When I was young, every last one of my friends had “WWJD” bracelets. They were way too big, as they were one-size-fits-all, but we took pride in wearing them and asking each other throughout the day, “What would Jesus do?!” This year, things seem a little different. As I have gone throughout this year and watched the suffering of the world around me, I have often wondered, “What can I do?” My parents have often responded to these questions that I have presented, “What did Jesus do?” Ephesians 5:1 (ESV) says, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” We do not have to hypothesize how to imitate God: Through the life of Jesus, we can see how to follow the example of Christ.
Jesus served. Matthew 20:28 says, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Jesus not only served others as He walked on the earth, healing the sick, giving mercy, and showing compassion, but He also served as the ultimate sacrifice. He gave up His life so we could spend eternity with Him in heaven.
Jesus sacrificed. He lived a perfect life (1 Peter 2:21-22 says, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth.”) He was sent so we can have life with our Heavenly Father forever.
Jesus rose. After His crucifixion, Jesus was in the tomb for three days before He was resurrected. We now live in His resurrection forever (John 11:25-26). Through our belief in His life and death, we know that we have life eternal with God!
During the Advent season and at the end of a hard year, it can be easy to only picture Jesus as a newborn baby, but it is important to remember that the newborn baby was the One whose life, death, and resurrection gave us our salvation. Jesus died so we could live; He rose so we would be justified; and He is returning for us one day.