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How Would Jesus Be...
In the 1990s, the phrase WWJD was everywhere. It stood for What Would Jesus Do? Supposedly, there was also an attempt at a follow-up using the acronym FROG—Fully Rely On God. Needless to say, FROG never jumped to the same level of popularity.
While it can certainly be helpful to consider what Jesus might do in a given situation, perhaps a better question is “How would Jesus be in this situation?” It is possible to do something in a way that Jesus might do it and yet not be like Jesus in our lives.
This is precisely what Satan does in the temptation of Matthew 4:1-11. Jesus responds to the first temptation by saying “it is written” (Matthew 4:4). After this, Satan seems to think that he can be more cunning in his scheme by doing the thing Jesus did. Satan proceeds to say “It is written” in the presentation of the second temptation (Matthew 4:6). Satan did what Jesus did, but in no way was he being like Jesus. For starters, Satan misapplies the Psalms he references.
Our aim in being disciples of Jesus is that we might be more and more like Him. God sent His Son into the world, and we should want to be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). This should impact every situation in which we find ourselves and every relationship in which we are involved.
How would Jesus be a spouse?
How would Jesus be a parent?
How would Jesus be a child of a parent?
How would Jesus be an employer?
How would Jesus be an employee?
The questions are endless, but we should take the time to ask them. Even more that that, we should take the time to meditate on the answer.
Lastly, consider 2 Peter 1:3-4, where we read, “for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust.”
It says that we “may become partakers of the divine nature.” This is more than a particular action on a particular occasion. This is a way of living which involves the anticipation of eternal joy. We refer to ourselves as human beings. So, how are we being? Or, more importantly, who is the person we are being like?
