Who Is Jesus? Part 2Sample

It’s Personal

In chapter 7, Jesus wrapped up the Sermon on the Mount by summing up the Law and the Prophets (pretty much the entire Old Testament) with one sentence: 

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12 NIV

Jesus is saying that all the rules the Israelites were trained to follow and all the messages from God that the prophets brought were trying to accomplish this one purpose: teaching us to become the kind of people who could love others the same way that God has loved us. 

Matthew notes that the crowds were amazed by Jesus’ teaching, not just because of what He taught, but the way He taught it. He taught with authority, unlike any of the religious teachers of His day. How could Jesus speak with such authority? Chapter 8 shows us clearly: Authority is born out of integrity. In other words, Jesus didn’t just talk a good game when it came to loving people, He really loved them in significant, sacrificial ways. Look at Jesus’ interaction with the leper: 

A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Matthew 8:2-3 NIV

Notice how Jesus touches the man before He says anything to him. Jesus knew that this touch would speak much more loudly than His words ever could. See, lepers were considered unclean, and due to the highly contagious nature of their condition, they were ostracized from society. Isolated. Without human contact. Sound familiar? We all know what quarantine feels like at this point and how incredibly meaningful that first hug was when we emerged! So imagine yourself in this guy’s shoes. Jesus 100% could have healed the man from a distance, and it would have probably been easier for Him, socially speaking. There was a serious stigma against those who associated with an outcast. But Jesus chose to move close and actually touch him, healing the man physically, but also restoring him relationally and emotionally. 

So right after Jesus told us to treat others the same way we want to be treated, He showed us what that looks like in action. And that’s what integrity is: When your words and actions are consistent. You aren’t representing yourself one way and behaving another way. That’s why Jesus could speak with such authority about loving people, because that’s exactly what our God does. He didn’t shout His love from heaven, He showed it in person. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.