by: Cris Corzine-McCloskey
I recently read a book by Judah Smith entitled, Jesus Is: Find a New Way to Be Human. I liked the book and would recommend it, but what I liked even more was that title. Jesus is our model, because, despite being 100% God, He was also 100% human, and did His earthly walk as a man. Moreover, He did it as a man with no sin, filled with the Holy Spirit, in right relationship with His Heavenly Father. Last I checked, thanks to the cross, that’s what we have. Our sin has been put away, we have right standing with God, and we are filled with His Spirit. Jesus is our model, and Jesus was virtually impossible to offend.
I suggested last week that the reason for His unflappable nature was that He took the right things personal. Namely, His relationship with His Father and every word His Father said about Him and to Him. For instance, after hearing the public announcement that He, Jesus, was God’s beloved Son in whom God was well pleased, He launched His public ministry. After His first sermon the people tried to shove Him off a cliff (Luke 4). Short of Stephen being stoned after his first speech, I think that goes down in the books as worst start to ministry ever. Yet Jesus was completely unfazed.
After that epic start, the offenses kept coming. The Pharisees never tired of trying to set Him up so they could kill Him. He earned the reputation of being a glutton and a drunk (Luke 7:34) and they dubbed Him the ‘friend of sinners.’ We think that’s cool and sing songs about it. I don’t think they meant it as a compliment. They also accused Him of being a demon possessed Samaritan (John 8:48). Prior to the cross his own family did not believe in him (John 7:5). His followers turned on Him on a regular basis and one day hailed Him as King, then called for His death. His closest friends betrayed Him and ran out on Him. Then the unthinkable. He allowed himself to be nailed to a cross with our spit on His face and prayed for our forgiveness. This is our model on how to be human?!? How did He do it?
I tell you how he did it. He knew who He was, what His mission was, and that He had all authority. Check it out in John 13:3-5. That was the knowledge He carried, and it’s where He got His esteem needs met. We weren’t here to meet His esteem needs, He came to meet ours. Real, true love does not need or require anything from it’s recipient, because real love is not self-seeking (1 Corinthians 13). When we need others to love us back and treat us nice for us to be okay, we don’t unconditionally love them, we are using them to satisfy our needs. Jesus wasn’t needy, because all His needs were met by His Heavenly Daddy. Guess what, believer? According to Philippians 4:19 God will supply all your needs, too, according to His riches. Esteem needs and all. That’s what it means to know who you are in Christ, because according to the bible, you are just like Jesus (1 John 4:17). If you start remembering who’s kid you are (Child of the one true King!!) you might get a little thicker skin. Remember, those people out there that keep hurting your feelings did not know you before the foundation of the world, your Daddy did! You are here to love them and get your needs met by your Father, so chin up, saint. You are made to love the unlovable, because as Jesus is, so are you in this world (1 John 4:17). Now, get out there and guard your heart against offense, love unconditionally, and make your Daddy proud!
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