One of the most incredible things about Jesus is that he was such a good listener. He cared about the person who was speaking with him, the person requesting something from him or touching him as though he or she was the only person in the world.
This recently struck me while reading through the Gospel of John, I notice how much time and intentional caring conversation Jesus has with people. In John 4, Jesus cared deeply for the woman who was a Samaritan. No "respectable" Jewish man would have had such a conversation (4:9). He talked with her as though what she was saying was significant. He entertained her novice theologizing (4:8-25). He honored her by listening to her. Jesus speaks the truth to her as though she was a person with dignity. She needed the truth and she deserved the truth. When he reveals to her that he is the Messiah, she is shocked (4:26). I can imagine that she thought, "why would he be talking to me?" or "why would he sit there and allow me ask such silly questions?" or "how could he know my past, see past my past, and still want to be in conversation with me?"
Jesus had such compassion. He was not aloof to human suffering. He saw that there were circumstances that cause alienation. It seems as though he understood that there is suffering that is caused by human stupidity and rejection of the things of God. And, on the other hand, there is suffering that is not a direct result of any one particular sin. Maybe, he would have summed it up the way one of my preacher friends here says, "it is a beautiful and broken world." Jesus would add, "repent, for the kingdom of God is right here, right now and is available for you to enter."
Jesus was not a stranger to suffering, to feelings of loneliness, or anger. To imagine him as a man with low affect is inaccurate. Human emotions were part of his life. Though emotions were a part of his life, Jesus was not held hostage by emotions. He was a stranger to the game-playing, maneuvering, and spinning the truth. He was a stranger to things like guilt trips and manipulation and bribery. As he fully trusted in the Father, he didn't have to resort to these things. He could experience human emotions without allowing them to hold him hostage. He was free from being mastered by them because he was intimately connected with the One who sent him. He was free to care and show compassion without having to be validated or even have the love reciprocated.
With reverence, joy, humility, and delight I recognize that this is the Master that I follow. I gladly bow and worship this One.With the words of O Holy Night! verse two, I sing: "The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger, in all our trials born to be our Friend; He knows our need, To our weakness is not stranger. Behold your King, before him lowly bend!"
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