Friday, January 15, 2016
Luke 2:49-52 (ESV) And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them ... and Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS
Jesus was obedient to His parents. He didn't use their short-comings as an excuse to disobey or disrespect them. Furthermore, Jesus was clearly respectful toward others at Nazareth--not because they were perfect, but because He knew those relationships had been put in place for His blessing by His heavenly Father. In these things Jesus was above all our Savior. He was there for us in all of those relationships--fulfilling God's loving will through His caring and thoughtful actions, not only because of His love for His Father, but also because of His love for you and me.
Jesus is far more than a good example for us, but He is that indeed. Knowing that He represented us in living out God's love in everyday life, we can use His actions (even as a 12-year-old) both to comfort our hearts and to encourage ourselves in Christian living. The Apostle Peter shows us how these two things go together.
Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps ... He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (1 Peter 2:21, 24-25 ESV).
Jesus is our Savior and our Leader. When we follow His example we do it as sheep who have been rescued from death to follow our Shepherd in life.
