Following the Words, Works and Way of Jesus…
By: Brian Harris
He had expressed his Christian faith simply: “I am trying to follow the words, the works and the way of Jesus.”
I thought it a helpful summary of what it means to be a Christian, or as the term was originally understood – one who follows the Christ. While it is disarmingly simple (and great for those in favour of alliteration) there is more to it than first meets the eye.
While it might not sound very radical to say that the Christian faith revolves around Jesus, in practice, it is very radical – especially when its the words and the works and the way of Jesus that we commit ourselves to.
The Words of Jesus
Consider the words of Jesus. There is nothing status quo about them. They are penetrating, uncompromising and deeply prophetic. People often found them offensive, and I don’t mean mildly offensive, but offensive enough to get Him crucified.
To insist that we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matt 5:44), or that we shouldn’t store up treasures on earth (Matt 6:19) or that we must not worry (Matt 6:25) and that we refrain from judging others (Matt 7:1) – well I don’t know if any of those come naturally to you, but they certainly don’t to me.
Or what do you make of his redefinition of family – that those who did the will of God are “my brother and sister and mother” (Matt 12:50). Even more challenging is Jesus’ insistence that anyone who wants to follow him must take up their cross to do so (Matt 16:24). And those are just a few verses from Matthew. Throw in the instructions from Mark, Luke and John and it becomes ever clearer that Jesus didn’t imagine that his average follower would live a comfortable lifestyle with endless coffees, crumpets and cream.
The Works of Jesus
Then there are the works of Jesus. They range – there are many miraculous healings, encounters with the demonic, thousands are fed, weather patterns are changed, tables in the temple are overturned, the dead are raised.
Jesus also interacts with unlikely characters – tax collectors, prostitutes, and those on the fringes. He also converses with those deeply entrenched in the religious and political structure of his day. Those conversations were usually challenging. Overall there were many discussions and lots of teaching.
Is teaching a “work”? Well, when you are engaging in the near impossible task of changing people’s thoughts and attitudes it is… very hard work, and at times extremely dangerous work. It led to a fair amount of travel – on foot and sometimes to less hostile environments (well, less hostile at the start).
In Luke 4:18-19 Jesus defines his work in terms used in Isa 61:1-2: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” Interestingly he omits part of Isaiah’s prophecy, deleting from Isaiah’s Messianic job description the task of proclaiming “the year of vengeance of our God.”
Doing the Works of Jesus Today
What does this mean for the works we should do? Perhaps it is best to remember Jesus’ teaching in Matt 25:31-46 when Jesus announces that when we invite the stranger in, or clothe the naked, or look after the sick, or visit the prisoner, we do it for Him.
He goes further, provocatively suggesting that in some way he is that stranger, that sick person, the one who has no clothes, or the one who is in prison. Given this startling teaching it is hard to see how someone could claim to be doing the works of Jesus if acts of compassion don’t appear high on the list of activities.
The Way of Jesus
Then there is the way of Jesus. It’s an upside down way. According to Jesus, the first will be last (Matt 20:16), those who seek to find their life lose it, while those willing to lose their life find it (Matt 16:25). Those who seek the Kingdom of God before anything else find that they get everything else (Matt 6:33).
It’s a world where leaders are servants and the well being of the other rather than their own, is the motivator (Matt 20:26). It’s a step by step way. Though I’m in favour of careful and thoughtful planning, in many ways Jesus’ ministry was one of wandering around and responding to things that happened.
He doesn’t wake up and announce a to do list where the agenda for the day is to heal 4 blind people, 2 lepers and to confront 5 religious leaders. He elects to visit various places and on the way sees many things… What he sees calls a response from him. He interacts deeply with all that happens along the way. Perhaps we should as well…
Following to the Cross
What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus – a Christian? Yes, it is true that it means that we follow the words, works and way of Jesus… But oh my, how much easier to say those three ‘w’ words, than to actually have our agenda shaped by them.
Somedays we follow a little more closely than others – on too many days, we follow not at all. Perhaps that is why the following we do comes out to a Cross – where there is forgiveness and mercy and the challenge to follow the words, works and way of the crucified, risen Messiah.
Article supplied with thanks to Brian Harris.
About the Author: Brian is a speaker, teacher, leader, writer, author and respected theologian who is founding director of the AVENIR Leadership Institute, fostering leaders who will make a positive impact on the world.
Feature image: Canva
