The auburn highlights of her brown hair flashed in the sunlight as she entered my office. She was immaculate in a tailored business suit and with her burgundy leather briefcase in hand, she commanded everyone’s attention. Sally is one of the most hard-charging, tenacious attorneys I know. Superbly knowledgeable and efficient, she is everything one would desire in an attorney representing your interests. Frankly, I am quite intimidated by her and am thankful she represents me and not my adversaries.
When Sally is with her husband, I see a completely different side to her. She is light-hearted and doting on her mate, literally hanging on his every word, even flirting with him. At first, I thought it was just an act but as I got to know her, it was clear that her affection and devotion were absolutely genuine. One revealing exchange recently occurred at a mutual friend’s home over a dinner party.
“Honey! You have to try this, they just brought it in!” Sally had brought two portions of a delicacy that one of the dinner guests had just brought to the buffet table. She delicately fed her mate a morsel, anxiously awaiting his reaction.
“Mmm! That is good! Wow! Thanks, Honey!” Sally beamed as her thoughtfulness was rewarded.
“You know what, I think I see someone I know, be right back.” As her husband excused himself, Sally turned to me and chuckled, as if she was anticipating what was on my mind. “I know you usually see me in a professional setting, but when I am at home, I am a very different person. I wait on my husband, hand and foot! I literally follow him around the house, seeing if he needs anything! I’m not always perfect but I try to be!”
She was a teenage girl with a crush! What was equally refreshing was her husband’s response to her attentive actions. He soon returned with two colorful cocktails. “Here Sally. I had the bartender make your favorite, with the lychee and mango bits that you love.”
“Oooh!” she cooed. Turning to me, she declared, “Isn’t he the greatest? Sooo thoughtful!”
Sally is not the only spouse who does this. I have witnessed other husbands and wives display a completely different behavior when they are at home or in a casual social situation contrasting with their workplace behavior. Unfortunately, if the workplace demands a certain formality or even harshness, continuing this behavior at home will not endear them to their spouse. If both spouses work in that type of setting and are unable to set this behavior aside, the result can be quite destructive.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Matthew 23:27-28 (ESV)
Jesus’ harsh words were directed to the religious leaders of His day who placed an emphasis on external rituals and the appearance of being righteous while living a lifestyle that belied their pious preaching. Yet, Jesus was also capable of extremely tender words. Amidst unspeakable suffering, as He was crucified on the Cross, with the full weight of the sins of all mankind bearing down upon His broken Body, Jesus looked at His human mother, Mary, and asked His disciple, John, to take care of her as his own, after He was gone from this earth. Jesus’ words were tender and caring. It was one of the most compassionate and selfless acts of love that Jesus did while He was on this earth.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
John 19:26-27 (ESV)
Are these two personalities of Jesus inconsistent? Did Jesus have one personality for His adversaries and one for His loved ones? No. In both circumstances, His message was delivered with the same intent, to win the individual. Jesus Christ is fully Man and fully God. Unlike Sally and myself, only Jesus is able to perfectly integrate these two personalities into One Being.
Jesus is not a different person. He is the same and one God!
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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