Doing what Jesus would do isn’t nearly as super-spiritual, frothy, odd or goofy as it is usually thought to be. It’s pretty practical. The Bible says that the common people heard him gladly — for a very good reason.

Doing what Jesus would do

will have characteristics like – dignified, strong, sensible, magnetic.

Effective. Without mixed motives.

The four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) contain a plethora of information regarding what Jesus actually did do — when someone was rude, when someone interrupted him, or when someone evaded the important issues — so if we are interested in answering the question, “What would Jesus do?” it makes sense to check there.
Here are some examples of what Jesus actually did do in a variety of situations.
tree9When someone saw themselves as sinful and broken…He encouraged them and lifted them up.  

He saw the possibilities for redemption in their lives and did not have a need for them to feel “no good.”  Luke 5:8-10

When someone who everybody else thought was a real turkey invited Jesus to lunch – He went. 

He did not have a need to prove Himself by who He associated with or didn’t associate with.  Luke 5:29, 30

trees1When those who should have known better were afraid, He reproved them and helped them in their fear.

His motive for exposing weakness was to help–therefore, exposing the weakness was not contrary to helping.  Luke 8:24-25

When someone said something inappropriate and with bad judgment, He did not make that person feel foolish or stupid. 

He allowed for lack of understanding and allowed for time for folks to understand better.  He did not expose others’ lack of understanding to make Himself look good.  Luke 9:33, 34

When He was interrupted in the middle of speaking by a a rather bizarre occurrence, He allowed the interruption, listened to the reason for it, and did what He could to meet the need.

He was not embarrassed by the need or by the method.  He did not need to control others’ behavior (Note: on other occasions, He stopped people flat in their tracks…He didn’t let other people control His behavior either) Luke 5:18-20

tree5When someone got felt deprived and unrewarded because mercy was shown to someone who didn’t deserve it, He advocated explaining as much as possible to the unhappy one; advocated forgiveness where needed; and, advocated accountability and mature behavior all around.

He was aware of swings of human behavior and emotions but did not think they should be unleashed in a moment of disappointment. Luke 15:25-32

When someone who honestly didn’t get it asked Him for clarification regarding something He had said, He gave it

He was approachable. His way of teaching did not set up barriers, but invited explortion.  Luke 12:41, 42

tree3When He was faced with the specifics of His own death (including some torture) He continued thinking clearly with regard to others’ situations and needs, and spoke to the issue.

Personal pressure and fracture did not reveal anything that was contrary to what He had been teaching.  Luke 23:26-28

When He had information that others did not have, He shared it if it was going to be needed – even when they didn’t know what they didn’t know, and didn’t know it would be needed.

*He did not try to protect some image by being predictable; He was not jealous of inside information; He was generous with knowledge; He did not talk down to His audience even as He knew they would not all, or always, get it. John 2:19-24

When someone had lived with chronic illness for a length of time, He questioned them about their desire to be made whole. He didn’t assume they weren’t ok with being sick.

tree8He knew human frailty and realized that it was possible that someone did not want to be well. He called for a commitment, and a declaration of a desire to be whole.  He knew that weakness/illness could be attractive in some ways and clarified the issue. John 5:6

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 So, there you have it. Answers to the question, “What would Jesus do?”

Probably something similar to what He did.

*He encouraged broken people and went to lunch with those who invited Him. He challenged His closest friends when they had irrational fears and wasn’t too hard on someone who misspoke.

*He didn’t get irritated with unexpected interruptions from folks who needed Him to do something He was able to do for them.

*He shared information with His friends that He knew they’d be needing, but He didn’t open Himself up to being used and abused by those who might be manipulative.

That’s probably what He would do!

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