The Mind of Christ

It is usual for this column at this time of the year to reflect on issues of faith and spirituality. Society these days is defined by entertainment and consumerism, so the essence of seasons like Easter, Christmas, Valentines Day etc are forgotten and instead the celebrations are recast purely in terms of fun, entertainment, marketing, and sales. Having being so re-defined, the nature of the activities that dominate such seasons often become the exact anti-thesis of their original essence. So this column from its inception has always dedicated its pages around Easter and Christmas as well as at other times to the essence of such seasons.

Jesus was defined by his humility and lowliness, traits which contemporary society regards as negative. The slogan today is “if you’ve got it, flaunt it”. Jesus Christ was born in a manger. His father was a carpenter. He identified with the poor and lowly and in spite of the power and authority which he possessed, he remained humble and meek. Leaders today, whether in temporal offices with secular powers or even more surprisingly leaders in explicitly spiritual contexts (with the exception of a few) are unable to imitate this characteristic of Christ. Leaders prefer the vanity, pride and arrogance of power. They are to be served rather than to serve others, and they are to be exalted.

One of the most important attributes of Jesus was his compassion and love. In fact it can be argued that this was Christ’s most important trait. It was the reason he healed them; it was because of his compassion that he restored their eyesight, lifted up the lame, raised the dead, and ultimately it was because of his love and compassion for man that he went to the cross and gave up his life in order that we may have a hope of salvation. Love and compassion are scarce commodities in society today, regrettably even in the Church. It is the absence of compassion for fellow citizens that makes a public officer to embezzle funds meant for provision of education and health facilities, and generally feeds the corruption that is destroying our society. It is the lack of love that make people kill their fellow men in a orgy of violence and destruction after elections are held. It is the absence of compassion for their fellow men that leads to wars, poverty, hatred and prejudice, terrorism and other evils that afflict the world today.

Yet in spite of his humility and compassion, Christ was not weak and sycophantic. He was bold and courageous, and had inner strength and conviction. He told the powerful religious people of his time-the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the Sanhedrin, the rich and powerful people, the truth. He chased the commercial people out of the temple and repeatedly condemned the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. And he had the courage to endure beatings and scourging and eventually death at the cross, when he could have simply denied the accusations of the leaders of the Jews in search of self-preservation.

Jesus had a deep intellect and wisdom. When I reflect on some of the sayings and parables of Christ, I marvel at the depth of philosophy, knowledge and wisdom embedded in his mind. When Satan tempted him, he responded with knowledge and wisdom. The poetry and blessings in his beatitudes did not proceed from a shallow and ordinary mind. He thoroughly studied the writings of the prophets contained in the Old Testament such that at critical moments he quoted from the scriptures. At the age of twelve, he was found in the Temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening and asking questions, and amazing them with his understanding. And the Bible records that he increased in wisdom and stature and favour with God and men. Today knowledge is despised, and materialism is exalted. We celebrate the fact that people do not like to read or study, and so give them music and pictures. And when we seek wisdom today, we do not seek the type founded in the word of God and the mind and manner of Christ, but we exalt a type of worldly wisdom founded on manipulation, sycophancy and self-interest.

Christ was not interested in the kingdoms of the world, which Satan offered him. He preferred instead the eternal kingdom which was assured to him in heaven. He did not seek human power and material riches. The reverse is often the case today, as people say, “na heaven I go chop” and instead sell their souls to the devil. That is the only reason people embrace evil just to acquire wealth and power. That is why we have deadly armed robbers who kill for a few thousand Naira, and why political aspirants can hire killers to eliminate their opponents. He was always focused on the end which was his love for man, and his determination to do the will of his father.

Christ was sacrificial, always giving of himself. He gave of his time and virtue. He gave of his kingdom and ultimately he gave his life. He was not always taking of others as is common today. His attitude was not exploitative and covetous. He washed the feet of his disciples. He stayed awake praying even when they could not travail with him. He never feasted on the weaknesses of the people, but always sought to build them up. Even though they called him master, he never acted as one. He was a servant-leader.