All day I have been pondering and contemplating Jesus and what His life means to me. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the one sent to die and take my place. Jesus is the life and through His resurrection gives us hope that we too will beat back death some day. Jesus is the life everlasting and our great redeemer. Jesus is all these things and I think because of all of that, we sometimes miss some of the ways Jesus through His life on earth gives us great examples and inspires us in certain ways. Jesus is the perfect leader. Jesus is the perfect teacher. Jesus is the perfect example of a loving friend. But the best example of Jesus that I have been thinking about all day is Jesus as the perfect man.
Jesus through his actions, words, and life gives us the best and perfect example for what it means to be a man, a male human being.
Jesus was tough. He defended the weak, oppressed, abused, and the poor. Jesus fought for justice and mercy. Jesus defended the truth and stood against those who opposed the truth or were lying cheating hypocrites. Jesus was tough enough to die in our place without cursing out in pain or shedding a tear.
Jesus was also tender. Jesus comforted those who were hurting. Jesus encouraged those who were downcast and depressed. Jesus looked out for the children and provided for the women around Him in His life. Jesus was tender and loving to those who were already broken about their sin. Jesus walked lovingly with those in His life who needed Him the most. Jesus was tender enough to weep at the death of His friend, knowing He was about to raise Him.
Jesus was a provider not a consumer. Jesus came and provided first, life for all mankind. Jesus also provided truth for those He met. Jesus provided for the 5,000. Jesus provided safety in the storm, a water that always gives life, and a chance for a tax collector to repent. Jesus came to provide for us rather than take from us. And the only thing Jesus would ever take from us was our sin in His act of provision.
Jesus was a creator and cultivator. Jesus nurtured and grew the life and spirit of His followers. Jesus created new life in Mary Magdalene, and the women at the well. Jesus created healing for the women with the flow of blood and He created new life for Jarius' daughter. Jesus as the man created for those around Him and cultivated a life that could also grow and flourish after He was gone.
Jesus also took responsibility. Jesus came to take responsibility for our sin. But He also took charge of His disciples, even when Satan was trying to sift Peter. Jesus took care of the Pharisees when they were trying to distract His mission. Jesus would always take the bull by the horns and deal with the issue at hand.
Jesus was not lazy, always in prayer with God, never got angry, put children first, was generous, and was a man's man. Just a few things I have been pondering and then praying about as I looked at the life of Jesus as a man and compared it to mine. Jesus was perfect so we will not be truly like Him until were are perfect with Him in heaven, but we should at least try and be transformed more and more into His image each day.
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