Gentle as a Dove Original

Jesus embodied gentleness, a quality He often likened to a dove. In Matthew 11:29, He invites us to “take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.” His gentleness doesn’t mean weakness, but strength restrained in love. Throughout His ministry, Jesus showed tenderness toward the broken, the sinners, and the outcasts. He didn’t come with loud proclamations or force but with soft words that healed hearts and uplifted spirits. 

When the adulterous woman stood in shame before the crowd, it was Jesus who quietly knelt beside her, offering loving correction and forgiveness instead of condemnation. His gentleness disarmed fear and replaced it with hope, offering grace where the world offered judgment.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, when soldiers came to arrest Him, Jesus could have called down legions of angels, yet He responded with quiet submission to the Father’s will. This was not the gentleness of passivity but of deliberate peace, a reflection of the Isaiah 42:3 prophecy that He would not break a bruised reed or snuff out a smoldering wick. Even on the cross, in indescribable agony, Jesus looked down with compassion, asking forgiveness for those who crucified Him. His gentleness is a reminder that true strength is found in humility, patience, and love. In a world driven by power and aggression, Jesus calls us to be gentle as a dove, carrying His peace wherever we go.

Matthew 5:5

"Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth."

"Gentle as a Dove"

11x14" oil on canvas. 2024.