Best Foot Forward

It must have been a bummer to be Jesus’ little brother James because, you know, Jesus was perfect. In one of his comedy routines Michael Jr. asks, “How many times do you think James heard, ‘Why can’t you be more like Jesus, James?’”

Do you sympathize with James? It’s hard to measure up to the standard of perfection Jesus set. Reading through his life shows how far we are from being like Jesus. How did he always manage put his best foot forward?

Just Like Us

Actually, the Bible claims that Jesus was just like us. The book of Hebrews in the New Testament tells us just how human he was.

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death . . .for this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way . . . Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. – Hebrews 2: 14,17,18

Jesus walked in our shoes, so to speak . . .

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. – Hebrews 4:15

But, How Did Jesus Do It?

Maybe you are thinking, “Yeah, but Jesus is God! His divine nature protected him from temptation and sin. How hard could it have been for him?” Hebrews has insight into that question, too.

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” Hebrews 5:7

Jesus suffered in the face of sin, but was delivered because of his “reverent submission” – but . . .

Submission to What?

There’s a scene in Luke 4:1-13 that tells us all we need to know about what delivered Jesus. When Satan tempted him in his physical hungers, his personal ambitions and his claims to glory, Jesus replied to temptation with three words: “It is written.”

Jesus was a Bible student. His “reverent submission” was to the Word of God.

When we read what Jesus read in the Old Testament, we see how he led a sinless life. The Bible shaped his view of God, people, the world and the devil and he kept his life pure by obeying it. Psalm 119:9-11 could be his testimony:

“How can a young person keep their way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

Jesus was as pressured by temptation as we are, but the Word of God controlled his mind and heart. In the face of extreme challenges he remembered what the Scriptures said and he relied on them. Maybe he even turned them into a prayer like this:

“Let your word be the lamp to my feet and the light for my path.” Psalm 119:105

Learn like Jesus

How did Jesus learn the Bible?

His mother had the task of teaching him the Scriptures in his first five years and then he joined other children in the synagogue where they studied and chanted the Torah until they memorized it. As a promising student Jesus continued to study and memorize the rest of the Old Testament Scriptures until he mastered them. By the age of twelve he was able to impress the top scholars in Jerusalem.

Jesus’ divine nature made him the perfect Bible student, but his way of learning the Scriptures is not out of reach for us. We have the same Bible he had, plus the parts that were written about him later in the New Testament.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

Maybe you are starting to study the Bible later in life than Jesus did, but don’t let that deter you. Take a look back at the verses in this blog post; let them sink in and change your life. Learn from just these few verses in the Bible and they will help you put your best foot forward today. Then open your Bible and keep going!

 

Photo by Olia Ghozha at Unsplash.com