Part 8 (2/2)

Jesus did what the devils requested, cruelly killing two thousand inoffensive valuable animals that belonged to other people.

”Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables.”

Jesus has been defended for other acts on the ground that he was living in less civilized times than our own, but here he is seen offending both ancient and modern sensibilities. The destruction of the swine and the routing of the merchants were sensational and erratic exhibitions. If reformers today should destroy herds of animals, except to protect public health by due process of law, or overthrow banks, they would be liable to arrest in any city of Christendom. Therefore the consensus of opinion denies exoneration to Jesus for his spasmodic resort to direct action.

_Egotism_

If Jesus was not G.o.d, but merely the ideal man, his estimate of himself was excessive. In addition to his remarks already quoted there are many other instances of an exaggerated ego.

”If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”[14]

”Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”[15]

”If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”[16]

”I am the light of the world.”[17]

”I am the Son of G.o.d.”[18]

”I am the resurrection and the life.”[19]

If Jesus was correct in claiming that he was the Messiah, if he could control the elements and send people to heaven or h.e.l.l, he was justified in any extreme remarks; but not if he were merely a man. Every person is ent.i.tled to have as good an opinion of himself as his character and ability warrant, but expressions of his own worth are unseemly even if true, and are inexcusable if exaggerated. As Jesus himself said (though this authority is only for believers) testimony about oneself is unreliable.

Jesus not only claimed to be more than a man, he threatened his hearers with death if they did not agree with him. All of which might be permissible if he were G.o.d, but was an egotistical illusion if he was merely human.

_Lack of Courtesy_

Jesus did not always exhibit the courtesy one would expect of a gentleman, or even of a nature's n.o.bleman.

The first instance of lack of consideration was when he slipped away from his parents, causing them unnecessary anxiety: ”Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.”[20] He had remained behind to study Hebrew theology and did not tell his parents, presumably because he thought they would not have permitted the venture.

Another instance was found in his daily life:

”A certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools ...”[21]

Jesus had not only failed to wash as was expected of a guest, but defended his uncleanliness and abused his host.

At another time Jesus was discourteous to his mother:

”And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee?”[22]

Jesus was apparently annoyed at his mother's interference, though he followed her suggestion. He did not set a good example for children in addressing their mothers.

When the Syrophenician woman asked him to help her daughter, ”Jesus saith unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.”[23]

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