_Cursing Nature_
The act in Jesus" life that has been most difficult for theologians to explain was the cursing of the fig tree. The tree was created to bear fruit in the Summer, but when Jesus found it without fruit in the Spring, he cursed it so that it withered away.
"Now in the morning, as he returned into the city, and when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforth for ever.
And presently the fig tree withered away."[1] "For the time of figs was not yet."[2]
This episode involves several mistakes--ignorance of the seasons; destruction of a profitable food-producing tree; exhibition of temper when thwarted, and giving false information regarding man"s power to effect physical changes by a curse.[3]
If Jesus acted unwisely in this one instance and was right in all others, he is neither an infallible G.o.d nor a perfect pattern for mankind.
_Forgiveness_
The conventional Jesus is emblematic of supreme kindness and forgiveness, but in reality he was far from lenient in many instances, nor did he advocate forgiveness for certain offenses.
"Moreover if thy brother shall trespa.s.s against thee ... tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican."[4]
In the parable of Dives and Lazarus, Abraham was represented as justified in not forgiving the rich man tortured in h.e.l.l, or even in saving the rich man"s brothers as requested by the victim of Jesus"
policy of punishment.
Again Jesus said: "Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father."[5] "Whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness."[6]
All the wicked were condemned by Jesus to eternal punishment with no chance of forgiveness.
_Vituperation_
Jesus was often vehement in his language to an extent hardly compatible with gentleness of character.
"O generation of vipers! how can ye, being evil, speak good things?"[7]
"Woe unto you, hypocrites, for ye compa.s.s sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him two-fold more the child of h.e.l.l than yourselves."[8]
"Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the d.a.m.nation of h.e.l.l?"[9]
"If I should say I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you."[10]
"All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers."[11]
"Ye fools and blind."[12]
This language may have been necessary, in Jesus" opinion, to convince his hearers of their sins, but such vituperation does not become a modern ethical teacher.
_Destruction of Property_
Two acts of Jesus, consistent with his disregard of worldly goods, were destructive in character.
"And there was a good way off from them a herd of many swine feeding. So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters."[13]
Jesus did what the devils requested, cruelly killing two thousand inoffensive valuable animals that belonged to other people.
"Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep and the oxen; and poured out the changers" money, and overthrew the tables."
Jesus has been defended for other acts on the ground that he was living in less civilized times than our own, but here he is seen offending both ancient and modern sensibilities. The destruction of the swine and the routing of the merchants were sensational and erratic exhibitions. If reformers today should destroy herds of animals, except to protect public health by due process of law, or overthrow banks, they would be liable to arrest in any city of Christendom. Therefore the consensus of opinion denies exoneration to Jesus for his spasmodic resort to direct action.
_Egotism_
If Jesus was not G.o.d, but merely the ideal man, his estimate of himself was excessive. In addition to his remarks already quoted there are many other instances of an exaggerated ego.
"If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."[14]
"Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."[15]
"If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins."[16]
"I am the light of the world."[17]
"I am the Son of G.o.d."[18]
"I am the resurrection and the life."[19]
If Jesus was correct in claiming that he was the Messiah, if he could control the elements and send people to heaven or h.e.l.l, he was justified in any extreme remarks; but not if he were merely a man. Every person is ent.i.tled to have as good an opinion of himself as his character and ability warrant, but expressions of his own worth are unseemly even if true, and are inexcusable if exaggerated. As Jesus himself said (though this authority is only for believers) testimony about oneself is unreliable.
Jesus not only claimed to be more than a man, he threatened his hearers with death if they did not agree with him. All of which might be permissible if he were G.o.d, but was an egotistical illusion if he was merely human.
_Lack of Courtesy_
Jesus did not always exhibit the courtesy one would expect of a gentleman, or even of a nature"s n.o.bleman.
The first instance of lack of consideration was when he slipped away from his parents, causing them unnecessary anxiety: "Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing."[20] He had remained behind to study Hebrew theology and did not tell his parents, presumably because he thought they would not have permitted the venture.
Another instance was found in his daily life:
"A certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools ..."[21]
Jesus had not only failed to wash as was expected of a guest, but defended his uncleanliness and abused his host.
At another time Jesus was discourteous to his mother:
"And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee?"[22]
Jesus was apparently annoyed at his mother"s interference, though he followed her suggestion. He did not set a good example for children in addressing their mothers.
When the Syrophenician woman asked him to help her daughter, "Jesus saith unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children"s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children"s crumbs. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter."[23]