What it’s really all about

from the Christian Science Sentinel

It’s never about us; it’s about God.

It’s hard to think of an innocent child lying in a manger—as tradition holds—as one who would go on to literally transform the world without ever becoming a CEO, the president of a major nation, or an eloquent and opinionated talk-show host. Even as Jesus was growing up, the clarity of his thought and his trust in God were exceptional. He was “on the move,” but not seeking his own glory. Rather, he was “about his Father’s business,” as he put it at the age of 12 (see Luke 2:49).

To those who hunger for fame and glory—whether in politics, business, entertainment, or a myriad of other venues, Jesus’ life offers a powerful message. There’s winning for the short term, and then there’s winning for eternity—a subtle but important difference.

However materially humble his beginnings may have been, Jesus’ accomplishments could not be ignored.

The financial turmoil that is still rippling through the global economy, and the egotism expressed in business, politics, and other venues, exemplify what happens when winning becomes the only thing—and at a deep cost. The antidote to that temptation is seen in the life of this Jewish child who went on to preach to all who would listen, and to offer up his life to save humanity. However materially humble his beginnings may have been, his accomplishments could not be ignored.

Mary Baker Eddy wrote of Jesus’ humility at length in “A Christmas Sermon”: “He who dated time, the Christian era, and spanned eternity, was the meekest man on earth. He healed and taught by the wayside, in humble homes: to arrant hypocrite and to dull disciples he explained the Word of God, which has since ripened into interpretation through Science” (Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, p. 163).

Meekness didn’t mean unwillingness to claim the spiritual authority God had given him. In his dialogue with a Samaritan woman at a well, he clearly identified himself with the Messiah, saying, “I that speak unto thee am he” (John 4:26). And in some of the more combative exchanges with the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus was no pushover.

Everything Jesus said and did pointed back to his heavenly Father.

The difference was that his comments weren’t actually about “me,” about Jesus, but about “Him,” about God’s goodness, permanence, and love, not just for this one special Son but for all of His children. Everything he said and did pointed back to his heavenly Father. When the one we call “Master” said, “I can of mine own self do nothing” (John 5:30), he wasn’t being ingenuous. He implicitly relied on God in every single moment, right up to facing torture and crucifixion.

Jesus was willing to surrender all to God because of his spirituality, obedience, and conviction of God’s infinite power and goodwill. The result of that trust was fame that transcended fame, and glory that transcended glory.

In today’s moral climate, there are many temptations, one of which is the desire to be richer, more powerful, cooler, or more beautiful than anyone else. For some, this leads to cutthroat competition that degrades colleagues and demeans rivals. For others, it can lead to a fascination with body makeovers and the latest fashions. The disadvantage of these approaches is that they’re built on fear—fear of failure, surely, but also fear that one will not reach the mark, or that others will beat one to the top of the heap. Either approach drives the response and ultimately the outcome. While fear is at the helm, there is no security, and the impulsion to eliminate rivals at all costs is intense.

Jesus wasn’t relying on his personal physical or metaphysical prowess.

This stands in such marked contrast to Jesus’ life. True, it was hardly pressure free. With great numbers of people coming to him for healing, it may not have been an entirely carefree life. And yet in at least some ways, perhaps it was, because Jesus wasn’t relying on his personal physical or metaphysical prowess. He was relying on God.

As the Christmas season provides opportunities to ponder the Christ-power Jesus expressed, this message of the Master’s meek power and his unsought fame is a standard for aspiration. It reminds us of our own need to know the Christ-message more fully in daily life, to bring its healing and leavening touch to this weary world. This could seem like a Herculean task, but we will find our course safe and inspired if we can just remember one thing: It’s never about us—it’s about Him.