Pride or Humility Will Determine Your Response to Jesus

By Tom Gilson Published on April 8, 2017

Holy Week begins on Sunday, Palm Sunday, the day the crowd cheered Jesus riding into Jerusalem. Some from the same crowd cried for His crucifixion just a few days later. I’ve always wondered about their response to Jesus.

In fact it’s always been a mystery to me how anyone could have rejected Him. His teaching was so great, His love was so pure, His healings so impressive and so helpful — yet they turned against Him, even to the point of killing Him.

Jesus Will Always Be Greatest

But maybe His greatness answers the same question it seems to create. What would it be like, after all, to be with someone who is never wrong? What would it be like to spend time with someone who is always wise, and whose life example is always perfect?

Maybe Jesus’ greatness answers the same questions it seems to create.

I’m not sure how much I’d like it. Sometimes I want to be the one who’s right. Sometimes I want to be the one who’s looked up to. Sometimes I want to be the one who’s respected and admired. Once in a while I like to be the smartest person in the room.

None of that is possible if Jesus is around. As long as I want to be the center of attention, Jesus’ constant and complete greatness could really annoy me.

His Perfection Doesn’t Mix Well With Our Pride

I’ve often said – partly joking, but not completely – that I have a question I want to ask Jesus’ family members when I see them in heaven. “When you were growing up with Him, did you ever say to Him, ‘You think you’re so perfect!?’ And if you did, how did He answer?”

Thinking about that a bit further, I don’t know why grown-ups wouldn’t resent Him in the same way.

But of course He was perfect. That was who He was by nature. He was God in the flesh, and it was also part of the point of His being here. He showed us how we were intended to live. He proved that a Man could do it — but only one. The rest of us fall far short.

That’s hard to take if you want to be proud.

The leaders who had Jesus crucified wanted to be admired, and Jesus got in their way. The crowds enjoyed being with Jesus because He was impressive. When He showed them He had even higher priorities, they didn’t appreciate that nearly as much.

His Perfection Gives Us Something Far Better Than Pride

But Jesus offers something far better than a spectacle, for those who will accept it with humility: He offers real love, real truth, and real life. He offers growth, too. You’ll never be the smartest person in the room as long as He’s there, but you can become better than you were.

Better, that is, but not more impressive, except in the way that humility itself can be impressive. Those who really followed Jesus knew they must decrease, and He must increase. They were the ones who wanted what He really came to give: love, forgiveness, and entrance to the Kingdom of Heaven through repentance and faith.

What Do You Really Want?

What do you want out of life? Do you want admiration and respect? Or do you want real love, real growth, real truth and real life?

Jesus isn’t just worthy of respect or admiration. He’s worthy of worship.

More and more I’m learning these days that admiration and respect aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. One person’s love is better than a hundred people’s respect. Loving one person in return is far better than impressing crowds of people.

More importantly, I’m convinced that Jesus really is infinitely the wisest, best, most loving, and most capable person in the room. He isn’t just worthy of  respect or admiration. He’s worthy of worship.

So again: what do you want? Do you want to be impressive? Do you want respect? Do you want admiration? You might find it among other people, but Jesus will always outshine you.

Do you want love and life and truth and growth? Then follow Him. Humble yourself before Him. In due time (1 Peter 5:6) He will lift you up, too.

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