What's Jesus Like?
by Jeremy Sanchez
The Philippines is known for its devoted religiosity. For the most parts of the country, churches are scattered and the people are praised for their devotion to God. Unfortunately, recent times have changed and religion has become a ritual and just a part of our lives. When people see the cross, they merely think of it as a religious artifact. When we're asked who Jesus is, some of us are confused or some don't even answer.
Jesus has various representations here and all over the world. He's considered as an iconic symbol in some and for others, just a joke.
What's Jesus like?
Is He more than just a religious icon we're so used to seeing?
Yes, yes He is. :)
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.
Matthew 7:28-29
We know the basics: Jesus was a great teacher, especially amongst His disciples. People listened to Him, were enamored with His teaching, and most of them gave the highest of respect. He was truly the Son of God for those who believed in Him.
Jesus was no doubt the greatest of the greats, second to God the Father. He deserved all the respect and praise He could. But, He possessed qualities that could make us be astounded with His personality.
1. Jesus loved selflessly
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end...
12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
John 13:1, 12-15
During Jesus' time, the washing of the feet was a custom practiced when one had visitors. It was usually the job of the household servant to wash the feet of the visitors before they came in to the house. It showed respect to the visitors. Despite the respect it gave to the owners of the feet being washed, it was considered degrading to be the one doing the washing.
Imagine, washing someone's dirty feet?
Eew!
But was we read in the passage above, Jesus exemplified the humblest form of love.
He washed His disciples feet despite His status as the Son of God. If we were to think logically, His feet deserved to be washed by His followers. But Jesus broke the norm and showed them what selfless love really was.
The mere fact that He is God who stepped down from the heavenly realms to serve His people is already a humbling experience.
Though He was God,
He did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, He gave up His divine privileges,
He took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When He appeared in human form,
He humbled Himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal's death on a cross.
Philippians 2:6-8
Jesus was a selfless lover. He didn't mind His deity, rather He focused on how He could obey the will of His Father and reflect God's genuine love to the people. If we were in Christ, we ought to love selflessly as He did. However, we are selfish lovers.
We love ourselves too much. We don't care about others most of the time.
When our parents ask us to do something, we tend to automatically complain or grumble. When our siblings ask us to share, we sometimes refuse to give some of our favorite chocolate bar to them. We don't care if our classmates are doing the wrong thing. We let them, as long as they don't affect us.
Jesus calls us to love others first as He did. The world needs more love in order for them to witness the genuine love of Christ, we must exemplify it to them. Lend a hand, share your food, be sensitive and considerate, etc.
2. Jesus uncompromisingly stood up for what is right
13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
John 2:13-16
Jesus loved God and anything related to His Father. So when He saw the temple, His Father's holy place, being trampled and trashed by the local flea market the Jews had set up, He was furious. The obvious disrespect and insensitivity the people displayed caused Him to burn in anger.
With His whip, He drove off those who did not respect the dwelling place of God.
Even though He knew He would be hated by the people, Jesus stood up for what was right.
We are often persuaded by this world to go along with its ways. We drink, we party like it's the end of the world because after all, we die anyway right? We conform to the norm and be one with the world. But if we truly are in Christ, hard as it is, we stand up for what is right.
13 So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”[a]
1 Peter 1:13-16
Say no to cheating in the classroom. Instead of being the number 1 instigator of fighting, be the peace maker. Ignore the siren calls of parties and of drinks and all that temporary fun. Don't be the most feared bully in the room. Turn a deaf ear to gossip. Save yourself for marriage.
SET YOURSELF APART!
Just as Christ did with Himself.
STAND UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT!
3. Jesus hated the sin but loved the sinner
In Luke 19:1-10, the story of Zaccheaus the hated tax collector is told. Being the chief of the tax collectors, Zacchaeus was pretty much not the best person in town. Everyone hated him for what he was, for his job of stealing money from helpless people. He loved his job with passion and was unmindful of the hurts he caused.
But when Jesus came to town, his attention was aroused and he rushed to see the Great Teacher.
As expected, crowds came to welcome Jesus. Zacchaeus, being too short, was forced to climb a sycamore tree to see Him. His plan word and Jesus noticed the tax collector. People expected the Teacher to ignore the town's most hated man, being what he was. But what Jesus did next shocked them:
5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
Luke 19:5
Jesus came into the household of the tax collector where He shared the Good News. He left that night, contented with the knowledge that souls were saved.
Jesus hated sin but had compassion for the sinners.
Just like you and me.
20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.
Romans 5:20
18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
2 Corinthians 3:18
Despite our sinful natures, Christ chose to die for us. In spite of our unworthiness, He chose to serve us, to save us from eternal damnation. He hated the sin we had but His eyes had compassion for us, the sinners. We should look at our fellowmen in the same way when they commit mistakes. Instead of judging them, we should teach them, give them advice, lead them to right path.
In that way, they won't feel judged. Rather, they will see the genuine love of Christ reflected in our lives.
Jesus was an awesome person. He was selfless, determined and compassionate. If we are truly in Him, we should learn how to follow His footsteps.
He's incredible, more than amazing!
He's the best Game Changer in the world.
Written by: Ashley Bernadette Petallano (c) 2013
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