Was Jesus ever rude?
This question depends on your definition of rude! Is it rude to be wakened when you are snoozing at the wheel? It sure feels rude! But it is actually proper and necessary for your safe keeping.
“He [Jesus] was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul.” Steps to Christ, p. 12. Yet He never spared reproof when it was necessary.
Christ wielded the sword of truth. “Behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.” (Is. 10:33). With Jehu-like strength He shot His arrows of conviction straight through the hypocritical leaders’ hearts.
Was He rude for doing that? If felt rude! But what is being rude? Carelessly injuring others for selfish purposes? Christ did not do anything carelessly. The rigidness and unmerciful condemnation that the “good people” cast at Him, He was simply reflecting back on them. “You want to be loveless? I’ll show you lack of love.” “You want to be accusational, with moral-sounding subtle accusations? I’ll accuse you.” “You think I’m unfair because I don’t show you a sign? You’ll never get anything from Me.”
But is that rude? If the people would freely choose to be used by Satan to try to trap and embarrass the Son of God, He would make them the medium of His message back to the devil. Would they treat the ministry of love by Jesus as nothing and then capitalize on His refusal to fight the Romans? Then they would clearly know that God was displeased.
So, yes, Jesus sounded rude on occasion. Sounded rude. He did speak harshly. But that’s what the people deserved and needed. Yet, He waited a long time to be pointed with them. The unbelief of Israel, of its leaders or of the curious multitudes who pretended to love Him He did not immediately publicly rebuke, but bore patiently with them. But when they didn’t respond to the drawing power of His love He had to resort to more desperate measures to get to their hearts. He did what He had always done in the Old Testament. “The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: He shall cry, yea, roar; He shall prevail against His enemies. I have long time holden My peace; I have been still, and refrained Myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.” (Is. 42:13,14). Their self-satisfaction and self-sufficiency was so detestable to Christ’s spirit. “Thou hast made Me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied Me with thine iniquities.” (Is. 43:24).
But He has had only one purpose in His reproofs—to sift out those who genuinely love Him and want to follow His lead, and to try again for the others later. “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” (Is. 42:16). His strong language of rebuke and correction was meant to shock the conscience and awaken the soul. The design was to end up with meek worshipers, happy children, recipients of heaven’s wonderful gifts of submission and surrender and great peace.
These characteristics Jesus diligently looked for as a sign to turn away His discipline. Alert, with keen eye, He was ready at any moment to comfort the humbled, sorrowful ones.
This approach He often took with His disciples. “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” “O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves…” But these uncultured men were the quickest to accept His corrections and reproofs. After the big defection of thousands of followers, Jesus could turn to the twelve and ask, “Will ye also go away?” And Peter could answer for himself and for the others, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Jn. 6:67-69). Christ’s discipline hadn’t gone to waste on them.
No one better than the Prince of peace knows how to bring us peace. No one better knows our hearts, the mischief and the loyalty, the desire to obey His commandment and the inherent weakness. So He lovingly dispenses of His justice, ever and always mingling mercy with the punishments, and quick to send relief when His discipline has resulted in its intended purpose. We’ve turned from our rebellion and are ready to accept His invitation, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
No better Lord is there to serve. No fairer God is there than ours. Let us be glad and rejoice that we are privileged to be called by His name.
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Heb. 12:11).
“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.” (Heb. 3:14).
“Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” (Jas. 5:11).
“He [Jesus] was never rude, never needlessly spoke a severe word, never gave needless pain to a sensitive soul.” Steps to Christ, p. 12. Yet He never spared reproof when it was necessary.
Christ wielded the sword of truth. “Behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.” (Is. 10:33). With Jehu-like strength He shot His arrows of conviction straight through the hypocritical leaders’ hearts.
Was He rude for doing that? If felt rude! But what is being rude? Carelessly injuring others for selfish purposes? Christ did not do anything carelessly. The rigidness and unmerciful condemnation that the “good people” cast at Him, He was simply reflecting back on them. “You want to be loveless? I’ll show you lack of love.” “You want to be accusational, with moral-sounding subtle accusations? I’ll accuse you.” “You think I’m unfair because I don’t show you a sign? You’ll never get anything from Me.”
But is that rude? If the people would freely choose to be used by Satan to try to trap and embarrass the Son of God, He would make them the medium of His message back to the devil. Would they treat the ministry of love by Jesus as nothing and then capitalize on His refusal to fight the Romans? Then they would clearly know that God was displeased.
So, yes, Jesus sounded rude on occasion. Sounded rude. He did speak harshly. But that’s what the people deserved and needed. Yet, He waited a long time to be pointed with them. The unbelief of Israel, of its leaders or of the curious multitudes who pretended to love Him He did not immediately publicly rebuke, but bore patiently with them. But when they didn’t respond to the drawing power of His love He had to resort to more desperate measures to get to their hearts. He did what He had always done in the Old Testament. “The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, He shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: He shall cry, yea, roar; He shall prevail against His enemies. I have long time holden My peace; I have been still, and refrained Myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.” (Is. 42:13,14). Their self-satisfaction and self-sufficiency was so detestable to Christ’s spirit. “Thou hast made Me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied Me with thine iniquities.” (Is. 43:24).
But He has had only one purpose in His reproofs—to sift out those who genuinely love Him and want to follow His lead, and to try again for the others later. “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” (Is. 42:16). His strong language of rebuke and correction was meant to shock the conscience and awaken the soul. The design was to end up with meek worshipers, happy children, recipients of heaven’s wonderful gifts of submission and surrender and great peace.
These characteristics Jesus diligently looked for as a sign to turn away His discipline. Alert, with keen eye, He was ready at any moment to comfort the humbled, sorrowful ones.
This approach He often took with His disciples. “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” “O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves…” But these uncultured men were the quickest to accept His corrections and reproofs. After the big defection of thousands of followers, Jesus could turn to the twelve and ask, “Will ye also go away?” And Peter could answer for himself and for the others, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Jn. 6:67-69). Christ’s discipline hadn’t gone to waste on them.
No one better than the Prince of peace knows how to bring us peace. No one better knows our hearts, the mischief and the loyalty, the desire to obey His commandment and the inherent weakness. So He lovingly dispenses of His justice, ever and always mingling mercy with the punishments, and quick to send relief when His discipline has resulted in its intended purpose. We’ve turned from our rebellion and are ready to accept His invitation, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
No better Lord is there to serve. No fairer God is there than ours. Let us be glad and rejoice that we are privileged to be called by His name.
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Heb. 12:11).
“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.” (Heb. 3:14).
“Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” (Jas. 5:11).
posted by David | 9:02 PM
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