Perfect Self-Control

The way that the Savior faced the outrageous hypocrisy of those who fought against Him shows, I think, how perfectly He had overcome the natural man.  For example, when “the Jews took up stones again to stone him,” He responded in perfect control without hate or reviling, “Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?” (John 10:31-32)  His response was not cowardly, but it was also not vengeful nor did it contain any animosity. 

Later when Judas betrayed Him and the Jews came by night to take Him, He said to them, “Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me” (Matt 26:55).  Again he did not “revile against revilers” but rather stated very plainly and humbly the grotesque hypocrisy of their covert actions (D&C 19:30).  The terrible injustice of it all would make the normal man boil with rage at being kidnapped in the middle of the night on trumped up charges, but Christ had perfect mastery of His feelings and actions.  As Peter would later say, “When he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:23).           He also was able to hold his peace when His accusers all railed against Him.  When they were trying to find charges against Him, “Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?” (Matt. 26:67-68).  It’s hard for us to read that account without feeling utter contempt for these godless individuals, and yet Christ answered them nothing nor did he show any sign of anger.  He stood in majesty that was far beyond their ability to comprehend and He responded not in kind.  The next day when “he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.”  When Pilate questioned him about this, Christ “answered him to never a word” (Matt. 27:12).  How different is that reaction than what we see in those in power today.  If they are accused of doing something wrong that they didn’t do, they would stop at nothing to make sure they told their side of the story and cleared their name.  But Christ wasn’t worried about what the people thought—He was only concerned about what His Father thought.        

These examples and many others show the incredible power that Christ had over His own innate human desires.  He had not an ounce of pride and His example gives us hope that we too can overcome our carnal desires and natural man attributes.  To have the kind of self-control, patience, humility, and perfect love in the midst of being treated in the most terrible way is a surely the sign of a someone who has overcome the natural man.