A Marked Contrast

The more I learn about the character and practice of Jesus, the more I see the contrast between His life and ours.

I'm currently reading through the book The Desire of Ages (something I think everyone should do once in awhile), and not long ago as I was reading the chapter entitled "At Capernaum" I came across a statement that, as the saying goes, hit me like a ton of bricks.  It reads as follows.

"And the wonder of the careless crowd jarred upon His spirit. In His life no self-assertion mingled. The homage which the world gives to position, or wealth, or talent, was foreign to the Son of man. None of the means that men employ to win allegiance or command homage did Jesus use. Centuries before His birth, it had been prophesied of Him, 'He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall He not break, and the dimly burning flax shall He not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth.' Isa. 42:2-4, margin." pg. 260-261

One way in which the folks at Merriam-Webster define the verb "jar" is "to have a harshly disagreeable or disconcerting effect."  To put it more simply, the wonder of the crowd went completely against the very core of Jesus' spirit.  How many of us could say the same thing?  This jarring was not simply a sense of being overwhelmed, which is what many of us would feel in a similar situation.  It wasn't that He couldn't handle the attention.  He didn't want it.

The second sentence regarding self-assertion also caught my attention.  I've lost track of how many times I've heard people say to me or to someone else that I/they need to promote ourselves more.  The non-Christian world (that includes those who are Christians in name only) is all about self promotion.  You want to get ahead in life, get yourself noticed.  You have to climb the corporate ladder, make a name for yourself, break through the glass ceiling, etc. in order to be somebody in today's world.

After stating how much the Pharisees loved getting attention, the writer continues.

"In marked contrast to all this was the life of Jesus. In that life no noisy disputation, no ostentatious worship, no act to gain applause, was ever witnessed. Christ was hid in God, and God was revealed in the character of His Son. To this revelation Jesus desired the minds of the people to be directed, and their homage to be given. The Sun of Righteousness did not burst upon the world in splendor, to dazzle the senses with His glory. It is written of Christ, 'His going forth is prepared as the morning.' Hosea 6:3. Quietly and gently the daylight breaks upon the earth, dispelling the shadow of darkness, and waking the world to life. So did the Sun of Righteousness arise, 'with healing in His wings.' Mal. 4:2."  pg. 261

Lord, help me not to seek to draw attention to myself, but only to give glory to You. Amen.