Jesus’ Character and Teachings (Practicing the Way)
Jesus’ character and teachings, as emphasized in Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer, reveals the depth of His love, humility, and devotion to God’s will. Each trait is not just an example but an invitation to live as His apprentices, transforming our hearts and actions to reflect His way of life.
Father,
Thank You for sending Jesus to show us the way to live. Help us to keep His character at the center of our hearts and His teachings as the guide for our lives. Fill us with His love, that we may love others selflessly. Shape us in His humility, that we may serve rather than seek status. Teach us His compassion, that we may see others as He sees them.
Holy Spirit, lead us to walk as Jesus walked - trusting the Father, living simply, forgiving freely, and speaking truth with boldness and grace. Keep our hearts at rest in Him, finding joy in His presence and peace in His ways.
Make us more like Jesus today than we were yesterday. Let our lives reflect His light.
Amen
At the core of Jesus’ teachings is love. He declared that love for God and others is the greatest commandment, a principle that shaped everything He did. His love wasn’t just for those who followed Him but extended even to His enemies, challenging His apprentices to embody this radical, sacrificial love in their daily lives.
Jesus’ humility was evident in the way He served others. He, the Son of God, knelt to wash His disciples’ feet, an act that shocked them. He taught that true greatness isn’t found in power or status but in serving others, a lesson ultimately displayed in His willingness to die on the cross for humanity’s sake.
Compassion and mercy defined His ministry. He saw the crowds and was moved, reaching out to the sick, the broken, and the outcast. He touched lepers, healed the blind, and wept with those who grieved. His invitation to His followers was clear: just as God is merciful, they too must extend mercy to others.
Jesus lived fully dependent on the Holy Spirit, resisting the pull of the flesh and teaching others to do the same. In His most famous sermon, He called people to live in step with God’s Spirit rather than being ruled by their own desires. His life was a demonstration of what it means to be truly free—walking in obedience to God.
Simplicity and trust in God marked Jesus’ way of life. He had no home, no wealth, and yet He was never anxious about provision. He taught that God cares for even the birds and the flowers—how much more, then, does He care for His children? His apprentices were called to seek God’s Kingdom first, trusting that everything else would be provided.
Nonviolence and forgiveness were at the heart of Jesus’ message. He rejected retaliation, teaching His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecuted them. Even in His final moments on the cross, He forgave His executioners, showing a kind of love that defies human instinct and calls His disciples into a new way of living.
Obedience to the Father’s will defined Jesus’ mission. He sought the Father’s guidance in everything, even when it led Him to suffering. In the garden of Gethsemane, He wrestled with what lay ahead but ultimately surrendered, saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” He calls His apprentices to the same kind of surrender, trusting that God’s plan is always better than their own.
Though He was always busy serving others, Jesus prioritized rest. He withdrew to quiet places to pray, modeling a rhythm of work and Sabbath that invited His followers into a way of life that wasn’t rushed or burned out. His invitation was simple yet profound: “Come to me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest.”
Boldness and truth were woven into everything Jesus said. He spoke with authority, challenging corruption, confronting hypocrisy, and proclaiming the good news of God’s Kingdom, even when it made Him enemies. He calls His followers to live with that same integrity, standing firm in God’s truth no matter the cost.
Finally, Jesus was full of joy. He attended weddings, shared meals with friends, and celebrated life. He taught that following Him isn’t about religious duty but about abiding in God’s presence, where true joy is found. His promise to His disciples was clear: remain in Him, and their joy would be complete.
Each of these traits—love, humility, compassion, dependence on the Spirit, simplicity, nonviolence, obedience, rest, boldness, and joy—paints a picture of the life Jesus calls His apprentices to live. To follow Him is not just to believe in Him but to become like Him, walking in His way every day.
Father,
Thank You for sending Jesus to show us the way to live. Help us to keep His character at the center of our hearts and His teachings as the guide for our lives. Fill us with His love, that we may love others selflessly. Shape us in His humility, that we may serve rather than seek status. Teach us His compassion, that we may see others as He sees them.
Holy Spirit, lead us to walk as Jesus walked - trusting the Father, living simply, forgiving freely, and speaking truth with boldness and grace. Keep our hearts at rest in Him, finding joy in His presence and peace in His ways.
Make us more like Jesus today than we were yesterday. Let our lives reflect His light.
Amen
Love
Matthew 22:36-40, Matthew 5:43-48At the core of Jesus’ teachings is love. He declared that love for God and others is the greatest commandment, a principle that shaped everything He did. His love wasn’t just for those who followed Him but extended even to His enemies, challenging His apprentices to embody this radical, sacrificial love in their daily lives.
Humility
John 13:12-17, Philippians 2:5-8, Mark 10:42-45Jesus’ humility was evident in the way He served others. He, the Son of God, knelt to wash His disciples’ feet, an act that shocked them. He taught that true greatness isn’t found in power or status but in serving others, a lesson ultimately displayed in His willingness to die on the cross for humanity’s sake.
Compassion and Mercy
Matthew 9:36, Mark 1:40-42, Luke 6:36Compassion and mercy defined His ministry. He saw the crowds and was moved, reaching out to the sick, the broken, and the outcast. He touched lepers, healed the blind, and wept with those who grieved. His invitation to His followers was clear: just as God is merciful, they too must extend mercy to others.
Dependence on the Spirit
Luke 4:1, Matthew 5-6-7Jesus lived fully dependent on the Holy Spirit, resisting the pull of the flesh and teaching others to do the same. In His most famous sermon, He called people to live in step with God’s Spirit rather than being ruled by their own desires. His life was a demonstration of what it means to be truly free—walking in obedience to God.
Simplicity
Matthew 6:19-34, Matthew 6:33Simplicity and trust in God marked Jesus’ way of life. He had no home, no wealth, and yet He was never anxious about provision. He taught that God cares for even the birds and the flowers—how much more, then, does He care for His children? His apprentices were called to seek God’s Kingdom first, trusting that everything else would be provided.
Nonviolence and Forgiveness
Matthew 5:38-44, Luke 23:34Nonviolence and forgiveness were at the heart of Jesus’ message. He rejected retaliation, teaching His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecuted them. Even in His final moments on the cross, He forgave His executioners, showing a kind of love that defies human instinct and calls His disciples into a new way of living.
Obedience
Luke 22:42, Matthew 16:24-26Obedience to the Father’s will defined Jesus’ mission. He sought the Father’s guidance in everything, even when it led Him to suffering. In the garden of Gethsemane, He wrestled with what lay ahead but ultimately surrendered, saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” He calls His apprentices to the same kind of surrender, trusting that God’s plan is always better than their own.
Rest
Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, Matthew 11:28-30Though He was always busy serving others, Jesus prioritized rest. He withdrew to quiet places to pray, modeling a rhythm of work and Sabbath that invited His followers into a way of life that wasn’t rushed or burned out. His invitation was simple yet profound: “Come to me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest.”
Boldness and Truth
John 18:37, John 8:31-32Boldness and truth were woven into everything Jesus said. He spoke with authority, challenging corruption, confronting hypocrisy, and proclaiming the good news of God’s Kingdom, even when it made Him enemies. He calls His followers to live with that same integrity, standing firm in God’s truth no matter the cost.
Joy and Celebration
Luke 7:34, John 2:1-11, John 15:11Finally, Jesus was full of joy. He attended weddings, shared meals with friends, and celebrated life. He taught that following Him isn’t about religious duty but about abiding in God’s presence, where true joy is found. His promise to His disciples was clear: remain in Him, and their joy would be complete.
Each of these traits—love, humility, compassion, dependence on the Spirit, simplicity, nonviolence, obedience, rest, boldness, and joy—paints a picture of the life Jesus calls His apprentices to live. To follow Him is not just to believe in Him but to become like Him, walking in His way every day.
Comments