Everything in moderation

We're doing a series on Christ's "I am" statements at church... I love reading the selected passages as we go through a series. Last week we read John 8 and 9, and the focus was on Jesus' statement "I am the Light of the World".
The gospels are such 'easy reading', story after story, some humor and daily life stuff. But I don't read them that often... because I hear the voices and cynicism and legalism of the Pharisees and there's a little too much identification going on... Maybe I read them as little as I read Proverbs 31, even.
This read through of John is showing me that I struggle with the idea of moderation and extremes... I would like to have no 'extremes' in my life and be balanced, moderate, calm... all the time. And I know I've judged others for being 'extreme' in some way... you know, they're over the top, 'too much'. ... I don't want to be like them, I want to be moderate, easy, likeable!
It struck me today how ridiculous I am... I am a Christ follower, and his relationships weren't moderate and his conversations were subtle; He was extreme to the extreme. Why is this idea of quiet, subtle moderation something I think I always need to work on? Why do I want to do away with the 'extremes' in me, in others?
Thats the thing about reading the gospels -- I realize how much of a Pharisee I am .... and as I read, I hear the words of "How Deep the Father's Love" -

Behold the man upon the cross

My sin upon His shoulder

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

Jesus then said, "I came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense of seeing will be exposed as blind." John 9:39 (the message)