Jesus said: "For I have given you an example, that you also should do
just as I have done to you."
Anyone who seriously studies the Bible, especially the New Testament is keenly aware of the timeline and authorship of what we read every day. First of all, many Christians become aware that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were very likely not written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Sounds like heresy. The timeline of these texts is one of great import and constant study. The really important thing for me to note right here is that it was many years before they were written and considerably longer still until texts were finalized and what was to be officially accepted; what was to be included had been decided. Did you know there were unaccepted Gospels? Thomas, Mary and Philip for example. My point is not to throw stumbling blocks but to have people come to the realization that before there was the written word, there were active, practicing, proselytizing Christians. They spread 'The Word" by their actions and by conveying the life and actions of Jesus and very likely, how they witnessed it with their own eyes.
So when I read John's quotation and this directive of Jesus, I give great import to the actions of Jesus that we have direct testaments to and that we know happened. I'll make a short list of a few of them here:
- Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus
- Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners
- Jesus cured the Centurions' (gay) lover
- Jesus spent time at a well conversing with a Samaritan woman
- Jesus fed the multitudes
- Jesus intervened in the stoning of an adulterer.
- Jesus had a disciple that he loved.
For the purpose of seeing what Jesus did and how he actually lived, I'd read scripture and focus on words that show what a revolutionary he really was, errr is. If we do not go by all the other stuff in Scripture and follow his actions, we have a recipe for salvation and a way of life that emulates the Father and total love. Isn't that what being a Christian is really supposed to be? It isn't someones slanted and agenda driven interpretation of passages. Being a Christian is not in all the rules and rubrics of a seemingly all powerful church that has put as many strictures on salvation as an Pharisee ever did.
We are called to live as He did. Plain, simple. Ok, not that simple sometimes but all good. Perhaps we could meditate on some of the words I have highlighted or words and actions that you know happened from Jesus' life. These were ones that stood out to me. His actions are what we are to emulate, His actions are the route to our salvation. It really is the source of WWJD.
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