Roll Up: Jesus’ Tenderness, Compassion, Fierceness, Clean Anger, Protection & Approachability

Every month, I will provide a quick “Roll Up” of the previous 8 Characteristics of Jesus to help us keep His entire character in balance. “Wholeness is critical in a world culture that seems horribly “polarized” or warped.  I will contrast His meekness and tenderness with His fierceness and clean anger and fill in the middle with His patience and approachability.

Balance Jesus’ wonderful tenderness with the children with His magnificent fierceness to confront nature and calm a raging storm at sea and in the process protect His terrified disciples! The children are touched by His gentleness and the disciples are impacted and overwhelmed by His raw power! Consider the wholeness of the combination of His “deep” compassion for the leper that results in his complete healing with His clean anger at the Pharisees hardness of heart regarding the plight of a man with a deformed (withered) hand on the Sabbath! Then fill in the “middle” of His character and remember how He is the kind of person that “praises” imperfect people like the Roman Soldier (Centurion) for having faith! Consider how approachable the children find him – He is easy to be with! Jesus is so patient with Peter while Peter fails to continue to trust Jesus while walking on the waves and water! Jesus protects Peter and grabs him before he can sink! Jesus protect the woman caught in sexual sin – even though she is clearly guilty – so that He can lead her in repentance and grow in goodness rather than evil!

“If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father!” (John 14:9) THEREFORE the “visible” character of Jesus reveals the “invisible” character of God.

Lastly – this also reveals how God / Jesus is relating to you. Look for His tenderness, His approachability in your life. Look for His protection, WHILE you are guilty, as He leads you to “realign” with Him! Look for His protection while He is fierce! He acts for our good in every and all ways!