Session 4: The most praus man of all

In the four gospel accounts - 89 chapters of biblical text - there is only one place where Jesus tells us about his own heart.  

The heart is an intimate thing.  It is the very epicentre of who we are.  Its our emotions, yet also so much more.  It defines us, direct us, and encompasses our passions, motivations and reasons for getting up off the floor when crushing disappointments come our way.  The heart in biblical terms, is not a part of who we are but rather the very centre of our being.  

Jesus could have chosen any word to describe his heart - "joyful and kind", "exhalted and strong", "powerful and loving" - but instead he said this: 

"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yolk is easy and my burden is light" - Matthew 11:28-30 

When Jesus shares who he is at the very centre of his being - who he is at his deepest levels - he uses the words gentle and humble.   

The Greek word used to translate this gentleness is, you guessed it, praus.  Only one other person in the bible was labelled 'praus', and that was Moses.  It is only used three more times in the entire New Testament (including Matthew 5:5).  

Praus and lowly

What does Jesus saying he is praus and lowly at the very core of his being mean in reality?

Let's consider what it means to come to Him in a time of need. Perhaps after we have sinned. Yet again. We are sorry. We feel shame and regret. Perhaps, we feel terrible. We pick up the courage to approach Jesus yet we do so in trepidation. It's not like we don't deserve his wrath. How many times is this now?

Yet, to feel this way, though understandable, shows we do not have a revelation of who Jesus is. Praus and lowly in heart. He could utter a word and bring about the destruction of the entire world but he doesn't. No, when you come to him, genuinely sorry for what you have done, His heart overflows with compassion for you. It is even happy that you are coming to Him now. All that power he has, will be used to help you overcome your sins, to live better.

Jesus is not just gentle sometimes. It is who He is.

Questions to answer:

• How does this revelation of Jesus change how you see Him?

• How does it change how you can approach him in times of need or trouble?

• When do you show praus like behaviours? When do you not?

Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30