One of the most difficult situations all of us face from time to time is condescending remarks by others.  These comments can be extremely painful, as they question our intelligence or competence, perhaps implying that we don’t understand something obvious to others.

As a young faculty member working, both diligently and sometimes desperately, to establish a research program I would occasionally be on the receiving end of such comments, either from a few colleagues (sometimes jokingly) or when I visited program managers (usually not jokingly) at various funding agencies.  I later became convinced that most faculty hear such remarks at times.  The real issue is how will we respond.

What Would Jesus Do?

Such occasions moved me to reflect on the fact that the Lord was the one who provided my faculty position in the first place. Had my wife and I not prayed that God would lead us to a position where we could serve Him?  He knew best what my professional strengths and weaknesses were.  At such times I found it encouraging to read how often Jesus was on the receiving end of such remarks from the religious leaders of His day.

They considered His credentials inferior to their own, despite substantial evidence to the contrary:“You may be able to heal people, raise the dead and walk on water, but your parentage is questionable and where did you go to rabbinic school?”  Christ wasn’t shaken by these condescending remarks because of His secure relationship with His Father. I have learned that I need to draw my personal security from my relationship with Him and His promises.

A Different Perspective

On the other hand, note that “condescend” has another meaning entirely; the idea of stooping or lowering oneself to the level of someone who is in an inferior position.  God took on human flesh, being born in a stable in some backwater town in the Roman empire, so that He could suffer and die for us “while we were yet sinners” (Romans 5:8). He touched and healed beggars and lepers. He washed feet.

In doing so He subjected himself to all sorts of patronizing remarks as I’ve cited above.  He instructed us to imitate Him in His humility and self-sacrificing behavior toward others.

While this is not easy, and requires faith on a daily basis, this is the kind of condescending behavior we have been called to exhibit. His ambassadors to a watching world He came to save.

Merry Christmas!