Who is the primary example of not pleasing himself?
Christ is the primary example of not pleasing Himself. Scripture states that even Christ pleased not Himself, but bore reproaches for others. He chose the cross out of love for mankind, settling the sin problem and purchasing salvation, rather than rejecting that path.
Les teaches that in the passage, mature believers who have been in the faith for years ought to bear the infirmities of the weak—younger believers, even if they are 70 years old but only recently saved. The mature believer must consider the weak ideas of that younger believer and not cause him to stumble. We are to give in to the infirmities of the weak, not please ourselves, but please our neighbor for his good to edification, his growth in the Christian life. Les then presents Christ as our primary example, for even Christ pleased not Himself, and the reproaches of those who reproached God fell on Him. Les explains that Christ died because He loved mankind; He had to die to settle the sin problem, but He could have rejected it. He chose the cross out of that motivating love to purchase our salvation.
For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.