The Intriguing Personality of Jesus
Okay, I admit it. I'm somewhat of a personality junkie. I like studying people's personalities and trying to figure out what their Meyer's Briggs type is. Naturally, I would be intrigued to know more about the most extraordinary person who has ever lived, God in the flesh. My mind longs to know-what kind of personality does God have? I won't attempt to figure out his Meyer's Briggs type because I feel like he can't be placed in one category and he possesses the best of every personality type. Besides, it's been done before so I won't attempt to re-do it here.
I went to the best place I could think of to study the character and manner of Jesus, the Bible. With four different gospel accounts, the Bible is the authority on the life and ministry of Jesus. Disclaimer: I'm barely scratching the surface on the vast personality that is Jesus Christ, but this is a good start.
Progressive and Ahead of His Time
Jesus was at once radical and yet peaceful. He was revolutionary in his thinking but didn't challenge the government so much as he challenged individuals in their ways of thinking and in their perspective. He never sought violence of any kind. The only way in which he sought to destroy anything was to destroy the walls that separate and divide people, so they could love others as they loved themselves (Mark 12:31). Jesus repeatedly challenged the status quo and sought to break down the walls and bridge the deep cultural divide between the Jews and Gentiles, as well as men and women. Jesus knew his primary mission was first to bring salvation to the Jews, but knew it was for the Gentiles also. This is apparent in the interaction with the Gentile woman with the demon possessed daughter in Mark 7:25-28. Jesus healed the Gentile woman's daughter because of her persistence. Both Jewish and Gentile people were equally important to Jesus. Being in communion with his heavenly Father made him aware of the eternal purposes of God, as well as the future kingdom he would rule in that was “not of this world”. (John 18:36) A verse that illustrates the progressiveness of Jesus is when the Apostle Paul said in the New Testament, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:28-29)
Transformational
Jesus was very much an individual. He was deeply connected to his heavenly Father, but was very much a unique individual. He was radical in his world view and very different than the people around him at the time. He was constantly challenged by others who tried to both rebuke him and correct him, not knowing that it was them that needed to change their own perspective. Jesus had a much larger, wider, open perspective than anyone at this period in time. This becomes obvious as we look at his interactions with people. Most walked away from an interaction with Jesus a changed person. Sometimes for the better, but not always. Some walked away sad like the young lawyer (Matthew 19:22), and some walked away with animosity in their hearts like the Pharisees. When people rejected the words of Jesus and didn't believe what he said they walked away in a negative manner, unchanged.
Intimate and Compassionate
One story that really illustrates the character of Jesus is when he spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well. She was a stranger, but he spoke to her with compassion and instant intimacy as if she were a friend or companion. Jesus went past the walls of polite introductions and skipped immediately to asking her for a favor to get him a drink from the well (John 4:7). It takes the woman awhile to get used to this bold request from a Jewish man. She is no doubt shocked by the “chutzpah” of Jesus to ask her (a Samaritan and a woman) for a favor (John 4:9). She lags behind in the conversation seeming unsure if she is ready to engage in such an encounter. She gradually opens up, allowing herself to be dramatically changed by this conversation with Jesus. She allows him to speak into her life and was undoubtedly never the same after this dynamic encounter. So why was she changed, while others who had encounters with Jesus remained unchanged? Perhaps it was because she had the courage to go into the unknown and enter into a type of interaction she never had before. In essence, she allowed herself be changed. She had the courage to follow along where Jesus courageously went, breaking down the cultural norms of politeness and manners, going against the grain.
Sensitive and Altruistic
How did Jesus accomplish this life changing encounter? The interaction was life changing only because Jesus was fully present to the woman, more attentive to her spiritual needs than his own physical needs. Despite the fact that he was probably tired, thirsty, and hungry he was deeply concerned about the woman's spiritual condition. He had been traveling many miles on foot, leaving the region of Judea to go to Galilee. Jesus didn't avoid Samaria while traveling between the two regions like the other Jews did at the time. This is “typical” Jesus, consistent with his manner of complete disregard for any cultural divides. Jesus was an intuitive, deeply compassionate, empathic type of man, extremely sensitive to the leading of the Spirit. The scriptures say when Jesus emerged from the wilderness after being tested by Satan he returned in the power of the [holy] Spirit (Luke 4:14).
Bold and Authentic
Jesus spoke courageously, saying the right thing at the pivotal moment in time, to make the most impact. The Samaritan woman says, “I know that the Messiah is coming...” (John 4:25). Then comes the pivotal point in the conversation. Jesus says to her, “I who speak to you am He.” (John 4:26). At that point, everything changes. The woman then recognizes whom she is speaking to. As a Samaritan, she had been waiting for the Messiah. What she never expected is that he would be sitting right in front of her, asking her for a drink from the well.
Dynamic Catalyst for Change
Jesus was a master of creating instant connections with people of all kinds. He was capable of establishing intimacy with a person in a very short period of time. He made people feel comfortable while looking deeply within and relating to them on an extremely deep, personal level. With the woman at the well he ventured to speak to her about her deepest life issue, regarding her marital status and past relationships (John 4:16-18). Jesus cut to the heart of the matter shooting a proverbial arrow straight into the woman's heart. This cut deep, but this wound was healing because it was Jesus doing the cutting. It was exactly what she needed to hear. He had come to be her savior, healer and helper. In this encounter she realized this was no ordinary person. He knew her deepest secrets and addressed them directly in a way no ordinary person could do. It was like he could see into her soul, because he could. What she took away from this encounter was a new perspective that she had to make some changes in her life for the better.
Empowering
Free Spirit
The original free spirit, he couldn't fully conform to humanity's ways because he was God in the flesh. He is such a free spirit that he frees other people's spirits. Many don't understand what the big deal about Jesus is, but my response is: when you encounter him, you will understand.
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