Let Jesus be himself

Editor’s note: This is a reprinted column from Jack Purcell’s “On the Journey” archives. It originally appeared in The Star in 2013.

Everything seems to have changed in our world since Jesus walked the streets of Nazareth. Just think of the changes.

If Jesus had all the advantages of today, think how things could have been different. Jesus could have had a P.A. system to speak to the crowds, a motorboat to cross the lake and a deli to bring in some box lunches.

We could think of hundreds of things that have changed, all to make our lives easier, longer and more enjoyable. But there is one thing that has not changed in 2000 years – the heart of man.

We find an interesting account in Matthew 13:53 of how Jesus was received by the townspeople and his family. They could not handle his uniqueness, much less his deity.

They preferred that he stay in the family carpenter shop. What business did he have showing up the rabbi with all his knowledge and power? He wasn’t trained, and what were his qualifications anyway?

I often wonder why some people are bored or offended by the knowledge of another person. I would think they would be excited and intrigued by this attribute. Instead, they are frequently frustrated by it, just as they were in Jesus’ time.

Things don’t appear to have changed a great deal. Two thousand years after Jesus death and resurrection, people still want to keep him in the carpenter’s shop.

It seems that people would like it better if Jesus whittled rather than meddled and carved on wood rather than hearts.

The trouble with Jesus, however, was how unpredictable he could be. You just never knew quite what to expect.

Just when you were expecting a comfortable chair you find yourself in an uncomfortable pew. Instead of a table made, there is a table overturned. Instead of a house built to live in, the conversation always turned to a house of prayer. Rather than building a yoke for the oxen, he took the yoke upon himself.

Pastor Louie Gigglio gives a poignant word picture when he says that the most incredible thing that Jesus built was a bridge – with three nails.

We have accounts in the Scripture when Jesus’ neighbors were unhappy with him, and we have accounts when his family was embarrassed by his behavior just because he was being himself.

It is no compliment to American Christians that we are still not comfortable with Jesus being himself. Folks today not only are uncomfortable with Jesus out of the carpenter shop, but we want to help out in the shop and box him in.

The reason for the discomfort, I believe, is the same as it was in Nazareth. It can be embarrassing.

People today are no less offended by Jesus than his brothers were. In fact, in many circles it is far more acceptable to talk about God.

If you mention Jesus’ name in public it makes people nervous, partly because he places demands on us. He expects us to love him above all others.

So be glad that Jesus came out of the carpenter shop. In so doing he changed the world forever, and he did it without an agent, an organization or the support of Christian bookstores.

It is good to let Jesus be himself.