Very surprisingly, I have never heard or seen someone take the life of Jesus, and make a list of what he did and apply that to what maybe we should do. Wow!
What would it mean to be like Jesus? It takes a real step-up of faith to consider that we might be perfected, but we also have to consider what Jesus was like! …. oooooh and is like! Wow!
Okay, so let’s try that. Let’s go down the list and find out what would it mean to be like Jesus?
- First, he was a obedient, good child, learned the Torah, took care of his family. Check. I think the church knows this.
- He got baptized, answered his calling, and went to the wilderness to pray. Okay. First, Wesley and most people who believe we might be holy believe that would be on the basis of prayer and worship. A few people are following this. One group I know of focused on obedience, submission and going to the wilderness to heighten that. Interesting. That has been done. Maybe everyone needs a wilderness experience to overcome their own personal demons.
- Then Jesus began his ministry, proclaiming : “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” There are few people willing to lead prayers of repentance. There are a few people willing to preach Kingdom.
- Then he went out healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, and raising the dead, doing good, releasing people from the bondage of the devil. Some of the church has a vision of this. We have a lot of work to do.
- Jesus went to the cross and raised again. This is not to be repeated in order to earn our salvation. We identify with Him in His death, burial and resurrection. We signify that we we are baptized. However, we should arm ourselves with that mindset. We live for others. We find that is a glorious, fulfilling life. We were meant for this.
- One more thing. Jesus said, “greater works than these.” What would that be? We are not yet to the “healed them all” yet. Jesus did that; he healed all who came to him. So far, I don’t think we are having many meetings were everyone gets healed. People are being raised from the dead mostly in Africa, but I have heard of an instance hear.
- But what would greater works be? Kingdom fulfillment — on a wide scale. Not just a soul here or there, but systemic salvation, love and peace. Ultimate good. Imagine that. Eden restored — or better, even grown up.
- We, like him, come on a colt, a foal. He will come one day as Judge on a White Horse; God will let us know. For now, we still come as suffering servants with healing in our hands, in sheepfolds, in carpenter shops, and in cesear’s household.
It is a great mystery, a great revelation. I invite you. It makes all of life meaningful, rich, better than anything else.