hell is strong enough to stand in His way or deter Him. Nothing, no principalities, no powers, no rulers in heavenly places, nothing can oppose Him and succeed.
Yet even amid that strength is seen gentleness. A bruised reed, a person barely hanging on by a thread, He will not break but will in gentleness make them whole again. A smoldering wick He will not snuff out. Even those souls that are hurt, barely alive, damaged almost to the point of destruction, He will make whole again, will restore, will transform into bright shining lights set high upon a hill.
Jesus treats people a lot better than we treat them. He is gentle and humble, bringing rest for souls. Oh Lord Jesus, let us be like you in ever-increasing measure.
