Recently I admitted that for all these years I did not know one is not supposed to congratulate a bride for getting married. Today someone who read my confession accused me of being uncouth. Wow. I don’t want to be uncouth. I want to be couth. Merely thinking that made me aware that in all my years I have never been called couth. Actually, I have never called anyone couth. It’s a nice thing to be but somehow doesn’t sound that nice. I’m going to try it out. Next time I see someone being sophisticated I am going to say, “How couth of you.” I hope I don’t get punched in the mouth.
Actually Jesus was accused of being uncouth. They said, “This man eats with publicans and sinners.” Now that is very uncouth. How about Matthew 23 where He calls the religious establishment a bunch of snakes who are really like nicely polished tombs that are filled on the inside with rotten body parts? Ouch! Now that is uncouth. It really is no wonder why they wanted to get rid of Him. He embarrassed them in front of their congregation.
Then there was a time when He told Peter that Peter was playing the part of the Devil by trying to discourage Him from going to the cross. Once when the woman who was anointing His feet with very expensive ointment was ridiculed, Jesus defended her by telling His host to leave her alone because he, His host, had not done so much for Him.
While I really don’t think Jesus went around deliberately being uncouth, He did have His moments. Most of the time He was filled with sympathy and care. See Matthew 14:14.
Written by Roger Bothwell on May 26, 2010
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org