It is not well known exactly when Jesus would have become greater. Whether it was when He was born in Bethlehem on the straw of a manger, thus beginning His incomparable example of humility;

or when in the temple, still in childhood, He argued with the doctors, confusing them.

It is not well known exactly when Jesus would have become greater. Whether it was when He taught: Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you;

or when He recommended that, when we give alms, we take care that our left hand does not know what our right hand does.

It would have been when He said that, in order to pray, we should go into our room and, closing the door, turn to our Father who is hidden, because He, who sees in secret, will reward us;

or when He warned us about false prophets, who come in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

It is not well known exactly when Jesus would have become greater. Whether by warning us that we should not judge, so as not to be judged;

or when He sensibly indicated the measure of this concept, mentioning that we were not prevented from judging according to right justice.

If He uttered things that would take place twenty centuries later: Brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against their parents.

Or when He prophesied: I have not come to bring peace, but strife, division, and the sword.

This is because He knew Humanity and, therefore, knew beforehand that His doctrine, due to the different interpretations that men would give it, would be divided into a thousand pieces, with struggles, misunderstandings, and persecutions.

It would have been when He told His disciples to go and teach the truth, to heal the sick, giving freely what they had received freely;

or when He emphasized that the healthy did not need a doctor, only the sick.

Or when He said, in a wonderful summary: I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me;

or when, questioned by Nicodemus, He emphasized: Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

It is not well known exactly when Jesus would have been greater.

Or in the famous episode of the sinner woman: Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.

Or when, before the high priest and those who accused Him, He responded with the silence and serenity of the innocent and the just.

If, when recommending to the disciples, they went throughout the world to preach the Gospel to every creature, in His name, speaking new languages;

or when He erected the portentous monument that is the Sermon on the Mount, in which he outlined for Humanity of all times the most authentic and beautiful code of conduct.

We do not know, frankly, when Jesus would have been greater.

We know that, after almost two thousand years, we are still crawling on Earth, in an endless learning of His doctrine.

How long will we continue to be apprentices? When will we be willing to practice it?

When will the sublime doctrine pass from our brain to our heart, from theory to practice?

Let us think about this. And let us be willing to take action.

Spiritist Moment Team, from the article
Quando Jesus teria sido maior, by Lauro Schleder,
in Jornal Mundo Espírita, from June, 2000, Publisher FEP.
December 16.2024.