37 Glimpses From The Life Of Jesus

So, I started this post over a year ago. It was just another one of those lists that I love to create for myself as a reference point. At the time, it felt incomplete and so it has sat there ever since. Then last week my Power of a Praying Wife group made it to chapter 10 - “His Choices”. As wives, we’re considering our choices too. This list came back to the surface and some other items were added. While it's still incomplete, there is certainly enough to get your thinking juices flowing.

In a world full of “do this” and “do that”, I thought it might be better to look to Jesus and what He did. Remember that popular phrase “WWJD” (What Would Jesus Do)? Well, this list is a conglomeration of things that I see when I look at his life. It might be a little too literal in some places …or is it? I don’t know. It’s not intended to be legalistic but rather to provoke thought in your own [and my] prayer life and actions. I can’t quite get the words the way that I want them on a few of these but I need to post it in order to keep the group moving along. Most of my documents are living documents anyway, which I go back and edit as I see fit and when time permits. This one is no different, so please feel free to check it again later. 

Oh and forgive the spacing. Blogger doesn't play nice with formatting, especially bullets.

I hope it stirs you to study your Bible and that it encourages you wherever you are on your own path. 

1. He used what He had – In any of the miracles you see that Jesus performed He is seen using only what He had or what was close by. Now, I believe that there is a holiness to that and so I don’t want to negate it with what I am getting ready to say. After all, He is part of God. But for the purpose of this bullet and our day-to-day let’s compare: using mud to heal the blind man, water to make wine, when He restored the ear of the high priest’s servant, etc.
   
   This speaks to me in my day to day, not even on a miracle-level yet. I’ve taken instant potatoes to a covered dish before because it was what I had. Sophie painted rocks for the activity/gift at a birthday party because it was what I had, I’ve written notes to encourage someone before instead of purchasing something because it was what I had. By no means are any of those things miracles BUT our society caters to buying MORE (and I can still get caught in the trap too) when it’s not even necessary. When I let God use me and what I have it has often meant more than what could be purchased or it freed me from some additional burden. If Jesus can make miracles from nothing or very little, you and I can get through our day to day with the same.
2. I once heard someone point out that when Jesus healed the blind man with mud, He used something that we were also made from like the dust of the ground. It made me wonder how many other little things just like that, I overlooked and what the relevance might be to them. I know that there is a holiness to them and a purpose in each one. While, I may not have unpacked them yet, let us not forget at a minimum that Jesus was a part of miracles. Do you and I even dare to get involved on that level with others or ourselves? Heck are we even part of the prayer chain leading up to it?
3. In any of those examples, He also shared what He had, no matter how little, with everyone. He understood that what was given to him, was not his alone.
   
   Can you and I do the same? When we make dinner and it’s only enough for one or two, can we invite someone to it. When you only have a dollar in your pocket or a material item be it jewelry, clothes or an appliance that someone else needs could you share it? …even if it means all of it.
4. When He spoke, it was the truth and only the truth. He didn’t add to it. Short. Simple. To the point. How many times do we unnecessarily add our opinions, our feelings, judgments, speculations or rationalizations? While those additions are often valuable, imagine what our conversations would look like if they were more like his.  How many of our conversations even include scripture?
5. He was tempted but always resisted.
6. And in case you missed it, He used scripture again to combat his temptations.
7. A pastor’s wife once said that when you hear someone say “Well, you’re only human….” Remember that Jesus was also human and still chose to live obediently and exhibited self control. –Bam!
8. “Ever notice that Jesus seems to see people as they could be, not as they are today? He saw disciples in ordinary fishermen, saints in sinners. He elevated people beyond their present circumstances so they could see a future full of potential not visible in their present state.” Taken from God’s Faint Path.
9. True to self and God. - There are some important similarities between The Festival of Tabernacles with his brother John 7:1-13 and The wedding in Cana with his mother John 2:1-11. In both cases, Jesus goes on to do what his relatives had suggested, but He does so on his own terms. These two stories emphasize Jesus' loyalty to his heavenly Father's will. Not even those closest to Jesus in human terms--his mother and brothers--could influence him. He must be entirely open and obedient to God. Here we see again Jesus as the model of discipleship. Taken from commentary.
10. He doesn’t complain. In both of those examples He makes the statement, “My hour has not come” and in other places, He says “I was about my father’s business…” or “It is good for me to go….” He KNEW that He was going to die. Yet you never see him complaining or acting like a martyr. He doesn’t even drag his feet onto the next task.
11. What are some things that Jesus said about himself? “I am the light of the world.” “All things have been handed over to me by my Father.“ “If you follow me you will be set free!” “I speak what the Father taught me.” I know you’re not going to say that you’re the light of the world but could you who believes say any of the same things about yourself to someone else?
12. What about things He said to others? “You can’t hear from God because you do not belong to him.” “Whoever confesses is saved…” or “Judgment will be worse for you than….” or even something as simple as "Lazarus, come out!" Do you or can you say any of those things as boldly as He did? In this item and the previous, there are a few things that are still hard for me. –Especially on the level of boldness! Does our comfort level with any of these examples tell us something about our own faith? Pretty thought provoking, huh?!
13. He didn’t need the disciples to cheer him on. He wasn’t looking to see what people on earth [sinners] we’re doing before figuring out what his steps should look like. He looked to God. Even when others accused or persecuted him or when they didn’t even understand his purpose; In nearly every passage you find Jesus, He is looking to God himself or pointing others to him.And since every single one of us on Earth is a sinner, shouldn’t we also look to him? Isaiah 55:8 says - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.”
14. In John 17 – Jesus looks to the heavens and says "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you”. Whether you believe that this is a real account or just a story, you most likely know what he’s referring to and it is anything other than “glorious”. Yet he’s ready and He does glorify God. Period. How about you and I? Even when we are presented with something inglorious or perhaps even when it turns our different than we were expecting, can we still glorify God in that circumstance or after? And to me "glory" is a little different than #13 where we're just looking and pointing.
15. What about in John 6:27 when Jesus tells the crowd at Capernaum “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you...” What about you? Could you give up a career or at least, rearrange your schedule to get more spiritual food than bread?
16. Jesus prayed – We believe that God already knows our prayers and so we don’t always take the time to pray them. But if God knows anyone, He certainly knows Jesus. Jesus IS part of the Trinity. Yet He still took the time to pray, for himself, and for others.
17. Jesus Trusted - I remember once asking someone what his prayers might have looked like or sounded like. My friend said we see that here.  I thought to myself, No, for real…like when He was in private or what wasn’t recorded in scripture. I mean here he’s playing it cool. He’s going to a cross to die. Yet sometimes in my own prayers, I am freaked our and scared to death over lesser things. Don’t you think that there was a moment when he was at least that scared?
    We catch a glimpse of that when He prayed for the Father to take his cup, the verse says that He prayed earnestly. –Which means purposefully, with depth and fervor. He says “if you are willing” and the verse says He was strengthened. It didn’t change what God laid out, it changed him.
    
    Even then does his prayer in the heat of the moment sound like yours? How does it differ and why?
18. In John 17:9 again while Jesus is praying He says “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, for they are yours.” It’s easy to consider our children and spouses given to us but what about our coworkers, our friends, our enemies or even complete strangers. Is anyone that is in your path, given to you? Is everyone in your path even your enemies, treated as belonging to God and serving a purpose in your life?
19. He served - Jesus recognized and understood all of the power that was given to him and yet while He could be delegating responsibilities, He served instead.  –Not just in healing the sick, making wine or appearances but He even washed the feet of his disciples.
20. He didn’t hide his emotions. He marveled. He wept. He was angry. He loved.
21. He came to _______ not to ______. John 3:17
22. Jesus is seen not just eating but also kicked back and reclining not only with his friends but also with tax-payers and the Pharisees. In fact, He even tells us to invite the poor and the Pharisees instead of our friends. Although not just to serve them or do some good deed but to sit down and know them and let them know you. Even during the Last Supper, He is seen again reclining; knowing full well that he’s going to die the next day AND that someone who is at the table is going to betray him. You’ll also notice that those who were with him, reclined too.
    
    Do you and I eat at a table or in the car always on the go and miss the essence of breaking bread with others. I don’t yet know what it is but there is something that happens when we eat together without any other distractions. Also, do our tasks, prejudices or something else limit when or who we do that with?
23. Even Jesus was baptized (Mat 3:13-17)
24. And filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1)
25. And He fasted. (Mat 4)
26. And He sang.
27. Most of us speculate that “the least of these” is a reference for those in need, children, or the sick. I also read a thought provoking article that said it might even be messengers of Christ and those in the church. I wonder if it’s actually anything or everything that we think that we’re above. For instance, if we ‘don’t do’ hospitals and funerals or if we are above leading or spending time with a certain age group. No one was too little for him.
    
    This is my emphasis alone “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to [what you consider to be] one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’’  -Where are you willing and unwilling to serve?
28. He showed honor for parents.
29. Mary & Martha referred to Lazarus as the one Jesus loved. John was also often referred to the same way and even said so about himself.  Do those in your circle know and claim your love for them?
30. He accepted what others had to give, no matter how small and didn’t rebuke it. (Example: woman & perfume and the widows coins)
31. It seems like anyone in the Bible that met Jesus either loved or hated him. Many were radically changed by one encounter alone. Do you and I even put ourselves out there enough to be unforgettable or to stir the hearts of others or are we kept to ourselves; holding back or hiding [as in not even discovering or sharing] our talents, testimonies and truth?
32. Content with little. He was a traveler. He had no earthly home of his own from what I can tell. He most likely only had the clothes on his back. No other material possessions. Would that be enough for you and me?
33. Talk about solely depending on God's provision- Not only going with so little but also in depending on what was given by others? I mean how many times have you heard someone say or even said yourself “I don’t accept handouts” or “If I can’t get it myself, I’ll go without.” Or “I don’t need anyone”. I don’t believe that we were made to be self-sufficient silos or to only be the ones giving the helping hand. We were also made to also receive it. Humility comes with a little humiliation. Trusting that God can provide what you need not necessarily what you want or the way that you want it.
34. Where are your roots? Is it your church or your career or your hobby? I mean we plan and save for college and retirement. We pay 30-year mortgages and search for solidity and permanence in our plans. A friend says [something like] we have an “eternal longing in our hearts” and so whether or not we realize it, we’re drawn to things about going home or securing the future. But is it supposed to be satisfied or long lasting here? Did Jesus or the disciples have security in anything other than God? Maybe it only depends on each of our callings, like the difference between a missionary, a monk (and then anyone in between) but it makes me think none-the-less. How rooted are we supposed to be in anything while we’re here?
35. Asking rhetorical questions like to the lame man,  "Do you want to be well?" Sure the obvious answer for me would be that we should question everything but Jesus certainly wasn't questioning what He already knew. He was giving the other person questions instead of stating all of the answers, letting others find the answer themselves. See here for more.
36. He died for everyone, not just his mother and brothers and close friends.
37. Even though He was going to give the biggest or greatest thing that He could give, He didn’t let it stop him from giving in the lesser ways before then.

Whew you made it to the end! -And I know there is so much more to add! I didn't even get into his childhood yet. Tell me what else I missed or what things stand out to you about his life, from your own study time. Comment below.

The point is that He died so that you could live. How do you spend that life honoring, ahem Glorifying him and who are you looking to for guidance in it?



Photo Credit: https://www.pinterest.com/yogibynature/faith-runs-deep/ also: https://hopeandhappinessmission.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/e124f811c287ecb5ef2a174f60778506.jpg