GENTLE JESUS, MEEK and mild. It's a distortion, but a pervasive one. Such is the power of song and poetry. It's dangerous, however, because it is simply not true.

There were times when He chose to be meek. But He was never mild. He was born into conflict and remained in it His whole life. He jousted with the devil in the desert; He frequently exchanged words with the religious groups of the day. He risked life and reputation by spending time with housefuls of tax collectors and in the company of known prostitutes. He was not condemned to die on the cross because He was mild. He was sent there because He was wild.

Wild enough to turn over the tables of those who were fleecing the faithful as they came to the temple to worship. Wild enough to tame a storm. Wild enough to embrace the hated neighbors (Samaritans). Wild enough to touch the unclean leper.

Jesus was meek and wild. If we only ever speak of the tender Jesus, we will slip into sentimentality. If we only ever speak of the Jesus who challenged human hearts, we will end up sounding shrill. If we speak of both, we can bring words that will sustain and nourish a spiritually hungry, weary and brokenhearted generation.

This devotion is adapted from an article on RELEVANTmagazine.com.