Avoiding Confrontation
Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea and went away again into Galilee.John 4:1-3 NASB
Went away– What was Yeshua’s reaction to the probable confrontation with the Pharisees over baptism? Ah, apérchomai. He went away. He didn’t enter into debate. He didn’t demonstrate he was right. He didn’t even send an email or a Tweet. He just left. No “goodbye,” no “hasta la vista.” Not even an explanation. Sometimes I think I need to read this verse a lot more. Sometimes the real answer is, “Just walk away.”
Do you think his decision was unwarranted? If it were you or I, would we take up the challenge and defend ourselves? Would we be concerned about what others would say if we just left? Don’t we expect the son of God, who was obviously correct, to at least defend himself?
Maybe Yeshua is doing precisely what Proverbs instructs us to do (and which we rarely heed). “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him” (Proverbs 26:4) or “Leave the presence of a fool, or you will not discern words of knowledge” (Proverbs 14:7). Hard to do, isn’t it? Hard to walk away when we are so concerned with our “reputations.” The last thing we want is concern about what other people will think if we don’t press home our point, or we don’t get the final word, or we don’t win the case. In our insatiable desire to be right—and to be perceived as being right—we just can’t let it go.
But that isn’t what the Messiah did. Was he right? Of course. Did it matter if others believed he was right? Not in the least. He played for an audience of One. His mission might have been to reach the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but he was unconcerned about ensuring their response. He did what he had to do—and left the rest up to Someone Else.
We live in a different kind of world. In our world, we are often more concerned about our public reputation than we are about listening to the prodding of the Father. We know how to use the verbal weapon and our quivers are full of word-tipped rejoinders. We’re in good company. A lot of the biblical characters also felt the need to justify themselves. Of course, it didn’t always turn out so well. Even in the Garden, self-rationalization didn’t work. “Just walk away” would have been the better choice, but as the story so aptly demonstrates, human beings haven’t been able to do that very well from the first confrontation. Might I recommend a return to the optimal strategy. Get on your donkey and go to Galilee.
Topical Index: went away, apérchomai, confrontation, fool, Proverbs 14:7, Proverbs 26:4, John 4:1-3
