The Louvre Art Museum in Paris has on display James Whistler's painting which he entitled "An Arrangement in Grey and Black." Americans know it by the much more personal and affectionate title "Whistler's Mother"
Whistler's title sounds too impersonal for a painting of his mother. But that's the way many people see the rest of humanity. Some employers see those under them as an impersonal "work force". Poloticians speak of persons as "voters". To the commercial world they are "consumers". Some children treat mothers and fathers as impersonal arrangements of mind and muscle whereby they are fed, cared for, and provided with toys.
The term "people" is general, impersonal, nondescript. It sees a crowd as an arragement of white, grey, and black. The term "persons," on the other hand, focuses on individual human beings, each one uniquely talented, each one with a mind, soul, and spirit.
On occasion Jesus addressed large multitudes and fed them. At no time, though, did He lose sight of individuals as persons. At Jacob's well He spoke at length to the Samaritan woman, delivering what many regard as the most beautiful sermon. He dealt with the sick on a one-to-one basis. He spoke in a parable of a sheperd who left his 99 sheep and went after the lost one. He said the angels of heaven rejoice over one sinner who repents. An interesting fact that alot of people overlook, is that Jesus was born in a stable, a fitting place for a lamb to be born.
Our Lord gave His life for the redemption of the whole human race, but He wants each one to regard it as for him, for her , rather than as salvation in the aggregate or as mass production. Martin Luther wrote in His explanation of the Creed: "I believe that Jesus Christ . . . has redeemed me "
We take a page from Jesus' book when, instead of lumping people together, we regard and deal with them as persons -- love them as persons and help them as persons. They they will deal with us as persons.
In His service,
Matt
