As the movement Jesus led became strong, some religious leaders became defensive and hostile. Before their opposition reached the level of a crisis, there were some early skirmishes. Here we look at three of them to observe more of Jesus’ qualities as a leader.
Watch the 13:57 video or listen to the podcast episode.
Jesus and the twelve were free from extremes in observing the Sabbath; and time after time, this led to an episode in the growing conflict. A paralytic who could not walk sought healing, so his friends brought him to Jesus. But so many people crowded around Jesus that he could not gain access. His friends took him up on the roof, opened a hole in it, and lowered him down on his mat so that he came to rest on the floor, right in front of Jesus. Observing this bold, imaginative initiative, Jesus was impressed by his faith and said, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the scribes criticized Jesus in their hearts for blasphemy: none but God can forgive sins. Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, [he looked at the man and said,] ‘I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’” And the man did just that.
One Sabbath, another episode occurred. Jesus’ disciples were plucking and eating some ears of grain along the side of a road. Some Pharisees asked Jesus why he allowed them to break the law against doing any work on the Sabbath. Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Jesus challenged the Pharisees for going to extremes in sabbath observance. “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath.” And he concluded, “The Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”
Notice how Jesus, the leader responded to attacks in these first two skirmishes. He did so personally, directly, immediately, not leaving the job to followers. Once I asked a friend of mine who had just left the Army as a captain, “What did you learn about leadership?” He replied, “You can’t lead from the rear. Another thing that Jesus did was to revealed more truth–in this case, truth of who he was. Having some leadership responsibility ourselves, we couldn’t follow Jesus’ example by saying that we are the Son of Man. But I can imagine saying, “I am a son of God—and so are you. And I’m a follower of Jesus. Are you familiar with some of his teachings?”
Another Sabbath healing triggered a telling response. Jesus entered a synagogue where some Pharisees were watching to see whether he would cure a man who had a withered hand. Jesus told the man to come forward. The Pharisees interpreted healing as work, which is forbidden on the Sabbath; but Jesus reminded them of the common practice of doing various good things on the Sabbath. “Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep?” The Pharisees were silent. Jesus concluded, “So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
Refuted and embarrassed, in defensiveness bordering on panic, they immediately went out and conspired with supporters of King Herod Antipas about how to destroy him.
The last point I wish to make about Jesus’ leadership is that he did not return evil for evil. Not only did Jesus never plot to murder anyone; he was pure in heart. He said, “Happy are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” He knew the ugliness that can be stirred up in the human heart. Said Jesus, “From within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.” Notice how, in this list evil thoughts, desires, and attitudes are mixed together with harmful actions, practices, and vices.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned against how lust can lead to adultery and anger contains within itself the potential for murder. When we consider how much anger motivates polarized political and other attitudes, we realize what a serious problem this is.
In this last skirmish, Jesus, the leader, showed us the way by not getting into the mud of ugly attitudes and actions. “Happy are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
