Journey of the SoulSample

The Example of Jesus, Part One 

Our Lord has gone before us on the path of life, and He shows us the way to love God and neighbor. To trace the steps of our Master, let’s turn to the Gospel of Luke, which puts special emphasis on the Son of God’s personal development as a human being who is our Living Blueprint. Jesus showed Confidence in God (C Stage) at an early age. He developed a loving relationship with His Father in heaven through people who cared for Him, especially His mother, who treasured Him and pondered His significance.

As a boy in Help in Discipleship (H Stage), our Lord grew in strength, wisdom, and favor with God and people. His parents and others (like the synagogue leaders in Nazareth) helped Him learn to worship God, read the Scriptures, pray, and serve others. As a young adult Jesus grew in Responsibilities in Ministry (R Stage) through teaching the Scriptures and loving people in His job as a carpenter. 

During these hidden years He may have encountered what we call The Wall, in manual labor for many years (Luke 3:23), being rejected by His hometown, and being pressured by unfair expectations from His family. Yet through these trials He loved others with joy.

At the start of His public ministry when Jesus was thirty years old, He was renewed in the Inner Journey (I Stage). First, He was baptized by John in the Jordan River and had a special experience of grace in which He heard His Father’s voice from heaven proclaim, “You are my Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). 

Then the Spirit drew Him into the desert wilderness for forty days, and this included testing from Satan at The Wall and more Inner Journey growth through solitude, fasting, Scripture meditation, and prayer to foster intimacy with His Father, clarify His ministry calling, and resist Satan by resolving to do God’s will (Luke 4:1–13). Even during His busy ministry Jesus often withdrew to be alone with His Abba, Who was the source of His compassion, wisdom, and power (Luke 5:16).

Tomorrow we’ll finish our look at Luke’s Gospel for Jesus’ way of faith development with the CHRIST model. 

What area of your life has been shaped by a growing Confidence in God (C Stage)? What circumstance(s) have influenced your confidence to grow? What person in your life has helped you in discipleship (H Stage)?