OvercomingSelf.net
Help Your Self article #26
Royal Personality of Jesus
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Concerning Jesus: "The officers answered, Never man spake like this Man" John 7:46.
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" John 1:29.
"Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah ... hath prevailed ..." Revel. 5:5.
Concerning Christians: "But ye are .... a royal priesthood" 1 Peter 2:9.
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I.Primer II.Texts III.Discussion IV.Mark 1,2,3 V.So What? VI.Gospel for Integrity VII.Jesus Our Example
Some Scripture Words Emboldened For Emphasis
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I. Primer
Jesus is not a piece of cardboard. The Heavenly Father does not intend for us to treat
Jesus like an it, a thing, or a machine. Eternal God gave us a concise written record of
Jesus, so that we can love Him as a man. This does not diminish His divinity as the Son
of God, but rather it compliments it with humanity.
Jesus is not a picture on a dining room wall. We do not have any snapshots of Jesus of
Nazareth – and that is a good thing that we do not! Bordering on a “graven image”
which “thou shalt not make..” (Exodus 20:4), is the way some people treat images or
icons that are supposed to remind them of Jesus.
Jesus probably looked like other typical Jews (Hebrew 7:14), which had dark hair
(Leviticus 13:25-27, 31,37; Solomon 5:11). Jesus was referred to as the carpenter's son
(Matthew 13:55), and the carpenter (Mark 6:3). Hundreds of years before His birth, the
fulfilled prophecies of Isaiah (53:2) foretold that the attractiveness of the Messiah would
not be based on movie star looks. In John 20:14-15, it was supposed that Jesus was the
gardener. And yet, so-called images variously portray redhead or blondish, hazel eyes,
softened features or so on.
The big work of the devil here, however, is distracting man’s attention away from the
royal personality of Jesus. And females can take note that Christ made female, and put
the female in female (Colossians 1:16; Genesis 1:26; John 1:1). If hundreds, thousands,
or millions of fellow citizens can bewail the loss of a child that they did not know, it
should be no stretch to identify with a certain 33 year old crucified Nazarene for whom
there is most verified character data in history. In His big saving plan, God's wisdom is
reflected in not focusing on Jesus' boyhood, or looks, or souvenirs. That way, Jesus can
be any person's person, in any generation or culture. Since Jesus is the Example for us
(1 Peter 2:21), let us delve into His human character.
II. Texts
Colossians 2:8-10. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit,
after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10. And ye are complete in
Him, which is the head of all principality and power:
The point here is that, while the imaginations of men can ruin us, the divine Jesus can
complete us.
Matthew 12:12-14. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that
sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the
seats of them that sold doves, 13. And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be
called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. 14. And the blind and
the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
Mark 11:11-12,15-17. And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and
when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he
went out unto Bethany with the twelve. 12. And on the morrow, when they were come
from Bethany, he was hungry:..... 15. And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went
into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and
overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; 16.
And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. 17.
And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all
nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Note: This cleansing of the temple by Jesus (Matthew 21 & Mark 11) is a different and
later one than that found in John 2:13. So, there were two time-separated cleansings, not
to be confused.
III. Discussion
From Mark 11:11ff, it looks like Jesus examined Jerusalem, and the temple, and then left
for the night with His apostles. Then He came back later as avenging Lord of the temple.
Even if Jesus at the first look and within a few seconds had overthrown the tables and
chairs, it still would have been righteous. What we have here, however, is an example
for us.
Jesus “sized up” the temple situation, then went to Bethany for the night. He “slept on
it.” This is usually a good idea for us before big decisions or major upheavals. As we can
see on our Bible maps and atlases, from the Jerusalem temple to Bethany was
approximately two miles. And on the way, only hundreds of yards away from the
temple, was the Garden of Gethsemane and the Mount of Olives. We know that the
Lord and the apostles would go there to lodge, meditate, get away, and to pray
(Matthew 26:30,36; Luke 21:37; 22:39). From both the background, and the context,
there is no way that even the enemies can say that Jesus was impulsive. If anything, He
was restrained. His judgment, was “righteous judgment” (John 7:24). And we can learn
much from this Man of men.
“Hate the evil, and love the good..”, said the prophet Amos (5:15). Sentimental softness
notwithstanding, no person has risen to the pinnacle of goodness, unless they at the same
time set their face against evil. The two go hand in hand. Now this does not mean a
license for anger without the facts. Uncontrolled emotionalism does not bring
righteousness (James 1:20). But truth, facts, and obedient faith does (Proverbs 14:34;
Ephesians 4:15).
Because they were at the wrong place and the wrong time, Jesus had overthrown the
tables of the moneychangers and the seats of them that sold doves. Then the blind and
the lame came to Jesus in the temple. Now notice Jesus’ agility: “He healed them”
(Matthew 21:14). He did not tell them to go away for a while. He did not say, “Can’t
you see I’m busy here cleansing the temple?” Jesus’ perfectly balanced personality
shows no conflict and no contradiction between righteous anger and righteous care.
Jesus wanted the Lord’s House to stay pure – the "house of prayer.” But there is more
behind this. First, a word about this agility, balance, and integrity.
Agility as I am here defining it is: the ability to prevail, to adjust and adapt, and to
prevail again. And when the balance and the integrity is there, this agility is easy. “A
scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that
understandeth” (Proverbs 14:6). In Matthew 11:30, Jesus said, “For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light.” But what can make that burden light is balance. Balance is not
only avoiding extremes, but being centered in the truth when confronted by opposing
forces. Perhaps you cannot see yourself carrying a 300-pound man. But if both of you
are wading in a riverbed, perhaps you could, because the water bears most of the
burden. Our task is to use the strength (knowledge) we have in the wisest way. Also in
the honest way, which leads to integrity. There are sharp, shrewd, and educated persons
who are evil. That is because they do not use their ability in a right, sincere, and honest
way. “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth
out foolishness” (Proverbs 15:2). Integrity here is that strength guiding a person so they
can be both agile and balanced while they navigate the right course, through the jungle of
errors and evils. (See VI, below.) “The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but
the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them” (Proverbs 11:3). Agility is the
mobility. Balance is the stability. Integrity is the nobility.
Now back to our text (Matthew 21:12-14). When Jesus “cleaned house” for God, it also
demonstrated God’s righteous anger when religion is turned upside down, and used to
crush the weak. When religious hucksters start using the place of worship for their own
ambitions, often the first and the last to get oppressed are the sick, the weak, the
downtrodden, those who want and need religion to help their souls. Psalms 43:1-3 says,
Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from
the deceitful and unjust man. 2. For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou
cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 3. O send out
thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to
thy tabernacles.
Plastic food containers might be used on Saturday to store prepared food and thus save
time on Lord's Day (Sunday). But that does not justify using the church service to sell
plastic food containers, not even if it is called “for a religious purpose.” In another place
and time, such selling and buying is fine. Many are already ignorant and weak when it
comes to obeying Jesus. They do not need for plastic food containers or any other thing
to be a further stumblingblock to their faith. Holiness must be kept in the place of
holiness so that the oppressed can be delivered by it.
About a thousand years before Christ (1 Kings 6:1), when king Solomon had overseen
the completion of the temple in Jerusalem, he offered a speech and a prayer (1 Kings 8:
12-21,22-53). It is obvious that this temple was to be a place of Law, Judgment,
Sacrifice, Forgiveness of sin, Sanctification, Holiness, and Prayer. It was to be this
“night and day” (8:29). This was known law, taught by priests and in the homes of
Israelites, and the people of Jesus’ day had no excuse. That includes the people who
disobeyed, and also any leaders who failed to stand.
By their selling of doves and changing of money at the wrong place and wrong time,
Jesus knew also that even a few people could rob many of their connection to God. Just
like today if a poor person is attending church service to cast in their “two mites” (or last
five dollars), the last thing they need is for opportunists to pressure, extort and trick them
into spending that money on profane worldly ambitions. Although it has toned down
from prior decades, examples would be the TV huckster false teachers telling the
widows to “show their faith” by “sending in money”, which would then be used not for
holiness but to build empires. Many of the baby boomer generation had widow
grandmothers who would send part of their social security income to such unscriptural
enterprises.
Concerning the visionary compassion of the Savior Jesus, hear the prophetic word of
Isaiah 42:1-4, Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul
delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the
Gentiles. 2. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
3. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall
bring forth judgment unto truth. 4. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have
set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
Another passage revealing that Jesus all along has possessed what social, economic, and
political rulers seek, is Isaiah 11:1-5, And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of
Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest
upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the
spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; 3. And shall make him of quick
understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes,
neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4. But with righteousness shall he judge
the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the
earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the
wicked. 5. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the
girdle of his reins.
But because many do not understand the church of Christ, look at what has been
happening. The philosophical foundations for the “social gospel” (a perversion that is
accursed,Galatians 1:6-9), concerned mainly with man’s earthly state, quaked in the 19th
century. Then by the 20th century the "tsunami quake wave" hit the earthly religions –
social, secular, entertainment, and empire building. Orwell’s “Big Brother” knows how
to close the mental door to history for the masses caught up in current culture. Thus,
they cannot see where they came from, or where they are, and act like they are right
when they are wrong.
IV. Mark 1, 2 & 3
One of the easiest ways to perceive the joy, the strength, the depth, the breadth, and yet
the profound simplicity of Jesus Christ, is to read Mark’s account of the Christ, chapters
1, 2, and 3. Just these three chapters (besides all the rest) shows Jesus in His agile
balanced integrity. I would like to recommend that you read the bible book of Mark
(chapters 1,2,3), then re-read each verse before the comments which follow. (Also the
song “More About Jesus” ties in well.)
Mark 1:35 > Early in the morning and in solitude, Jesus prayed. 1:38 > His vision of
His purpose was a clear guide. 1:39 > He boldly and publicly did His good works. 1:41
> Jesus compassionately responded to human disease. 1:44 > He avoided unhelpful
commotions, but used His good works to point people to holiness. 1:45 > Showing His
agility, Jesus adapted his ministry to desert places, adjusting to changing circumstances
(including the contrary behavior of the leper he just healed and charged).
Mark 2:5 > Why did not Jesus just say, “Be healed!” No, Jesus was more interested in
showing souls the way that, “thy sins be forgiven thee.” And He stirred curiosity about
spiritual matters, in order to do so. To those who would hear Jesus, he made them think.
2:8 > Of course the Son of God discerned evil in human nature and detected false
reasoning. 2:13 > The Master of one to one and small group teaching, also taught the
masses. 2:14 > While doing everything else, Jesus was also selecting and training
apostles to carry on his work. (See Mark 3:13-14 and 2 Timothy 2:2.) It is common
sense; the next generation needs to be prepared to perpetuate the church after we are
dead. 2:17 > Jesus continually reminded spiritually blind religionists (proud, stubborn,
self-centered, unwilling to change) of His overall purpose. Jesus often cleared some
“trees” so people could “see the forest.” 2:18-19f > Jesus used perspective to keep
traditions in the light of their purpose, and never above truth. 2:19-22 > Jesus gave
stories from earthly life that taught a heavenly meaning (like parables, which are or can
be based on fact). Whether a bedtime story, a movie plot, or a sermonic illustration, few
things can help prepare us to face blunt truth, like the wispy winds and winding roads of
a meaningful narrative. (Singing does it also). From the old days, we need to keep
wholesome stories and biographies, to help us absorb God’s truth.
2:23-28 > The Law-Keeping of Jesus showed God benefiting man, not man pleasing
man. The Pharisees in this passage made the same mistake of humanity ever since, and
of why this lesson on “Personality of Jesus” is given – that is, they failed to understand
Who Jesus Is, What He Is, an Example For Us. Jesus did not sin, and kept the law
perfectly (1 Peter 2:22). Jesus Is the “Lord of the Sabbath” (2:28). Jesus does not need
to scrutinize whether to pluck ears of corn from the field for His hungry band of men.
Jesus made the corn. Jesus made the law that governed the Jews on the Sabbath. Jesus
by God’s power had turned water to wine, and healed a leper, immediately,
unmistakably, and undeniably, It was not time to strain out gnats while swallowing
camels, because of corn cobs!
2:25 > Jesus’ logic, pure and profound, many times silenced the doctors of the law (cp.
Mark 3:4). When Jesus said, “Have ye never read..?”, that was a sharp blow to those
who prided themselves on being the most well-read. Those Pharisees would justify a
hungry David (whom they admired) for eating religious shewbread, but (for plucking
corn for hunger on the Sabbath, Exo. 20:10; Deut. 23:25) they would indict the Christ,
who was not only the Son of David but also the Lord God of David!! (read Matthew 22:
41-46) And I have known some church members and even preachers who don’t quite
get it, because they are so hog-tied to their own opinions and their own traditions that it
blinds them to Christ - the Son of Man who is the Son of God, and blinds them to His
purpose for us. That is why people need to overcome self. The word of Christ is the
answer (John 12:48)
3:2-6 > Grieved by the hardheaded pride of those who would seek “how they might
destroy Him” for it, Jesus did not back down from doing the good He came to do,
Sabbath or not. In sometimes confused and complex lives people do not feel grief or
anything else about religion. It is not because they are tough, but numbed, wearied into
conformity, desensitized, and dumbed down. Why do you think someone would go to
sleep on a revealing sermon on Jesus, but camp out in the rain to buy front row tickets
to see some entertainer? 3:7 > However, Jesus did not dare or flirt with danger, and that
is not how Christians should get their kicks either. Jesus withdrew Himself, because He
would not allow others to define Him or to block Him. His purpose to God the Father
came first, not wasting time with stupid and angry mobs. 3:21-24ff > So very
appropriate to today, with some who would derail honest discussion with vulgar insults,
venomous name-calling, et cetera. When it says Jesus’ friends here said He was “beside
Himself,” that means called crazy, nuts, lost it. But Jesus was in the exact center of
God’s truth. It was much of humanity that was “nuts.” Then the scribes (the
professional printers of the law, no less) from Jerusalem (thus they should have been
“on top of” the issue) went even further by saying that Jesus’ power was from Satan.
That is sinful man for you. When Jesus casts out demons (baby devils), He got charged
with being a big devil Himself. The scorners do the same today, to keep people away
from truth and from the true Jesus. Notice that in Verses 3:23-29 Jesus defeated their
attack, with both parable AND plain speech. When lies and labels were used against
Jesus Himself, He humbled himself and exalted God’s truth and grace – in this case
God’s forgiveness, or damnation. 3:31-35 > Finally, the spiritual family purpose for
which Jesus came was not dimmed by earthly family ties. For us today, our fleshly ties
are not comparable to what is possible by the blood of Christ. Jesus said His brother and
sister and mother are those “whosoever shall do the will of God.”
V. So What?
Think of the human effort that goes into trying to bring about wholeness in humans:
among them, farmers, ministers, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors,
police and probation officers, human rights and civil rights workers, doctors, builders,
instructors, seminar speakers, writers, musicians and comedians.
Well, Jesus Christ is the main path to being complete as a human: Colossians 2:8-10.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition
of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9. For in him dwelleth
all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10. And ye are complete in him, which is the
head of all principality and power:
Notice from that scripture passage that 1) Christ Jesus Himself is the fullness of the
Godhead bodily. He is the divine manifestation in human flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). So
Jesus has it all, and nothing is lacking. 2) Christians are told that “Ye are complete in
Him” (in Christ, in His true church – see related lessons #21 through 25, & 30). So
therefore faithful Christians can have all they need to become taught, rehabilitated,
whole, complete, “in Christ.” (Certainly, everyone needs kinds of professional helps –
physical, educational, material, legal, mental, etc., but the foundation of it is God through
Christ, James 1:17).
As stated in the Table 1 on the Problem & Answer Page, the problem is not the chain:
God – Christ – Apostles – Bible – Church – Religion – World. The problem is always
with Self. Many people do not know Christ, even while thinking they do. Many are not
in Christ, even while thinking they are. Then there are those openly against Christ as
Messiah. The problem is that subtle Satan has counterfeited the chain, and put imposters
in peoples’minds, and given God, Christ and the church a false rap. In reality, many
religionists in Christendom are not willing to obey Christ. So the real answer is to be like
Christ. From Luke 14:25-35, that means overcoming family, traditions, culture, politics,
persecutions, alienations, misunderstandings, vulgar insults, and attempts to block out
Christ. In 2Corinthians 2:11, Paul says “we are not ignorant of” the devices that Satan
would use to takes advantage of us (compare also 2 Timothy 2:26; Acts 20:29-30). That
is the “So What?” of this lesson:
How can one overcome self, Satan, and sin? One must be willing to pay the price, or as
Jesus said, “count the cost” (Luke 14:28). Unless one is willing to pay the price and to
count the cost, it will not work.
VI. Gospel of Christ for Integrity
The good news is that if one is willing (John 7:17; Revelation 22:17), obedience to Christ
will make them free, saved, and eternally fulfilled. Traits of integrity are required.
"Integrity" is such a precious jewel, it does not surprise me that the word is found only
about 16 times in scripture. The traits of integrity include:
SINCERITY – not corrupting or diluting the word of God. For we are not as many,
which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God
speak we in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:17.
UPRIGHTNESS – live according to truth of the gospel. But when I saw that they
walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel ..., Galatians 2:14a.
COMPLETE – "in Christ" (saved, see Goal page) And ye are complete in him
[Christ], which is the head of all principality and power. Colossians 2:10.
WHOLESOME – thoughts, words, deeds. 3. If any man teach otherwise, and consent
not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine
which is according to godliness; 4. He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing
that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 1 Timothy 6:3-5.
SOUND – doctrine and speech true to scripture; not “sincerely” wrong. But speak thou
the things which become sound doctrine: 8. Sound speech, that cannot be
condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing
to say of you. Titus 2:1,8.
VII. Jesus Our Example
Of course for me nothing matches seeing a soul turn from sin to obeying Christ (Roman
6:1-23). After about 20 years of preaching, my favorite topic perhaps would be, Jesus’
Human Personality (& example of agility, balance, integrity). It is a joy to close out this
lesson with Jesus Our Example. To those who had the will to follow, with no doubting,
Christ would say, “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34).
We are to conform to the image of Jesus.
Roman 8:29. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to
the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
We are to walk (live) as Jesus walked.
1 John 2:4. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him. 5. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of
God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6. He that saith he abideth in him
ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
We are to follow the steps of Jesus.
1 Peter 2:21. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.
"Jesus" the name means Savior, literally "God Saves" (MATTHEW 1:21-25). "Christ"
the title means Messiah, or promised One, annointed One (JOHN 1:41). Jesus (Savior) is
His given name, and Christ (Messiah) is His function. Therefore Jesus Christ is able to
"taketh away the sin of the world" (JOHN 1:29) in that person who will obey Him.
COPYRIGHT © 2005 GRATZ BROWN POLICY
The “So What?” of the Son of Man is that Satan has devised to replace
Jesus’ royal personality with a false role model or a false god, to
prevent a soul from being saved and complete. The answer is to stop
treating Jesus like a thing, and to love Him as a man to obey Him as God.
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