Ecce Homo

It's not coincidental that I finally found - and have already finished reading - Behold the Man by Michael Moorcock, just a month or so after going out and buying a bible for myself, specifically to re-read some of the gospel stories. I don't want to go into my thoughts about Moorcock's book, but do want to talk about a story in one of the gospels that portrayed Jesus in a way similar to that of Behold the Man.

Read in the gospel of Mark, chapter 7, through verse 24. At one moment Jesus is getting harassed by some ultra religious types. He points out their ridiculously flawed and untenable traditions, and the tendency to replace their conscience with their traditions. He makes a big deal of calling a crowd to himself to make his points public, to clear up, publicly, the lies and ignorance of their leaders and traditions.

The next moment, "he entered a house and wanted no one to know about it, but he couldn't escape notice."

He's in public, in the synagogue (whatever that was like in those days), raising his voice to say, "Hey! People! Come here and pay attention! Let me tell you something..." Then he's slinking off to some hideout, hoping he can get away from those same people for awhile.

Why was he hiding out? Was he just haggard and harassed and had enough? One image I have in my head is of an infinitely patient, peaceful holy man, quietly going about, who is simply living his life of righteousness, who, if he weren't being harassed by crowds seeking healing and signs and hecklers and authorities seeking an end to his attention-grabbing life, would otherwise be quietly praying in the home of a friend.

Another image is of a righteously annoyed, straight talking man who has little time for willful ignorance and domineering arrogance, from anyone, and is just glad to get some time to himself and away from the stupidity and evil for a while.

The second image makes more sense to me.