This
fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: 'They hated me without
cause.' (John 15:25).
The
flip side of self-righteousness is self-loathing. Though I have no
degree in psychoanalysis, it is tempting to put the scribes and
Pharisees that hated Jesus on a couch for I cannot help but see a
great deal of unhappiness in their lives…unhappiness essentially
with themselves. All human beings are vulnerable to feelings of
inadequacy in many areas—“We may not be happy with the way we
look, our talents, or our imperfections. We may compare ourselves
with others instead of happily being the people we are intended to
be” (Joyce Meyer, Power Thoughts Devotional, page 332).
Because of our profound unhappiness, we put up a hypocritical
front—and the sensing of this craven deceit only deepens our sense
of self-loathing. Into this mix of self-loathing, Jesus walks in
nonchalantly exposing all our sins; thus arousing intense resentment
and hatred. Sometimes I find myself wishing that Christ could have
been more of a comedian. One of those guys who have the talent of
helping us laugh at our own foibles. Could not he then have “loosened
up” rather than rigidifying the deeply unhappy? I don’t know.
Perhaps they were too far gone and would simply have coldly replied
to his best lines; “Did you say something?” Even so it’s a
thought—and a reason on this Thanksgiving to be thankful for our
abundant supply of comedians.
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