The Contrast Of Christ
He was the meekest and lowliest of all the sons of men. Yet he spoke of coming on
the clouds of heaven with the glory of God. He was so austere that evil spirits
and demons cried out in terror at his coming, yet he was so genial and winsome and
approachable, that the children loved to play with him and the little ones nestled
in his arms.
His presence at the innocent gaiety of a village wedding, was like
the presence of sunshine. No one was half so kind or compassionate to sinners, yet
no one ever spoke such red-hot scorching words about sin.
A bruised reed he would not break. His whole life was love. Yet on one occasion
he demanded of the Pharisees, how they were expected to escape the damnation of
hell.
He was a dreamer of dreams and a seer of visions, yet for sheer stark realism, he
has all of us self-styled realists soundly beaten. He was the servant of all, washing
the disciples' feet, yet masterfully he strode into the temple, and the hucksters
and moneychangers fell over one another to get away in their mad rush from the fire
they saw blazing in his eyes.
He saved others, yet at the last, he himself did not save.
There is nothing in history
like the union of contrasts which confronts us in the gospels; the mystery of Jesus
is the mystery of divine personality.