English translations of the New Testament gospels use words such as “astonished” and “amazed” to describe people’s reaction to Jesus. And it wasn’t just a response to supernatural miracles but to the man’s presence and the authority with which he spoke. Apparently, unlike other rabbis of his day, Jesus didn’t just recite scripture but instead made it come alive. He communicated his in-depth understanding not just of the words but what they meant. Coming face to face with this teacher left no doubt that he was the real thing.
Genuine; sincere; honest; truthful: These are words that I use when I attempt to understand what was so remarkable about this man that a world religion over two millennia old evolved from his ministry on Earth. The Jesus that has emerged for me is surprisingly humble simply because he has no need to be. His relationship with God is the most perfect that humankind has known or experienced, and yet this does not lead to the pompous bravado and superiority that so many other gifted and talented human succumb to.
Contemporary psychology speaks of the trait of “transparency”, and as one who has been evaluated as such I can tell you that it’s not always in one’s best interest to be perceived as open and forthright. People don’t always want to hear the truth. People don’t always want to learn something that is contrary to their beliefs. And yet the scriptural account of this most enigmatic of all humans relates that he was approachable, down to earth, and not at all interested in impressing people with anything but who he really was. Again, I like to think that if I had the opportunity to meet Jesus of Nazareth I would find myself in the company not of pretense, but of authenticity.
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