No 18

(Jesus’ attributes demonstrated in the Church)

When Jesus Christ was on earth in His role as the son of a carpenter, He showed all manner of what was good. The Bible says that “….Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” (Luke 2:52). Not only was He pleasing to His Father but He undoubtedly showed much compassion and gained the favour of man. He was the epitome of kindness, meekness, purity of heart, mercy and many, many other attributes that would be characteristic of the Son of God; He was also absolutely sinless. He accomplished His earthly ministry during the last three years of His life and became what His Father wanted Him to be: the Saviour of mankind. He was and still is the example of what God wants us to be as His Church and His body. We have seen the gifts of the body in other studies and Jesus had them all. Could He preach? Did He show mercy? Was He able to discern sinful behaviour? Did He show faith? Was He wise? Could He exhort? All these attributes were perfected in Him and you know what? He wants us to reflect these same attributes in our lives as members of His Body. Oh, we will never be as perfect as He was and we will never be sinless as He was but can certainly do our best to meet the very high standard that was set by Him. The Lord gave us our marching orders in the Sermon on the Mount. It provides, in detail, how the Lord wants us to behave and what we should do during our ministry on earth. We are His Body, He is our Head and the Holy Spirit works through us to accomplish what we are supposed to do as members of His body. The Bible sums it all up in two verses of Scripture: “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18) and “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35).