Life Lessons From Jesus
Life Lessons From Jesus
INTRODUCTION
The life of Jesus is so commonly discussed in the Christian life, we easily become deaf
to the rich, transformative lessons under the surface. When we slow down, study the
text of Scripture inductively, ask honest questions, and lay down our assumptions, we
The quantity and quality of lessons we can glean from the life of Jesus are limitless.
There is no corner of our existence that His life will remain silent on. That being said, I
have chosen to discuss just 4 of the life lessons I am personally learning from Jesus
lately.
Identity
Jesus knew Himself. He demonstrated breathtaking awareness regarding His value, His
human limitations, His divine power, His purpose, His value, and His capacity. As a
follower of Jesus, I am invited to know myself openly and honestly, to discover all the
unique and intricate details my Maker instilled in my being…to know Who’s image I
am made in. In the same way a child can quickly be attached to their parents based on
the same nose or hair, I am unmistakably linked to my God because I bear His likeness.
I am His child. That is my identity. And everything in my life is meant to flow from a place
know who we are, and continue to allow God to determine our very being, we are able
Rest
Jesus invites us into the rhythms of Sabbath. Though He was a counter cultural
Rabbi and worked miracles on a sacred day of rest, His actions were not meant to
undo the importance of rest. Rather, He worked on the Sabbath to reveal the heart of it.
Letting God’s values and ways be supreme. Letting Him have the final say. Letting the
Kingdom of Heaven invade our man made systems and strategies. In the Gospels, we
see Jesus embracing rest in many ways. Reclining with friends around a meal, napping
in the middle of a storm, retreating for solitude and meditation, cooking breakfast by the
and goes. Our body wakes and sleeps. So must the work of our hands, the plans of our
mind, and the intentions of our hearts. In our decision to let tomorrow worry for itself, let
the day’s work yield to heavenly patterns of pause, we are praising God as the provider
Relationship
Studying the way Jesus interacts with other people is one of my favorite ways to read
the Gospels. The intentionality and precision He speaks and acts with…what a
mysterious yet welcoming presence this Man must have been to those around Him! We
see Jesus defending the outcasts of society while simultaneously nurturing the lives of
great men of power. His disciples, friends, and followers were incredibly diverse, as they
continue to be to this day. Every social class, age, gender, culture, and personality type
When Peter betrayed Jesus, He held no grudge. Instead, He uses the damage to bring
beauty and depth into the relationship. Jesus prayed blessing upon His accusers and
murderers. He spoke life into dead bodies. He spoke purity into situations of
compromise. He spoke value over the rejected. He spoke love over legalism. Jesus
challenges me to approach relationships with a heart ready to serve, forgive, bless, and