What Would Jesus Do
What would Jesus do?
To the Christian, this question holds the ultimate answer to life’s daily challenges. Yet, to others, this question gives the ultimate excuse to justify life’s daily sins. Since we cannot, honestly, claim to know the mind of another; let alone the mind of God. We must rely upon the graces of Sacred Scripture and Traditions to learn of Him.
Upon commissioning His disciples, Jesus spoke the following words to the twelve of them:
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man ‘against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household.” – Matthew 10:34-36
The leaders of Judaism (the elders and chief priests) expected the Messiah to restore peace by taking the form of a human king and ruling the lands as a human king would, in peace. They also, fully, expected to inherit ruling status in this new Kingdom as fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham. Jesus made it clear that Christianity would challenge these beliefs, causing all kinds of strife.
“Whoever loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” – Matthew 10:37-39
Jesus told His disciples that they must never compromise their love of Him and His teachings, not even for the sake of keeping peace within the family. Instead, He expects His disciples to give up their secular lives and resolve themselves to rebuke all sin, both in-and-out-ward. Remaining resolute in rebuking personal sins is difficult enough, but remaining resolute in rebuking the sins of others is far more difficult. Ironically, people love to gossip about the sins of others, but when their own sins are laid before them they become offended and advice, given out of love, is mistaken for judgement or condemnation and, usually, met with swift ire.
So, what would Jesus do?
“Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you. Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words–go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet. Amen, I say unto you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town.“ – Matthew 10:11-15
He instructed His disciples to concentrate on people who are open to receiving Jesus’ Word and to forsake those who refused to listen. Jesus told them that they were to “shake the dust from their feet”, meaning, “leave the damned to their fate”.
Jesus would do WHAT?!?!
God made mankind and endowed it with a free will, but from the beginning, mankind proven itself unworthy of such a gift. From Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden to their child, Cain, who committed the first murder; humanity has, consistently, used its free will to sin against God, our brethren, and, even, our own bodies. Even in, what are seemly, our most righteous moments in life, oftentimes, our actions and intentions become fueled by “self-gratification” in lieu of true “selfless sacrifice“, whereby you stand, absolutely, nothing to gain and everything to lose for the sake of God and your brethren. After all, is this not what Jesus did on the cross?
“Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.“ – Matthew 10:29-33
To acknowledge or deny Jesus before others is more than just accepting or rejecting His existence, it is also admitting or rejecting the truth of His Word as well. The Father knows everything that is going on in His creation, “even all the hairs of your head are counted“. So do not be afraid of persecutions by other people for publicly acknowledging Christ as the Son of God. For as they, themselves, reject Him, He, in turn, rejects them.
A Warning To The Wise
Over two thousand years have passed since Jesus walked the earth and His legacy reflects God’s mercy as well as God’s wrath to those who are worthy of it.
- Do not be deceived by the false teachings of people who seek make God in their own image and forsake the Holy Scriptures; for they do not know God.
- Do not be deceived by the false teachings of people who claim there is no heaven or hell, thus, no eternal punishment or reward; for they do not understand God’s justice.
- Do not deceive yourselves into thinking that God will ignore or justify your sins simply because they seem instinctual to you; for you do not understand God’s righteousness.
So the next time you hear someone ask, “what would Jesus do?”
Answer them boldly, “He would pray to the LORD, our God, for guidance and would obey His every command, doing what is right in the Father’s eyes, even unto death.”
May the peace of, our Lord, Jesus Christ be with you!