Post by iris89 on Nov 20, 2008 13:13:18 GMT -5
Jesus (Yeshua) is The Perfect Example to Follow Per 1 Peter 2:21:
INTRODUCTION:
For all those who want to be a better and happier personthey should consider the example set by Jesus (Yeshua) in accordance with 1 Peter 2:21,
“21 For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for youleaving you an examplethat ye should follow his steps:” (American Standard Version; ASV).
He lived an outstanding live and left us a model so we could follow in his foot steps. Now let’s have a closer look at some of his qualities that characterize the greatest man who ever lived.
QUALITIES THAT MADE JESUS (YESHUA) THE GREATEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED:
* He was approachable and warm and affable to others as revealed by an act of his recorded at Mark 5:21- “And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other sidemuch people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. 22 Andbeholdthere cometh one of the rulers of the synagogueJairus by name; and when he saw himhe fell at his feet 23 And besought him greatlysayingMy little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray theecome and lay thy hands on herthat she may be healed; and she shall live. 24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed himand thronged him. 25 And a certain womanwhich had an issue of blood twelve years 26 And had suffered many things of many physiciansand had spent all that she hadand was nothing betteredbut rather grew worse 27 When she had heard of Jesuscame in the press behindand touched his garment.
28 For she saidIf I may touch but his clothesI shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 And Jesusimmediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of himturned him about in the pressand saidWho touched my clothes? 31 And his disciples said unto himThou seest the multitude thronging theeand sayest thouWho touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and tremblingknowing what was done in hercame and fell down before himand told him all the truth. 34 And he said unto herDaughterthy faith hath made thee whole; go in peaceand be whole of thy plague.” (Authorized King James Bible; AV). In fact great crowds drew onto him per Mark 6:30-32“And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesusand told him all thingsboth what they had doneand what they had taught. 31 And he said unto themCome ye yourselves apart into a desert placeand rest a while: for there were many coming and goingand they had no leisure so much as to eat.” (AV).
Alsohe made children feel comfortable in his company as shown by Mark 10:13-16“And they brought young children to himthat he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw ithe was much displeasedand said unto themSuffer the little children to come unto meand forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto youWhosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little childhe shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his armsput his hands upon themand blessed them.” (AV).
Nowhow freely do others approach you?
* He was balancedand although Matthew 8:20 said“And Jesus saith unto himThe foxes have holesand the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (AV)he did not practice or advocate an austere lifestyle. He was not antisocial and even attended banquets as recorded at Luke 5:29“And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.” (AV).
In facthis first miracle took place at a wedding feast as recorded at John 2:1-11“And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: 2 And both Jesus was calledand his disciplesto the marriage.
3 And when they wanted winethe mother of Jesus saith unto himThey have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto herWomanwhat have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servantsWhatsoever he saith unto youdo it. 6 And there were set there six waterpots of stoneafter the manner of the purifying of the Jewscontaining two or three firkins apiece. 7 Jesus saith unto themFill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he saith unto themDraw out nowand bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wineand knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom 10 And saith unto himEvery man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunkthen that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galileeand manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.” (AV).
Thereforewe should examine our lives to see how we can balance our material and spiritual pursuits.
* He was empathetic and compassionate and had the ability to put himself in the place of others and to share their feelingsand to respond with helpful action. For example as recorded at John 11:33-44“When Jesus therefore saw her weepingand the Jews also weeping which came with herhe groaned in the spiritand was troubled 34 And saidWhere have ye laid him? They said unto himLordcome and see. 35 Jesus wept.
36 Then said the JewsBehold how he loved him! 37 And some of them saidCould not this manwhich opened the eyes of the blindhave caused that even this man should not have died? 38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a caveand a stone lay upon it. 39 Jesus saidTake ye away the stone. Marthathe sister of him that was deadsaith unto himLordby this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40 Jesus saith unto herSaid I not unto theethatif thou wouldest believethou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyesand saidFatherI thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said itthat they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when he thus had spokenhe cried with a loud voiceLazaruscome forth. 44 And he that was dead came forthbound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto themLoose himand let him go.” (AV).
Alsoon another occasion he felt sorry for a man suffering from leprosy and healed his per Matthew 8:2-3“Andbeholdthere came a leper and worshipped himsayingLordif thou wiltthou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his handand touched himsayingI will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” (AV). As he said at Luke 6:31“And as ye would that men should do to youdo ye also to them likewise.” (AV).
Likewise we must be compassionate to others in our deeds.
* He was impartial and respectfuland although he had special affection for his disciple Johnhe neverthelesshe did not show any partiality as shown by Mark 10:35-43“And James and Johnthe sons of Zebedeecome unto himsayingMasterwe would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36 And he said unto themWhat would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto himGrant unto us that we may sitone on thy right handand the other on thy left handin thy glory. 38 But Jesus said unto themYe know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39 And they said unto himWe can. And Jesus said unto themYe shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: 40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. 41 And when the ten heard itthey began to be much displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to himand saith unto themYe know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among youshall be your minister:” (AV).
He did not share in the prejudices of the people of his day such as the treatment of women as inferior to men that even today is carried over in some false religions such as Islam where the testimony of women is not considered as valuable as that of a man. In factwhen Jesus (Yeshua) openly declared himself to be the Messiah it was to a women who was a Samaritan – whom the Jews did not like – as recorded at John 4:7-26 as follows“Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus thereforebeing wearied with his journeysat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto herGive me to drink. 8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto himHow is it that thoubeing a Jewaskest drink of mewhich am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said unto herIf thou knewest the gift of Godand who it is that saith to theeGive me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of himand he would have given thee living water. 11 The woman saith unto himSirthou hast nothing to draw withand the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12 Art thou greater than our father Jacobwhich gave us the welland drank thereof himselfand his childrenand his cattle? 13 Jesus answered and said unto herWhosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 15 The woman saith unto himSirgive me this waterthat I thirst notneither come hither to draw. 16 Jesus saith unto herGocall thy husbandand come hither. 17 The woman answered and saidI have no husband. Jesus said unto herThou hast well saidI have no husband: 18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. 19 The woman saith unto himSirI perceive that thou art a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye saythat in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21 Jesus saith unto herWomanbelieve methe hour comethwhen ye shall neither in this mountainnor yet at Jerusalemworship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour comethand now iswhen the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 25 The woman saith unto himI know that Messias comethwhich is called Christ: when he is comehe will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto herI that speak unto thee am he. 27 And upon this came his disciplesand marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man saidWhat seekest thou? orWhy talkest thou with her?” (AV). Andlikewise it was a women who was granted the privilege of being the first witness to his resurrection as shown at Matthew 28:9-10“And as they went to tell his disciplesbeholdJesus met themsayingAll hail. And they came and held him by the feetand worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto themBe not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galileeand there shall they see me.” (AV).
This clearly shows that all genuine true followers of Jesus (Yeshua) should be fair-minded in their dealings with individuals of different racesgenderlanguageand nationality.
We likewise must be fair-minded in our dealings with individuals of different racesgenderlanguageand nationality.
* He was understanding and discerning. Although he was a perfect man who committed nor error – he never expected perfection in others nor did he assume an air of superiority. Alsohe did act with a lack of understanding as clearly shown in his dealings with a women of ill repute recorded at Luke 7:37-50 as follows“Andbeholda woman in the citywhich was a sinnerwhen she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s housebrought an alabaster box of ointment 38 And stood at his feet behind him weepingand began to wash his feet with tearsand did wipe them with the hairs of her headand kissed his feetand anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw ithe spake within himselfsayingThis manif he were a prophetwould have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said unto himSimonI have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saithMastersay on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred penceand the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to payhe frankly forgave them both. Tell me thereforewhich of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and saidI suppose that heto whom he forgave most. And he said unto himThou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the womanand said unto SimonSeest thou this woman? I entered into thine housethou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tearsand wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto theeHer sinswhich are manyare forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiventhe same loveth little. 48 And he said unto herThy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselvesWho is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the womanThy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” (AV).
This shows we should be quick to commend and slow to condemn individuals.
* He was a dutiful son and brother to his half brothers and sisters and to his step fatherJosephwho apparently died while Jesus (Yeshua) was still a youth. Most likelyhe helped support the family working as a carpenter per Mark 6:3“Is not this the carpenterthe son of Marythe brother of Jamesand Josesand of Judaand Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” (AV). And in the last moments of his lifehe entrusted his mother to the care of his disciple John per John 19:26-27“ When Jesus therefore saw his motherand the disciple standing bywhom he lovedhe saith unto his motherWomanbehold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the discipleBehold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.” (AV).
This shows that we should imitate Jesus (Yeshua) by assuming family responsibilities as he did.
* He was a true friend to othersand did not reject his friends just because they made mistakes – even if made repeatedly. His disciples did not always act as he would have likedbut he proved himself their friend by concentrating on their good qualities per Mark 9:33-37“And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked themWhat was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselveswho should be the greatest. 35 And he sat downand called the twelveand saith unto themIf any man desire to be firstthe same shall be last of alland servant of all. 36 And he took a childand set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his armshe said unto them 37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my namereceiveth me: and whosoever shall receive mereceiveth not mebut him that sent me.” (AV); and Luke 22:24-27“And there was also a strife among themwhich of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he said unto themThe kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among youlet him be as the younger; and he that is chiefas he that doth serve. 27 For whether is greaterhe that sitteth at meator he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.” (AV).
In fact he did not impose his viewpoint on thembut got them to express themselves freely as shown at Matthew 16:13-15“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippihe asked his disciplessayingWhom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they saidSome say that thou art John the Baptist: someElias; and othersJeremiasor one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto themBut whom say ye that I am?” (AV).
In factJesus (Yeshua) loved his friends and showed it when he said at John 15:13“Greater love hath no man than thisthat a man lay down his life for his friends.” (AV) which he was shortly to do.
This example clearly shows we should remain friends with others even if they sometimes irritate or offend us.
* Jesus (Yeshua) was very courageous and manly and hardly the weakpassive person portrayed by some artist. This fact is shown by the fact that Jesus (Yeshua) twice drove the merchants in the temple along with their goods out of the temple as recorded at Mark 11:15-17“And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the templeand began to cast out them that sold and bought in the templeand overthrew the tables of the moneychangersand the seats of them that sold doves; 16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. 17 And he taughtsaying unto themIs it not writtenMy house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (AV)and at John 2:14-17“And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and dovesand the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cordshe drove them all out of the templeand the sheepand the oxen; and poured out the changers’ moneyand overthrew the tables; 16 And said unto them that sold dovesTake these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. 17 And his disciples remembered that it was writtenThe zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” (AV).
Likewise when a mob came to arrest him per John 18:4-9“Jesus thereforeknowing all things that should come upon himwent forthand said unto themWhom seek ye? 5 They answered himJesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto themI am he. And Judas alsowhich betrayed himstood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto themI am hethey went backwardand fell to the ground. 7 Then asked he them againWhom seek ye? And they saidJesus of Nazareth. 8 Jesus answeredI have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek melet these go their way: 9 That the saying might be fulfilledwhich he spakeOf them which thou gavest me have I lost none.” (AV).
Thus it is no wonder that when Pontius Pilate saw how courage he was under arrest and mistreatmenthe declared“Look! The man!’ as recorded at John 19:4-5“And Pilate went outside again and said to them: “See! I bring him outside to YOU in order for YOU to know I find no fault in him.” 5 Accordingly Jesus came outsidewearing the thorny crown and the purple outer garment. And he said to them: “Look! The man!” (New World Translation; Nwt).
Thereforewe should be like Jesus (Yeshua) and act decisively and courageously when we understand what we must do.
CONCLUSION:
We should follow Jesus (Yeshua) example and respect othersshow them compassion and loveand be courageous in the pursuit of righteousness and the exposure of wrong thinking/doing even if it is deeply entrenched.
To witJesus’ (Yeshua’s) exemplary life teaches us what kind of person we should be. His sacrificial death can free us from sin and its effects per Romans 6:23“For the wages sin pays is deathbut the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NWT).
In factthere is even an excellent booknow out of printI believecalled “The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived” that all should read if they can find a copy.
To learn morecheck out the following:
[1] religioustruths.proboards59.com/ An Educational Referral Forum
[2] www.network54.com/Forum/403209 A Forum Devoted to Exposing The False Religion of Islam
[3] jude3.proboards92.com/ A Free-Speech Forum For All
[4] www.freewebs.com/iris_the_preacher My web site.
Your Friend in Christ Iris89