True Colors
See Matthew 26:65-68 for reference
If you read through the gospels, you may notice an interesting switch in persona among the Pharisees and Jewish religious leaders from when before Jesus was placed into their custody and once He was "on trial" with them. Prior to that moment of the dead of night trial, these people were very pious acting... disguising their hatred for Jesus with questions veiled in order to trap him and done under the auspices of seeking truth. From the surface, you would look at them and say perhaps: "They are very religious," or perhaps "They are seeking out truth," or even "They are very knowledgeable and want to understand Jesus." Words that you would not describe them as would be "hateful" (or any derivative).
However, under the veil of night and having "captured" Jesus in their trial, a different persona comes out (especially when the high priest... who's one of them... declares him "worthy of death")... they begin to mercilessly mock him, spit on him, and punch him with their fists. What's this aggression from these supposedly, as far as we see them in public, pious and "holy" people? What's the deal here, man?
I think, and Jesus hinted at this in his dialouges with these peeps, that the Pharasee in the veil of night is the same Pharasee that was laying traps and looking good for the camera during the day. The funny thing about hypocrisy, I have found to be true in my own life, is that it cannot be maintained. Eventually the true self (the person's true colors) must come out... and in the case of the religious leaders came out when the cameras were off... aka - when they felt safe to act out. What is scary is when I see the image management (a proper 21st century way of describing hypocrisy in laymans' terms) played out (either in my own life or others'), you know that it's a matter of time before the Dr. Jeckyll persona gives way to the Mr. Hyde inside. In the case of the Pharasees, it was when they believed they were in complete control.
Maybe that's why Jesus warned against image management so much... it's not real and we're only lying to ourselves. The cool thing about living with integrity (being a whole person with no pretense) is that once we allow God and people we trust into the broken areas of our lives, God redeems them and uses the fruit of healing for glorious purposes. At least I believe that and the Apostle Paul backs me up when he says that "For I know that God works all things together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). Besides, living as a whole person and not having the poser play the image management game is SO much more freeing in the long run :-)
Speaking of posing... I'll have to give you an update on some of the costumes I see at the Peachtree Road Race tomorrow ;-).
cheers!
Chris <><
If you read through the gospels, you may notice an interesting switch in persona among the Pharisees and Jewish religious leaders from when before Jesus was placed into their custody and once He was "on trial" with them. Prior to that moment of the dead of night trial, these people were very pious acting... disguising their hatred for Jesus with questions veiled in order to trap him and done under the auspices of seeking truth. From the surface, you would look at them and say perhaps: "They are very religious," or perhaps "They are seeking out truth," or even "They are very knowledgeable and want to understand Jesus." Words that you would not describe them as would be "hateful" (or any derivative).
However, under the veil of night and having "captured" Jesus in their trial, a different persona comes out (especially when the high priest... who's one of them... declares him "worthy of death")... they begin to mercilessly mock him, spit on him, and punch him with their fists. What's this aggression from these supposedly, as far as we see them in public, pious and "holy" people? What's the deal here, man?
I think, and Jesus hinted at this in his dialouges with these peeps, that the Pharasee in the veil of night is the same Pharasee that was laying traps and looking good for the camera during the day. The funny thing about hypocrisy, I have found to be true in my own life, is that it cannot be maintained. Eventually the true self (the person's true colors) must come out... and in the case of the religious leaders came out when the cameras were off... aka - when they felt safe to act out. What is scary is when I see the image management (a proper 21st century way of describing hypocrisy in laymans' terms) played out (either in my own life or others'), you know that it's a matter of time before the Dr. Jeckyll persona gives way to the Mr. Hyde inside. In the case of the Pharasees, it was when they believed they were in complete control.
Maybe that's why Jesus warned against image management so much... it's not real and we're only lying to ourselves. The cool thing about living with integrity (being a whole person with no pretense) is that once we allow God and people we trust into the broken areas of our lives, God redeems them and uses the fruit of healing for glorious purposes. At least I believe that and the Apostle Paul backs me up when he says that "For I know that God works all things together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). Besides, living as a whole person and not having the poser play the image management game is SO much more freeing in the long run :-)
Speaking of posing... I'll have to give you an update on some of the costumes I see at the Peachtree Road Race tomorrow ;-).
cheers!
Chris <><
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