MR. RUKES NEVER LEARNED

 John 2:23-25

"Now while He was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs He was performing and believed in His name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person."

You could get away with almost anything in Mr. Rukes' classroom, at least until student misbehavior reached a certain critical mass, turning Mr. Rukes' face a dark red to the top of his bald spot. At that point, his veins would bulge and he would always half scream the same sentence: "When my doctor checks my blood pressure, he tells me YOU KIDS are KILLING me!"

I never had any doubt that his doctor had actually said this or that the prognosis itself was likely accurate. But I did doubt the wisdom of entrusting his students with this information.  His transparency did not bring about the sympathy he sought; instead, it was met with further spit wads, rubber bands, and mockery.

After decades of teaching junior high geography, Mr. Rukes still did not seem "to know what was in" each 7th grader. 

We all need to be aware of this reality: people are broken and prone to sin and misbehavior. And not just during the junior high years, but right now. As adults. Your co-workers. Your best friend. Your spouse. Your son or daughter. Your dad or mom. The strongest Christian you know. (And, yes ... even me and even you.) All broken and prone to sin.

Jesus' awareness of "what is in each person" generated an appropriate level of caution in His interactions with others: "He would not entrust himself to them." 

And yet this caution was exercised without a hint of cynicism, hatred, or self-righteousness. 

Amazing.

As always, we would be wise to imitate Jesus.