In His Steps - But in Different Shoes

When a man named Charles Sheldon wrote a little book called In His Steps in 1896, a movement was born, ushering in a selfless method of living and thinking, and inspiring a famous motto: What Would Jesus Do.

If we study the gospels we discover what Jesus did. His actions, parables, and teachings have weathered the ages remarkably well. You could even call them timeless. There is nothing ancient or parochial about taking time to share the good news of salvation with strangers (John 8:11-12), or in loving your neighbor as yourself (Galatians 5:14), or in declaring the truth of God’s saving grace and condemnation of darkness (John 3:15-21).

The point I’m trying to make here is that thinking what Jesus might do in any given situation is an excellent habit to get into, but knowing what He did is equally essential to developing a right mind in Christ. We must not neglect our studies of the gospels. In them we see how Jesus interacted with people (aka sinners). Better to know than to guess.

Especially illuminating are His responses to sinners and to the religious leaders of the day.

Jesus displayed remarkable tenderness toward sinners. Matthew 9:36 shows us a Jesus moved with compassion for a crowd, seeing them as lost sheep without a shepherd. Often when He saw a crowd, Jesus would heal the sick and teach the lost the way to righteousness. In John 8:7 we are treated to a revelatory story of a sinner caught in the act and Jesus displaying incredible mercy. Instead of condemning her and permitting the men of the city to stone the woman, He suggested the sinless ones cast the first stones, knowing full well that no one could claim perfection. Throughout the gospels Jesus displays this degree of love and forgiveness towards sinners with repentant hearts.

But Jesus was not all teddy bears and hugs.

Throughout the gospels we are treated to accounts of our Savior condemning the hypocritical dogmas of the Sanhedrin, the religious leaders of the day. In fact, this was a common issue; they were so devoted to their traditions of men that they were resistant to the proper and true teachings of the Son of God. (Sound familiar? It should; this is a common issue in today’s church, with its obsession with following new age doctrines of men while viewing Christ’s teachings as passé.)

In reading the gospels, I find a Jesus I would love to hang out with. I find a Christ worth following. I find a love worth sharing. As Christians, we have a great name to live up to, a name we dishonor when we act superior, condemn fellow sinners, or fail to take moments to love the lost sheep of this world. Read about and remember how Jesus would stop and take the time to share His light with whomever He met on the road.

We be representin’! So let’s know who we be representin’. Thinking ‘What Would Jesus Do’ is important. Knowing ‘What He Did’ is key to doing His will.