What Would Jesus NOT Do?: Following Jesus in All Things
I’m sure we’ve all heard this famous phrase, “What would Jesus do?” I remember wearing a bracelet with the letters WWJD emblazoned on it, and even reading a children’s chapter book all about a girl who had to walk through some pretty hard circumstances, all while asking “What would Jesus do?”
But a less famous question would be, “What would Jesus NOT do?” What compromise, offenses, or actions would He refuse to engage in to ensure His integrity and mission remained on track? We live in a very similar spiritual climate as Jesus did when He was on the earth. There were different people groups, oppression from different nations, and varying mindsets, but the bondage and unrest we face are very real and very much the same. Jesus was misunderstood even in His day. What would He do if He had come in our day? And would we have recognized Him?
Jesus Would Always Do the Father’s Will
John 6:38
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
People thought Jesus had come in as a conquering warrior to expel the Romans and their oppression, and set up His eternal Kingdom. They didn’t understand that Jesus came for an even greater purpose—to set us free from the oppression that was burdening all of mankind—sin. He came to restore us to right relationship with Father God, to return us to the Garden where we have whole and perfect communion with Him.
Jesus was always watching what the Father was doing, and then He did it. He was always listening to what His Father was saying. People didn’t like that He was not doing what they thought He had come to do, the way they thought He was supposed to do it. It was not time for the physical kingdom to be established in an earthly sense, but a sacrifice had to be made so the Kingdom could come in our hearts. Jesus chose the Father’s will on the cross above His own desires or comfort.
Jesus Would Never Yield to Temptation
The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. Satan showed up to tempt him with shortcuts, but Jesus never gave in. He tempted Him with things He already was. “If you are the Son of God…” Satan’s temptation was for Jesus to prove Himself, to give in to His human craving for comfort. He wanted Jesus to give in to having a crown with the cross.
Jesus knew that His Kingdom was not going to be established by the sword, but by surrender on the cross.
Romans 8:11
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Jesus would never yield to the temptations of the enemy, and because of the Spirit of God living inside us, we don’t have to give in either! We take up our cross daily, and we follow Him.
Jesus Would Not Be Swayed By Public Opinion
It’s so easy to get caught up in social media or peer pressure. When we need other people’s approval, we will be tossed back and forth like a wave in the sea. If you need popularity, you will be crushed by it when it’s removed. The Romans used to call this being at the “mercy of the mob”. You can ride on a temporary high of “people-pleasing” until the people turn on you.
Let me tell you, you don’t have to do anything to earn God’s approval or love—just be His. Jesus knew that the same crowd who praised Him singing, “Hosanna!”, and wanted to make Him king on Palm Sunday was the same crowd who would scream, “Crucify Him!” just one week later. He did not allow the temptation of popularity sway Him from his mission.
Jesus Would Never Quit or Give Up
Why did He suffer, when he could have been delivered? He could have called down a legion of angels to come and rescue Him when He was hanging on that cross, but He didn’t do it because He knew He had to become sin in our place.
John 6:37
37 Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
He will never reject anyone who comes to Him, but in order to keep that promise He had to stay on the cross. He had to finish it. Nothing could stop Him from loving you.
Jesus Would Not Lose Sight of the Goal
Jesus was lowered into a cistern the night he was arrested, before he was taken to Pilate. During that long and lonely night, He was praying for you and me. He never lost sight of His goal, even when he was in the darkest night, when all his disciples had abandoned Him, and he had suffering looming ahead of him at the cross.
John 6:39-40
39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
He looked through time and saw each one of His precious sons and daughters. He kept on course so we could be saved! He was thinking about eternity, not the temporal. For the joy set before Him—which was all of us getting the chance to be restored to Him—He endured the cross.
Matthew 28:6
"He is not here; He is risen!"
Jesus won the ultimate victory for us because He would not bow to what others wanted Him to do, or who they thought the Messiah should be. We must follow Him, not only in what Jesus would do, but the compromises He would NOT allow. Over the next few days before Resurrection Sunday, be in prayer over what Jesus wants to do in your heart.
