JESUS CHRIST
886
JESUS CHRIST
strove, therefore, on everj- occasion to set this idea itself in a right position before them, and occasionally sug- gested the identification of his person with the IMessiah, partly by the epithet '• Son of Man," which he applied to himse"lf (see especially ISIatt. xii, 8), partly by explic- it statements (Matt, xiii, 16 sq. ; Luke iv, 21). Hence it is not surprising that the opinion of the people re- specting him declined, and the majority regarded him onlv as a great prophet, chiefly interesting for his won- der-workiiig. He decidedly announced himself as the Jlessiah only to individual susceptible hearts (John iv, 2(5 ; ix, 3G sq.), and also to the high-priest at the conclu- sion of his career (Matt, xxvi, 64). The disciples re- quired it merely for the confirmation of the faith they liad already attained (Matt, xvi, 13 sq. ; Luke ix, 20). See Kingdom ok Heaven.
The moral and religious character of Jesus (humanly considered), which even in the synoptical gospels, that are certainly chargeable with no embellishment, appears in a high ideality, has never yet been depicted with ac- curate psychological skill (see Volbeding, p. 35), but usu- ally as a model of virtue in general (yet see Jerusalem, JViichffdass. Schrift, i, 75 sq. ; Greiling, p. 9 sq. ; E. G. "Winckler, Vers, e, Psijchocof/raphie Jesti, Lpz. 1826 ; Ull- mann, Sundlos'u/k.Jes. p. 35 sq. ; Ammon, Leh. Jes. i, 240 sq. ; Thiele, in the Darmst. Kirch.-Zeit. 1844, No. 92-94). (Comp. Hase,p.62,64.) On the (choleric) temperament of Jesus, see J. G. Walch, Z>e iemperamento Christi Jiom. Jen. 1753. Deep humility before God (Luke xviii, 19), and ardent love towards men in view of the determined sacrifice (John x, 18), were the distinguishing traits of his noble devotion, while the divine zeal that stirred l)is great soul concentrated all his virtues upon his one grand design. Jesus appears as the harmonious com- plete embodiment of religious resignation ; but this was so far from being a result of innate weakness (although Jesus might have had a slender physical constitution), that liis natural force of character subsided into it (for examples o! high energy in feeling and act, see John, ii, 16 sq. ; viii, 44 sq. ; Matt, xvi, 23 ; xxiii, 5, etc.). Ev- erywhere to this deep tlevotiou was joined a clear, pru- dent understanding — a combination which alone can preserve a man of sensibihty and activity from the dan- ger of becoming a reckless enthusiast or a weak senti- mentalist. This is most unmistakably exhibited in the account of his passion and death. Neither do we find m Jesus any trace ot the austerity and gloomy stern- ness of other founders of religion, or even of his contem- porary the Baptist (Matt, xi, 18 sq.). In the midst of eager listeners in the public streets or in the Temple, he spoke with the high dignity of a messenger of God; yet how affectionately sympathetic (John"xi,35), how solicitous, how self-sacrificing did he exhibit himself in the bosom of tlie lamily, in the dear circle of his friends ! What tender sympathy expressed itself in him on every occasion (Lukevii, 13; Matt, ix, 36. xiv, 14, xxx,34). He was botli (compare Kom. xii, 15) tearful among the tearful (John xi,35), ana cheerful among the cheerful (John li, 1 s(i. ; Luke vii. 34 ). On this verv account the character of Jesus has at all times so irresistibly won the hearts of the good and noble of all people, since it evinces not merely the rarest magnanimitv, such ns to cause amazement, but at the same time the' purest, most dismterested luimanity, and thus presents to the ob- server not simply an oljject of esteem, but also of love. J he liistory of .lesus's life is equallv interesting to the child and the full-grown man, and certainly his exam- ple has eftectetl at all times not less than his precepts. In accordance with tliis unmistakable sum of his char- acter, certain single passages of the Gospels (e. g. Matt. xii,4« s(,.; XV, 21 sq.; John ii, 4), which, verbally ap- prehended [see Cana], might perplex us concerning J(- sus (comp. J. F.Volbeding,t7?-«w Chrisfus matrem fjeniis- qite suum dissimuhtverit et de.'<pexeri/,\ itch. 1784; K.J. Klemm, l)e. necessitudine J. C/iristo c. consannuimhs in- lercedente, Lips. 184G),may be more correctlv ext.laine.l l3ce Ammon, Leb..h-su,i, 213 sq.), and mav be placed in
harmony with others (e. g. Luke ii, 51 ; compare Lange, Be suhjectione Chr. sub pareniib. Lips. 1738). See En- sample.
The task of the world's redemption, acting as an ever-present burden upon the Saviour's mind, produced that pensiveness, not to say sadness, which was a mark- ed characteristic of all his deportment. IJarely did his equanimity rise to exuberant joy, and that only in con- nection with the great ruling object of his life (Luke x, 21) ; oftener did it experience dejection of spirit (John xii, 27), at times to the depths of mental anguish (Mark xiv, 34). See Agony. It was this interior pressure that so frequently burst forth in sighs and tears (John xi, 33; Luke xix, 41), and made Jesus the ready sym- pathizer with human affliction (John xi, 35). It is such spiritual and unselfish trials that ripen every truly great moral character, and it was accordingly needfid that God, " in bringing many sons unto glory, should make the Captain of their salvation perfect through suffer- ings." The fact that Jesus was emphatically " a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief," is the real key to the subdued and self-collected tone of his entire de- meanor. See Kenosis.