He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man bear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. Matt. 12:19, 20.

How sensational Christ could have been when tempted to fling Himself down from the pinnacle of the Temple. He could have displayed His miraculous power before the people! On one occasion His disciples urged Him to call fire down from heaven to bring the unrepentant to their knees before Him. There seem to have been numerous occasions for such demonstrations of power.

Some things are not found in the life of Jesus. He does not strive. He does not wrangle on religious themes. He does not engage in petty dialog. He does not cry. There is nothing loud about Him, nothing overdone, no attempt at self-advertisement. Jesus seeks no self-esteem. In His life and ministry He raised no shrine to the gods of passion, pomp, or popularity. When confronted with Judas accompanied by the mob who came to arrest Him, He said: "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matt. 26:53). What an opportunity to dispatch His enemies with a single stroke!

"He shall not . . . lift up . . . his voice . . . in the street." He comes not to startle, to overwhelm people with sensational appeals. Christ plays no part of a fanatic. He comes to win men. His name is the Prince of Peace. His doctrine is truth, His essence is purity, His character is love.

Just prior to His crucifixion, when "the Father had given all things into his hands . . . he riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself . . . . And began to wash the disciples' feet" (John 13:3-5).

When the Father had given Him all power, why not call upon His disciples to acknowledge Him King of kings and Lord of lords, In a few hours they were to forsake Him and flee. Knowing all this, He took a towel and washed their feet. "Having loved his own . . . he loved them unto the end." In Christ the desire for attention does not express itself. The passion of ostentation belongs to the Pharisee, but not to Jesus. Divine humility is in His heart.