Behold the MAN

I've always been bothered by Jesus' attitude toward success. I think He could have learned a lot if He had attended a modern business school, or even just read a few motivational books. We find example after example in His life where He failed to seize an opportunity and milk it for all that it was worth for building up His kingdom. When He healed people, He often told them to keep it a secret of all things. When huge crowds gathered around Him to try to make Him king, He sent them away, and took off for the desert. Could it be that we see here a psychological pattern of a self-defeating Man who was afraid of success?

Consider how He could have been more successful. I've taken the liberty of rewriting a couple of passages to illustrate what could have happened, had Jesus been better able to handle success as we understand it today. The first is based on John 3:

"There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, 'Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God . . .'

"'Yes!' Jesus responded, in His enthusiasm interrupting the older, better-connected man. 'Yes! I'm glad the people at the top have finally recognized my gifts! This is what I've been waiting for. Listen, do you think you have some people there that could get me a contract? I mean, I'd like to move my ministry into high gear. It's time that more people start listening to the messages I bring from God. I'd like to speak at the Sanhedrin, maybe set up a mass rally at the temple during Passover, you know, really start moving this thing along!'"

Think of how much better that would have been! How much faster Jesus' ministry could have spread, how much less suffering He would have had to endure. But instead, He just concerned Himself with the salvation of that one soul. Can you believe this Man? What a blown opportunity!

Let's look at another passage: Matthew 19:16 ff., the story of the rich young ruler:

"Now behold, one came and said to Him, 'Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?'

"Jesus looked the man over carefully, noting his fine clothing and Italian leather money belt, and said 'I've got someone I think you should meet . . . Judas, come over here, would you?

"'Sir--I'm sorry I didn't get your name--I'd like you to meet our treasurer. You know, we've just been talking about how we can get our ministry on the true success track, and the problem we've been having is that we've just been attracting a lot of the lowlife--the unemployed rabble--with our healing and feeding program. It's such a relief to me today to see a man of your caliber looking for salvation. Why don't the three of us do lunch this afternoon, and talk about how we can expand our ministry to reach the upper classes. I'm beginning to get visions of well-outfitted synagogues--with your name over the door, of course; of mission boats sent out to other parts of the world, with well-provided-for missionaries. We've been sending our guys out with just the clothes on their backs--no money bag, and not even a spare tunic. Imagine what we could do if we could just equip them better. We could start having an impact much higher up the social staircase, and once we get our treasury built up a bit, the sky's the limit!'"

But enough of rewriting the Bible to our modern standards! Let's consider for a moment how Jesus really ministered. He seemed to avoid what we think of as success. He sent the crowds away. He demanded that those He had healed not do PR work for Him. And yet He kept on healing! It seems He was working at cross-purposes with Himself. Cross purposes!

Consider why Jesus did what He did, rather than what we, from our human perspective, might have done: "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered like sheep having no shepherd" (Matthew 9:36).

Jesus healed people even when it seemed to hinder His real ministry. He challenged men like Nicodemus and the rich young ruler with their real needs, instead of taking the easy path to success, because He cared about people. Not numbers, not riches, but individual souls.

In the end, Jesus was the most successful man in all history. He didn't need to spend time reading our modern success manuals. But we today can benefit from reading His.

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