The Man from Nazareth | The Manila Times

THE "Man from Nazareth" was a fully mortal person, not a remote, divine Son of God. He referred to himself as "Son of Man," meaning "I as one of humanity" or "I as one of you." He was a humble person. He washed the feet of his disciples. He joined parties, drank wine, and laughed and joked with people considered great sinners, like tax collectors and sex workers. He shrugged off criticism and ignored the scandal his behavior had caused. He did not care about getting a bad reputation for letting reputed sex workers wash his feet. He was his own man. He did not seek the approval of anyone in his life. It was his, and he lived it to the fullest.

Jesus of Nazareth's personality was so strong and secure that he gave no heed to what others thought or said about him. He could mingle and talk with anyone in society. Whether senior Jewish leaders or the poor, he respected them equally. He was filled with concern and compassion for the outcasts, the sick, the disabled and the downtrodden. He challenged the rich and the powerful to share their wealth. His mission was to create a community where equality, truth, freedom, justice and love of neighbor would be the highest values. The ruling elite rejected him and his plan to save humankind from tyrants and from evil. They only had to say yes to him and love their neighbor, but they said no.