Developing The Character Of Jesus Series

April 30, 2022

So far in our discipleship journey, we have talked about ASSUMPTIONS, TRANSFORMATION, COUNTING the COST, and SURRENDER-ADJUST-OBEY, which brings us now to DEVELOPING the CHARACTER of JESUS.

One day as the crowds were gathering, Jesus went up the mountainside with his disciples and sat down to teach them {Matthew 5-7 NLT}:

"Blessed is the one who realizes his NEED for Jesus….”

Developing Jesus’ character involves dependence - accepting the fact that we can no longer live life independent from God - knowing that Jesus is our only hope. We leave self-sufficiency at the side of the road because He will call us to do things which are humanly impossible as we are placed in situations that will require faith and dependence on Him.

“Blessed is the one who MOURNS….”

Developing Jesus’ character involves shifting our focus from the things of this world to eternity.

We will see the sinfulness of our own sins. We will mourn over the separation from God they have caused and will desire restoration and reconciliation.

We will see the world as Jesus sees it - a place of desperate need - a place steeped in darkness - a place unaware that it is dancing toward eternal loss - and we will mourn over it as Jesus does.

“Blessed is the one who is HUMBLE….”

Developing Jesus’ character involves understanding exactly what we are before a Holy and Just God. Humility doesn’t mean we lack power, rather humility means we choose to hand over our power and insistence on personal control to Jesus. The humble are those who trust God and surrender to His authority even when they can’t make sense of the circumstances.

“Blessed is the one who hungers and thirsts for RIGHTEOUSNESS….”

Developing Jesus’ character involves leaving our self-righteousness at the side of the road recognizing that it amounts to nothing more than a pile of filthy, stinky, disgusting rags. We are no longer nourished by our own righteousness, so we grow hungry and thirsty for the righteousness of Jesus - we yearn for the transformed life that is found only in Him.

“Blessed is the one who is MERCIFUL….”

Developing Jesus’ character involves “HESED” = loyalty, goodness, kindness, devotion, faithfulness, favor, mercy, unchanging love --- going above and beyond what is expected. “HESED” moved Jesus to action, and it will lead His disciples to be moved to action as well.

“Blessed is the one whose HEART is PURE….”

Developing Jesus’ character involves a change in our motives. As we hunger and thirst after God’s righteousness, He fills us with His authentic internal righteousness which replaces our outer shows of fake righteousness. As that happens our intentions and motives become pure.

“Blessed is the one who WORKS for PEACE….”

Developing Jesus’ character involves committing to peace. A peacemaker resolves conflict, is quick to apologize, does not seek revenge and loves his enemy.

As Francis of Assisi prayed: “Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.”

“Blessed is the one who is MOCKED - PERSECUTED - LIED ABOUT because he is My follower and lives for God….”

Developing Jesus’ character involves knowing full well that we will be mocked and persecuted and our motives will be misinterpreted and misrepresented because we choose loyalty to Jesus above all else. We know that nothing will be fully made right until Jesus returns, so we stop wasting our time worrying about this thing or that thing. We become less concerned about personal rights, slights and injustices and more concerned about introducing others to the only sure guarantee of hope and a future.

"You are the salt of the earth…… You are the light of the world -- glowing in the night for all to see.”

Developing Jesus’ character involves having a positive impact for Jesus in every situation we find ourselves in + active participation in the Great Commission. Salt makes everything around it salty and light permeates even the darkest of corners and so should it be with the disciple of Jesus.

Mother Teresa - Let no one come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.

"You have heard that the law of Moses says…. But I say…..”

• Do not murder….. If you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!

• Do not commit adultery…. Anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

• A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a letter of divorce…. A man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.