2 Corinthians 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you… How different was Christ to (1) the anticipations of the chosen people! (2) the heathen conceptions of deity! I. THE MEEKNESS OF CHRIST. Illustrated in: 1. His lowly birth. The manger prefigured the whole life. 2. His humble station. Highest in heaven, lowliest on earth. 3. His obedience to Joseph and Mary. Obedience was new to him. He was the Ruler, and yet he submitted to be ruled. 4. His manual toil. The Jews looked for a conqueror and saw a carpenter. 5. His endurance of scorn and insult. Scorn and insult were much more to him than they ever can be to us. Remember he was the adored of heaven! 6. His earthly poverty. He possessed all things, and yet bad nothing - not even a place where to lay his head. 7. His bearing before the Sanhedrim, Pilate, Herod, the soldiers, etc. How little and mean they must have seemed to him! and yet he did not crush them. 8. His submission on the cross. The infinitude of meekness! Nothing could transcend this. This was the culmination of a meekness which shone throughout the marvellous earthly life. "Ride on, ride on in majesty; In lowly pomp ride on to die; Bow thy meek head to mortal pain; Then take, O Christ, thy power and reign." 9. His burial. He went, not only to death, but to the grave. He lay in a borrowed sepulchre. II. THE GENTLENESS OF CHRIST. Exhibited in: 1. His treatment of children. How immortal have those words become! how typical they are of the Christ heart, "Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me" (Matthew 19:14)! 2. His conduct towards the poor, the sick, the bereaved, the penitent. What compassion and tenderness! "A bruised reed shall he not break" (Isaiah 42:3). 3. His words. "He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street" (Isaiah 42:2). Well might they marvel at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. 4. His forbearance towards his disciples. Few things illustrate his gentleness more strikingly than this. How much had he to bear from those nearest to him! How gentle he was to the impulsive, blundering, often almost insolent, Peter! How gentle even to Judas! 5. His dealing with sinners. Except to the hopelessly hardened, upon whom gentleness would have been thrown away, and to whom it would have been an evil rather than a good. His general attitude towards the sinful is expressed by those memorable words, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:29). 6. His care of his mother. History has no more touching incident than that at the cross, "Woman, behold thy son!" (John 19:26). III. THOUGH SO MEEK AND GENTLE, CHRIST WAS FULL OF POWER AND MAJESTY, NO student of his life can question this; enemies and friends alike confess it. Force and noise are not synonymous. Silent forces are often mighty. To be meek is not to be weak. Simplicity, tenderness, humility, are marks of the truly great. These flowers grow upon the top of the mountain. A man who is ever anxious to "assert himself" usually shows how very little he has to assert. IV. THOSE WHO BEAR CHRIST'S NAME SHOULD PARTAKE OF CHRIST'S NATURE. It is for us to be meek and lowly followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. When the apostle would be most forceful to the Corinthians, he claimed for himself these attributes of his Master. We are strongest when we are most like Christ. We shall be better, live better, worship better, work better, if we possess the "meekness and gentleness of Christ." - H. Parallel Verses KJV: Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: |
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