The Gentleness of Jesus: Strength Under Control | Ep 128

What does it really mean to be gentle?In Episode 128, Brian continues Season 6, The Object of Our Formation, by exploring the gentleness of Jesus. Gentleness is often misunderstood as weakness, passivity, softness, or simply being nice. But in Jesus, gentleness is something far stronger. It is power restrained, strength refined, and love expressed with precision.Drawing from Andre the Giant in The Princess Bride, Francis de Sales, The Hulk, Mr. Miyagi, Jesus on the cross, and Elijah hearing the gentle whisper of God, this episode reframes gentleness as one of the clearest marks of deep discipleship. True gentleness does not exist where there is no power. Gentleness is the ability to hold power in check and use it for love, protection, restoration, and goodness.Brian also explores how gentleness has been distorted in Western Christianity, especially in conversations around masculinity, strength, toughness, and success. Jesus was not weak. He was the ultimate warrior, protector, and King. Yet His strength was never frantic, insecure, cruel, or self-proving.The episode applies gentleness to the four core relationships: with God, with ourselves, with others, and with creation and culture. What would it look like to be gentle with our own hearts, gentle with others, receptive to God’s gentleness, and gentle toward the world we are called to steward?The gentleness of Jesus is not weakness. It is holy strength submitted to love.Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠https://soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠ https://soilandroots.substack.com/