Ego Problems?

When I was a child, a severe illness kept me either in a hospital bed or at home. My siblings struggled with the amount of attention that I received. I don’t remember flaunting it over them. I was not yet in my teens, but knowing human nature, I may have.

The human ego usually loves to be the center of attention. It proclaims importance, even power. Children soon discover ways to get mom and dad to look at them, to think they are cute or smart. If that does not work, the child might work harder. We watched a television show last night where a young woman ran out of ideas to impress her parents. Rather than failing, she tried to take her own life. That got their attention.

Recent news stories tell of celebrities who invented stories that put them in the news. We call those publicity stunts, all about attention-getting. Some may do it to improve their ratings, yet it is usually an ego thing.

This morning I started taking another look at the fourth Gospel. It was written by John the apostle, son of Zebedee and brother of James. As one of the Twelve, he was close to Jesus. That alone would build a person’s ego, but John took another tactic. He downplayed his role in the story and did not overuse the word “I” to draw attention to his role. He usually identifies himself as the beloved disciple, not that he was lovable but that Jesus loved Him despite of his shortcomings. He downplayed himself by anonymous references rather than directly saying that he was there, or was involved.

After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” (John 13:21–25)

Most people would say something like, “I was there when Jesus told the rest of us who would betray Him” but John tried to be invisible. Jesus was always the focus of his attention.

Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. (John 18:15-16)

After Jesus was arrested, John tells how he and Peter got closer to the action. He could have told his readers that “we got in because I personally was known by the high priest” but he didn’t boast about his reputation to an important religious leader. Again, he deliberately backed away from building his own ego.

Another incident provided opportunity for this disciple to demonstrate his relationship to Jesus and show off its importance. Jesus was on the cross about to die for the sins of the world . . .

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:26–27)

I can hear the words, “I got to take care of the mother of God’s only begotten Son” but that is not what John said. Again, he moved into the background. The focus is the heart of Jesus who provided care for His mother. It is not about John.

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Jesus, these short incidents remind me that my life is not about me. Following and serving You is about bringing You glory. I am nothing, You are everything. As I try to deal with an ego that loves attention, keep reminding me that . . .

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

And that all that I have is because of You . . . I have this treasure in a jar of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to me. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Three stories . . .

Today marks the last look at the first three books of the Bible commonly called the synoptic (means ‘see together’) gospels. They were written by three distinctive people. Matthew was a Jewish tax collector called by Jesus to follow Him. Mark was a young man who likely took most of the story from Peter because he was not one of the twelve disciples. Luke wasn’t one of the twelve either. He was a physician who later travelled with the Apostle Paul in his missionary journeys.

Each had a distinct point of view. Matthew saw Jesus as the King of the Jews, the Messiah who would deliver them from bondage, interesting from a man working for the authorities that ruled over his people. 

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. (Matthew 9:9)

“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” (Matthew 21:5)

His book is a bridge from the Old Testament to the New, linking the prophecies of the Messiah with their fulfillment in Christ. He tells the story with a flair for ‘He is coming’ then the exciting news that ‘He is here!’

Mark saw Jesus as a servant of God. His book has many words meaning “immediately” which would appeal to a busy, practical Roman reader. Almost half of his book is devoted to the death and resurrection of Jesus, showing Mark’s focus. He also told of how Jesus was rejected by the religious leaders, jeered by the crowds, and abandoned by the disciples, interesting because Mark experienced temporary rejection from Paul.

It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him. (Mark 14:1)

And Pilate again said to the crowd, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” (Mark 15:12–13)

And they (the disciples) all left him and fled. (Mark 14:50)

Luke wrote to confirm the story to a particular friend named Theophilus. He presented Jesus as the Son of Man, the ideal human being, something the Greeks had long sought after. He pointed to evidence for this in His life, prayers, parables, and the way He deals with people. He also shows that the good news of Jesus is for everyone. This fits with the Hippocratic oath taken by doctors. Even though the oath was recorded in writing later, it fits with Luke’s view as a person who tended to the needs of others.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. (Luke 2:10)

 . . .  all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” (Luke 3:6)

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

 . . . repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47)

As I review this, I think of how we who love Jesus also see Him in varying ways, perhaps related to our spiritual gifts and our individual situations. I am particularly drawn to His concern for the eternal well-being of others and to the various ways that He taught truth. Others are fascinated by the way He takes care of needs, heals the sick, ministers to the down-trodden. Still others see His remarkable ability to mobilize His disciples, or how He encourages them. This blesses me because God gives me the perfect example in Jesus Christ for whatever He wants from me and for whatever He has gifted me to care about and do.

I also notice that the prior life of these three writers is useful in some ways but does not stand out as the main reason Jesus selected them. Matthew was ostracized because he worked for the Romans, the enemies. Mark was not part of the original twelve. Luke was a doctor yet his ability as a physician shows up in his attention to detail. This tells me that being a child of God and serving in His kingdom is more about God using what we have rather than what we have has is an outstanding reason for Him selecting us for service. That is both humbling and encouraging. My skills or lack of skills is not a factor in my usefulness to God.

Each day, each verse or passage that I read, speaks to my needs, either as a sinner on my face in shame, or a worshiper on my face in worship. If I am sad, Jesus can give me joy. If I am forgetful, He can jog my memory. If I am sick, He can minister to my need, either restoration or comfort. This God-man Jesus Christ is many faceted. That means that He is all that I need.

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Jesus, thank You for the words of the synoptic Gospels that present You in Your glory, telling Your story in different ways yet each one a blessing to my heart and life.

Two kinds of eyesight . . .

In his later years, my grandfather was blind. Every now and then I try to imagine blindness, even close my eyes and attempt daily chores. Being blind requires grace even though the darkness seems to heighten other things. Touch, hearing, even imagination step up in the body’s attempt to fill in what the eyes cannot see.

Jesus gave sight to blind eyes. That requires imagination too. What would seeing be like to a person who had never experienced it? My sister had a dog named Dot, one of those little dogs with lots of hair, particularly hanging over his eyes. One day we gave him a haircut. She decided to also clip the part over his eyes. Dot reacted with a look of surprise and wonder. His fuzzy vision instantly became clear — he could see!

A Christian chorus says Jesus was ‘perfect in all of His ways’ which means He had good vision, but there are more ways to see than physical eyesight. Jesus can see what we cannot see because He is more than a mere physical person. He is the Word of God made flesh . . .

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1, 14)

Being with the God who is spirit and invisible is one thing. Being God, being divine is another. Jesus, unlike us, can see God. Is this like looking in a mirror? Or is it a special kind of vision? All we can know is what He says about this amazing ability to see, to know God, to reflect the image of God:

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Matthew 11:27)

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (John 1:18)

It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. (John 6:45–47)

The Father and the Son are not invisible to each other. Their relationship is intimate, so much so that Jesus could say that whoever saw Him and knew Him also sees and knows God the Father . . .

I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” (John 8:18–19)

How does this happen? When I became a Christian one of my neighbors told me that salvation happens in a moment, in the blink of an eye, but then you spend the rest of your life trying to figure out what happened. He was right. I try, but I cannot fully explain how Jesus gave spiritual sight to me, not the physical sight which I already enjoyed, but eyes to see Him. This is not a physical seeing but that kind of knowing that is so real and powerful it is as if He stands before me, a smile on His face and love in His eyes.

How can seeing Him equate to seeing the Father? I’m sure there are many ways to think of this. The Bible says Jesus is the image of the Father, full of grace and truth. He makes God known because He is like Him in every way. Jesus hates sin and tossed over the money changer’s tables that were defiling the temple. Jesus loves sinners and ate with tax collectors and prostitutes who were hated by most everyone else. Jesus loves all humanity. He told us to pray for our enemies and do good to them. He showed us His love by dying on the cross for all, while we were yet sinners, even while we mocked and scorned Him.

All of this He gives to His people through the power of the Holy Spirit, putting Himself alongside our humanness and granting us the ability to choose righteousness, an ability no one has until He comes into their life. His priestly prayer included these words:

O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:25–26)

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Jesus, I cannot describe how You make Yourself known to people but I do know that this knowing changes our lives. You grant us forgiveness and eternal life, but also that amazing love that You have for us so we can love others the same way. It is like sight to the blind, like light in great darkness. You are amazing and I worship You this day and always.