“Then His disciples came and said unto Him, ‘Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?’”  Mtt.15:12

by Dwight Edwards

One of the characteristics I most admire about Jesus is His utter disregard for the approval of men. It is one of the things that made Him so free. So bold. And at times - so rude. Unapologetically rude. Certainly that’s what His disciples discovered.

When they came to Him and pointed out his lack of tact toward the Pharisees, He kicked it into even higher gear. “But He answered them and said, ‘Every plant which My Heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.’”(Mtt. 15:13,14) My, oh my. Not exactly a Dale Carnegie response.

Jesus wouldn’t have gone over too well down here in the South.  He wouldn’t have given into the social moorings which often keep straightforward truth-telling at a distance. Certainly He would not have been known for his gentlemanly charm or diplomacy. He would just have loved as no other has loved. He would have moved forward into people’s lives with an abandon and depth of concern that was unnerving. He would have cared so supremely for His Father’s reputation that He undoubtedly would have alienated many in the church culture. And, at times, He would have been rude. But then again, rudeness is sometimes the most Christ-like response there is. Even in the South.