Vol.8 No.6

Selling the Truth
Did God make a public relations blunder when He sent His Son to earth disguised as a peasant?
by David Lin

If Madison Avenue had been asked to handle the public relations campaign for the first advent of Jesus, the four gospels would have recorded a far different story of Jesus’ life. Mary and Joseph would have been bypassed for a family with royal connections. The stable in Bethlehem would have been scrapped for a palace in Jerusalem or Rome. The shepherds’ announcement of the angel choir wouldn’t even have made the back page of Palestine Today. And the script for Jesus’ life would have included media spots, audiences with the great men of the world, and packed colliseums with special effects like falling fire, miracles, and maybe even some angels thrown in.

But would men and women have  been any more willing to accept his message?

Christ veiled His Divine majesty for the very purpose of appealing to man’s love of truth alone. All men, including the most wicked, can be awed into submission by an outward manifestation of divine power, but its effect is transitory.

God once came down on Mount Sinai to reveal His majesty and proclaim His law. The smoke and thunderings and lightnings struck men with awe, so that they shook and trembled and asked that God would never again speak to them directly. They promised to obey His law and keep the covenant.

But how long did their promise last? Less than 40 days. Why? Because they had been moved by fear, not by love. After the fearful impressions wore off, they reverted to their idolatry. What God wants is true worship and obedience that springs out of a converted heart, and that can be effected only through the transforming power of truth applied by the Holy Spirit.

But in order to arrive at truth, man must exert his reasoning powers and not be fooled by appearances. This is illustrated by the answer Jesus gave to Pilate. A paraphrase of His words might be: “I know you won’t believe Me just because I claim to be God. I don’t blame you, because in outward appearance I am just a man. But if you consider My works and recognize that they fulfill what the Scriptures say about the Messiah, you will believe.”

A PARABLE

Once an upright man wanted to find an ideal lover. He despised the women who fell for dandified fops and married for money. He wanted a woman who appreciated moral worth above worldly values. He asked God to lead him to such a woman, and wore plain clothes purposely to keep vain and frivolous women at a distance.

One day he came across a young woman who seemed to meet his standard, so he approached her and introduced himself. On the first date he wore ordinary work clothes and apologized for not being better dressed, explaining that he could not afford good clothes because he worked on a farm and had to support father and mother. He gave her the impression of someone who worked hard for a living and honored his parents.

Would she love such a character? Well, she didn’t snub him, but naturally wished he would dress better, so she offered to give him some money to buy a suit of clothes for the next date. He gratefully accepted her gift.

But the next week he came still dressed in work clothes, apologizing for his failure to buy new clothes because his mother suddenly fell ill and he had to use the money for medicine. How heavy a disappointment could the girl endure? She didn’t chide him, but graciously gave him another sum to buy a suit of clothes.

The third time he again failed to meet her expectation. He explained that the farm crops were suddenly attacked by pests and due to a shortage of cash, he lent the money to buy insecticide. But he assured the young woman that he could get the money back next week and buy the clothes. Would she be exasperated?

Well, her patience and graciousness were indeed taxed to the limit. But she appreciated the unselfishness of the young man, believed his story, and looked forward to the next date. When she saw him the fourth time, he was still dressed in work clothes, and she was almost ready to cry and turn away, but he assured her that he had the money, but didn’t know what kind of clothes would suit her taste, so would she be willing to go shopping with him?

After letting her select a suit of clothes for him, the young man said, “You’ve been so generous in giving me a suit of clothes. Now it’s my turn to  buy you something. Tell me what you like, and I’ll buy it for you.”

The young woman picked a brooch made of glass beads, because she knew he couldn’t afford anything expensive. But he said, “Now let me pick something for you.” He took her to the jewelry department and bought the most expensive wrist watch he could find. Only then did she realize that this poor young man was a rich man’s son.

THE HEAVENLY BRIDEGROOM PICKS HIS BRIDE

This parable illustrates the way Jesus picks His bride—the church. He laid aside His glory and came to earth as a poor peasant in search of a bride who prizes moral worth above attractions. In fact it was His purpose to repel the vain and superficial, and to attract the meek and honest in heart. He wanted men and women who could see through His crude exterior and say with Nicodemus, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God.” He looked for people who could recognize the value of the truths He taught regardless of the travel-worn clothes He wore. “They that wear soft raiment are in king’s palaces.” An honest heart can recognize truth on its own merits, even as an experienced jeweler can pick out a genuine diamond from among a pile of fakes.

This basic principle is involved in the incarnation. He who declared Himself to be “the way, the truth, and the life” came to our world with no outward show to substantiate a seemingly boastful claim. Not only did He present no physical manifestations of divinity, but He shunned the distinction He might have secured by attending the rabbinical schools. That is, Christ not only stripped Himself of divine majesty, but also denied Himself the advantage of worldly prestige. He resolved to prevail purely by the force of truth alone. The beauty of a character “full of grace and truth” must be the only attraction to draw men unto Himself.

In adopting this principle of action, God used the light of truth, which also has the function of repelling those who hate it. For the propagation of truth always has a polarizing effect. “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John 3:20-21).

This heavenly Bridegroom determines to have a Church  made up exclusively of “every one that is of the truth.” He will be satisfied with nothing less. And when the men and women who prize the truth above earthly pleasures and material wealth have been gathered to Him, Christ will present them with a city of gold. But before He does so, He will test their love for Him by disappointments and trials. He will gladly accept their gifts and offerings. In the end He will surprise every faithful soul with the exceeding weight of glory and riches which He has res-erved for all who love His appearing.