Be Like Jesus?

In my daily Bible study in Luke we get to see Jesus in action. After being rejected in His hometown, He went on to Capernaum to teach the people there. He drove out an evil spirit that was in a man in the synagogue. Afterwards, He went to Simon's mother-in-law's house. She was sick with a fever and He healed her. Then as the sun was setting, people brought all kinds of people who had various kinds of sicknesses to Jesus. He took time and laid hands on each one, one at a time, and healed each person. He drove out demons and told the demons not to speak because they knew He was the Christ. I do not know how long it took for Him to heal each person, but next we read that it was daybreak. Jesus went off to solitary place and the people followed him and begged Him not to leave. 

Let's read that section:

Luke 4:31-44 NIV

[31] Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. [32] They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. [33] In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, [34] “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” [35]  “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. [36] All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” [37] And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.  [38] Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. [39] So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. [40] At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. [41] Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. [42] At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. [43] But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” [44] And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Can you just feel the love of Jesus in this passage? He was patient and kind. He was humble. He wasn't selfish. He wasn't rude or easily angered or frustrated with the crowd. He had all the characteristics of love that First Corinthians 3:4-8 discusses. Verse 8 says "Love never fails." Jesus proved this in this passage. All those people begged Him to stay. He loved those people. How did He show it? He helped them. He met their needs. One person at a time. So beautiful. What a perfect example for us as Christians. 

It reminds me of a stanza in this old song that people used to sing in the 60s and 70s: "And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, and they'll know we are Christians by our love."

THAT'S the "light" we shine in this dark world. Love for all people. How? One person at a time as they have need. Love in "action and in truth." This is how we can be like Jesus. Show people love, one at a time, one need at a time. Helping people one need at a time. 

Jesus said in John 13:34-35 NIV

[34]  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [35] By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

This is how the world knows we belong to Jesus, by the love we give them. The apostle John made sense of this even more so in:

1 John 3:16-19 NIV

[16] This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. [17] If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? [18] Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. [19] This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 

Wow!! He nailed it with that passage!! Love people like Jesus did. Help people like Jesus did. Lay down our lives for them like Jesus did. That's loving them. That's how we can truly be like Jesus. One day at a time, one person at a time. Jesus further illustrates this in this next passage about the end of all things, that I will close out with:

Matthew 25:31-40 NIV

[31]  “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. [32] All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. [33] He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. [34]  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. [35] For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, [36] I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ [37]  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? [38] When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? [39] When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ [40]  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"

So great. Awesome. Let's be like Jesus now.

I love you all dear readers. If you need anything contact me at: postjeff0321@gmail.com.

Best regards,

Jeffrey Post