Have you ever wondered what Jesus was like as a human being? I mean, suppose that you had happened to live next door to Jesus? What sort of neighbor would he have likely to have been? What if you could have had lunch with him at your local Galilee diner? Let me share a few things with you today about Jesus that we know from Scripture.
He wasn’t a particularly handsome sort of fella and had “no beauty that we should desire Him…” (Isaiah 53:2), it was Jesus’ personality that drew men to Him. He was a man of great character.
Jesus had a COMPASSIONATE nature. He had compassion on the crowds “because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Because of His compassion for them, He healed their diseases.
Jesus was SERIOUS and FOCUSED. He had a mission in life and never got sidetracked from it.
Jesus was SUBMISSIVE to His Father’s will when He came to earth and subsequently went to the cross. He knew that dying on the cross was the only payment His Father could accept for our salvation.
Jesus had a heart of MERCY and FORGIVENESS. On the cross, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
Jesus had a reputation for being GOOD and CARING. He healed often so that the people might know who He was. Truly He proved to be the Son of the living God by all the miracles.
Jesus was HONEST and TRUTHFUL. He never violated His own word.
Jesus was INTIMATE with His followers. He spent quality and quantity time with them. He desired their fellowship, taught them, and helped them focus on what was eternal.
Jesus was PATIENT, knowing and understanding our weaknesses.
Philippians 2:1–11 is a helpful summary of what Jesus was like and how we should imitate Him:
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
How would “you” like to have walked and talked with Jesus in person? The truth is that we can talk with Jesus any moment of any day and be heard, valued and loved by the savior of mankind. Have you spoken with Jesus the Christ today?