Text: Hebrews 12:1-3
“What would Jesus do?” Many religious people ask themselves this question as they try to determine the right course of action in a given situation. Their intentions may be good, but this is the wrong question. Why? It is too subjective, turning our responsibility into nothing more than what we think Jesus would do in a given situation. Instead, let us consider some other questions for which we have objective answers given in the Scriptures.
Why Did Jesus Come?
- He came “to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28) – this was always the plan (Hebrews 2:14-15; 10:4-5,10; Genesis 3:15)
- Jesus knew His mission and willingly carried it out (John 10:17-18)
- He did not come to establish an earthly kingdom (John 18:36), end sickness/suffering (Revelation 21:4), end poverty (Matthew 26:11), bring peace on earth (Matthew 10:34)
What Did Jesus Do?
- “What would Jesus do?” is speculative – people will have different answers for a given situation
- “What did Jesus do?” is objective – we can look to what the Scriptures record
- We are must look at what Jesus did because He is our perfect example (1 Peter 2:21-22) – He showed an example of complete submission to the will of God (Philippians 2:5-8)
- What Jesus did serves as the foundation of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) – death, burial, resurrection; we must follow that example (Romans 6:3-7)
What Does Jesus Require?
- Many religious people believe that the Lord simply requires that we believe in Him and love Him – yet belief without works is useless (James 2:26); love without obedience is not real love (John 14:15)
- We must obey the gospel (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Luke 24:47) – belief, repentance, baptism
- We must observe His commandments (Matthew 28:20) – a life of faithful obedience
- We must continue in His word (John 8:31-32) – study, learn, teach, and practice His word
- We must take up our cross and follow (Luke 9:23) – sacrifice self
What Will Jesus Do?
- Jesus will come again (Acts 1:9-11) – return in judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10)
- He will reward those who have been faithful (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; 2 Timothy 4:7-8)
- He will punish those who have not been faithful (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9) – some will be surprised (Matthew 7:22-23)
Conclusion
- The word of God is objective truth – fixed/settled (Psalm 119:89); unchanging (Galatians 1:8-9)
- “What would Jesus do?” – well-intentioned question, but too subjective
- We need to ask these objective questions so that we might serve God as He expects us to
