WDJD: What Did Jesus do?

What Did Jesus Do?

          A few years ago, it was common to see wrist bracelets with the letters, “WWJD” to encourage young people to consider what Jesus would do if faced with a similar set of circumstances. In this modern era of spiritual confusion with many hearts growing cold, it seems like a good time to review what Jesus actually did do while He was here on earth with us preaching and teaching. And we’ll use Jesus’ own words to help us understand what He did.

He died for us: Lets start with the central purpose of His mission. By His passion, death, and resurrection He came to ransom us from sin and death. We are told, the wages of sin is death. There is no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood. As Scott Hahn writes, “Jesus paid a debt that He didn’t owe because we owed a debt that we couldn’t pay.” And Jesus went to His crucifixion willingly: “No one takes my life from me. I lay it down and I can take it up again.” Jn 10:18.

He Makes all things new: By dying and rising, Jesus hit the reset on God’s creation: “Behold, I make all things new.” Rev 21: 5. God’s Paradise has been lost through the sin of Adam and Eve. The multitude of sins since then have made this world look increasingly unlike paradise. But nothing is impossible for God. Through Christ, the Kingdom of God is being restored.

He founded a Church: In order to accomplish this, He chose apostles, formed them into the Church and gave them a mission. “As the Father has sent me so I send you.” Jn 20:21 Gathering the twelve is the first thing Jesus did as He began His public ministry. The twelve apostles were not some haphazard random selection of bystanders. No, clearly they were a deliberate choice by Jesus. He spent the night in prayer before choosing them and despite their flaws and shortcomings, He molded them into the early church, to continue His mission after His ascension into heaven. His last words to them: Go and baptize all nations and teach them all that I have told you.

He appointed Peter: “Upon this rock I will build my church.” Mt 16:18 He appointed one of the twelve, Peter as the head of the church. There is debate about what Peter’s confession of faith meant. Some try to avoid the obvious meaning. But even if they quibble about what seems plainly obvious, there is still the matter of the keys. Jesus did not have twelve sets of keys made and give a set to each of the apostles. Jesus gave the keys to Peter as a symbol of His authority and then reaffirmed his authority when He told Peter to strengthen his brethren. In Great Britain, there are many ministers, each with an important role. But there is only one Prime Minister. And Jesus chose Peter as ‘Prime Minister’ not because he was the best or the brightest but because Jesus saw something in  him that could be brought to fruition and reveal God’s power.

He foretold His death and resurrection: “The Son of Man is to be handed over and put to death and raised on the third day.” Lk 24:7 He didn’t just mention His death once. He described it over and over as if we wanted there to be no misunderstanding. He wanted His followers to know that He was not blindly stumbling into a trap. He was boldly going to His death because that was His mission, the mission of the messiah.

He identified Himself as God: To those who claim Jesus never claimed to be God, we point out that Jesus said, “The Father and I are one.” Jn 10:30. When Philip asked Jesus, let us see the Father, Jesus, told him, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” Jn 14:9 He identified Himself as the alpha and the omega, a phrase used only to describe God the creator of all things. And at His trial when asked directly if He was the Son of God, He calmly replied, “I AM.” Mk 14: 61-64 This led the high priest to tear his garments, cry blasphemy and declare what further need have we for witnesses? A suitable reaction from him except that in this case, Jesus is merely stating a truth that only God can utter.

He established a new covenant: “This is the blood of the new covenant.” Mt 26:28. The new covenant described by Jeremiah is explicitly established by Jesus at the Last Supper. Jesus only used the term once and He did so in the context of the Passover meal. We should pay very close attention to what He is doing when He says it.

He gave us a new commandment: Just before He died, He gave us a new commandment. Jesus told us: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Jn 13:34. A new commandment? This would be an unthinkable act for any rabbi of the law or priest of the temple – but Jesus was not just a teacher or a priest.  He was God in the flesh.

He instructed us in how to worship in sprit and in truth: He taught us the acceptable form of worship, the worship that is pleasing to the Father when He said, “Take this all of you and eat this is my body. Take this all of you and drink, this is my blood.” Mt 26:26. And earlier, He had said, “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you.” Jn 6:53. This is the worship we should be engaged in as we await His return. And He said, “Do this in memory of Me.” Lk 22:19. He didn’t tell us how often to do it and so we do it frequently; daily in many churches and multiple times on the weekend.

He taught us how to have sins forgiven: On the evening of the Resurrection, Jesus appeared behind locked doors. He breathed on the apostles and said “Receive the Holy Spirit. Who’s sins you forgive are forgiven. Who’s sin’s you hold fast are held fast.” Jn 20:23. Humans today are no better than they were in bible times, There must be some way of dealing with sin until Christ returns. The priest, in the person of Christ has the power to forgive sins through the ministry of the Church. If someone doesn’t want to confess their sins to a priest, so be it. But, Jesus has a word of caution for them: They will die in their sins.

Last but not least, He gave us His Mother: “Behold, your mother” Jn 19:27. During His last moments on earth, Jesus was concerned not for Himself but for His Mother, and John. He was also concerned for us. He did not want to leave us orphans. From that time, the beloved disciple took Mary into his home and we should do the same. We should take Mary  into our hearts and into our homes if we want to remain faithful disciples like John.