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Humble Hero
Jesus made truth beautiful by presenting it in the most direct and
simple way. His language was pure, refined, and clear as a running
stream. His voice was like music to those who had listened to the
monotonous tones of the rabbis.
No Doubts or Hesitancy
He spoke as one having authority. The rabbis spoke with doubt
and hesitancy, as if Scripture might be interpreted to mean one
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thing or exactly the opposite. But Jesus taught Scripture as having
unquestionable authority. Whatever His subject, He presented it
with power.
Yet He was earnest rather than forcible. He revealed God in
every theme. Jesus worked to break the spell of shortsightedness
that keeps people absorbed in earthly things. He showed the true
value of the things of this life as subordinate to eternal interests, but
He did not ignore their importance.
He taught that a knowledge of divine truth prepares us to perform
the duties of everyday life better. Conscious of His relationship to
God, He still recognized His unity with every member of the human
family. He knew “how to speak a word in season to him who is
weary.”
Isaiah 50:4
. He had the tact to meet prejudiced minds and
to surprise them with illustrations that got their attention. He took
His illustrations from the things of daily life. These were simple,
but they had a wonderful depth of meaning. The birds, the lilies, the
seed, the shepherd, the sheep—with these objects Jesus illustrated
immortal truth; and from that time on, when His hearers happened
to see these things, they recalled His lessons.
Christ never flattered people or praised them for their clever
inventions, but deep, unprejudiced thinkers received His teaching
and found that it tested their wisdom. His words charmed the highly
educated and always profited the uneducated. He made even the
heathen understand that He had a message for them.
Even amid angry enemies, He was surrounded with an atmo-
sphere of peace. The loveliness of His character, the love He ex-
pressed in look and tone, drew to Him all who were not hardened in
unbelief. Those in difficulty felt that He was a faithful and tender