“A bruised reed he will not break,

and a faintly burning wick he will not quench.”

The Lord Jesus is gracious, merciful, tender and kind. He is not a brute, and He loves to save sinners. It is the delight of His heart to show pity and compassion upon wounded sinners who look for His mercy. He is not cruel and can be trusted. He is better than we’ve imagined!

First, after He humbles, He exalts. He shows Himself an enemy, but He lifts up with tenderness. He smites to show our sins, but He exalts the afflicted. Like a surgeon, He painfully enters to remove the poison, and then He bandages the wound. He is the Great Physician. If we’d take our place in the last seat, then we’d see Him gracious, providing everything. I love to sit at His feet expecting and receiving mercy with no hope or worthiness in me!

Secondly, He’s faithful to the unfaithful! We deserve to be chastened and thrown into hell. We deserve to be punished for our disobedience. We deserve His rough hand for spitting in His face, but He heals us. Isa 57:18, “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners.” This healing involves forgiveness and cleansing. There is no healing, while we continue in sin. He sees our ways of obstinate unbelief, and how we disregard His chastisements. Yet, He heals us by correcting our steps and bringing true repentance. He sends His rod to bruise the reed, but it is not for destruction; it is to cause a cry for mercy, and He will surely hearken. We challenge Him and disregard His threats, yet He hides His face to help us [Ps 119:71]. This is how He puts in us the fear of God and teaches us to guard our steps.

Thirdly, He is gracious for Christ’s sake! The cross is a display of His character, tenderly suffering away our sins. It was warfare upon His soul, but the Holy Warrior fought through submission. He loved away our sins [Isa 38:17]. He pitied us while He suffered, saying, “Father, forgive them!” Can you imagine that? At the time when He ought to hate us, as He bears God’s wrath for our transgressions, He is crying out in humble submission, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” He must be SO MEEK AND GENTLE to bear the wrath of God for us.

Fourthly, He is kind beyond our imagination. No one pities like Him or deals so tenderly and gently! We have no idea who He is in the fullness of His glory. His love… like every other attribute… would blind and kill us for the splendor of His majesty [1 Tim 6:16]. He is not only perfectly just and infinitely sovereign, but He is Perfect and Infinite in love. We have no human examples. A mother may forget her love and lead her children to hell. A father may be brutish, but not the Lord Jesus. No one has seen the Lord’s pity in another human being. No one is like Him! We can’t point to anyone and say, “God is like this.” He’s greater in gentleness that imagined.

Fifthly, this gentleness is for you - in spite of all your sins! Jer 3:12, “Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: ‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the Lord; I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,’ says the Lord; I will not remain angry forever.” He will help you and be gracious. He is merciful: it is according to His character.

Do not despise it. Do not turn away. Receive this mercy and love before it’s too late. Let Him pity you. Don’t be arrogant and fearless, but let Him help you in your sins. Yield and submit, and it will be well with you. Draw near to Him in surrender. Admit your wrongs, and He will be gracious. Jer 3:13, “Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God, and have scattered your charms to foreign gods under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice,’ says the Lord.”