Was Jesus Selfish?

We have all been taught from childhood that being selfish is bad. In fact, I teach my children it is not a great thing as well. I have always tried to define a difference between self-centeredness and selfishness. I don’t think a little selfishness is a bad thing. I actually think in moderation it is an OK thing. Christ was selfish wasn’ he?

13After Jesus heard about John, he crossed Lake Galilee ^[a] to go to some place where he could be alone. But the crowds found out and followed him on foot from the towns. 14When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw the large crowd. He felt sorry for them and healed everyone who was sick. 15That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This place is like a desert, and it is already late. Let the crowds leave, so they can go to the villages and buy some food.”     16Jesus replied, “They don’t have to leave. Why don’t you give them something to eat?”     17But they said, “We have only five small loaves of bread ^[b] and two fish.” 18Jesus asked his disciples to bring the food to him, 19and he told the crowd to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples, and they gave it to the people. 20After everyone had eaten all they wanted, Jesus’ disciples picked up twelve large baskets of leftovers.     21There were about five thousand men who ate, not counting the women and children.  

Jesus Walks on the Water

 22Right away, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and start back across the lake. ^[c] But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away. 23Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray. Later that evening, he was still there. 24By this time the boat was a long way from the shore. It was going against the wind and was being tossed around by the waves. 25A little while before morning, Jesus came walking on the water toward his disciples.

In the beginning here we see that Jesus wanted to be alone so he took action to do it knowing that the crowds wanted to see him…..selfish? Verse 23, he went to be alone…more selfishness? It does feel kind of  weird saying Christ was selfish, but in no way am I thinking of it in a negative sense.  Maybe you can come up with a different name for it. It’s a good thing my mom doesn’t read this blog I can hear it now…”I must have been a terrible mother to raise a son to think of such things….” So I guess it’s okay to be selfish once in a while, Christ was….