What if He Were Exactly Like Me?

What if Jesus had come to earth only to live a life of comfort and luxury?

What if Jesus only came to be loved and admired, craving the respect of others?

What if Jesus had come solely to be entertained and have a good time?

What if Jesus came to have everyone else serve Him?

What if Jesus spoke only to those who received Him well and refused to forgive those who mistreated Him?

This past week as Christians have been celebrating the death, burial and resurrection of the Savior of the world, I began to evaluate the humility of Christ in stark comparison to my selfish pride.  How could Jesus leave heaven to come to a sin filled earth full of people who despised and rejected Him?  How could He be so loving and gentle in His reaction to the mistreatment He received from those He came to die for?  How could Jesus be so selfless, serving and sacrificing for those who beat, bruised, spit on Him and nailed His hands and feet to a wooden cross?  If we were to be truly honest, how many of us would ever fathom the thought of enduring that kind of suffering at the hands of the very ones we serve.   In our human selfishness, we often tend to concentrate on ourselves and elevate our own needs and desires above those we claim to serve.  As I’ve been reflecting on the Awesome sacrifice Jesus made for all humanity, I began wondering where mankind would be if Jesus were exactly like me?

I know a lot about dealing with prideful people who look out primarily for themselves because I used to be a very selfish person.   When my husband and I were married 24 years ago, I was still a teenager and then became a mom at the age of 21.  I remember being shocked at all of the work that was required of me as a new wife and then new mother.  Suddenly I couldn’t just think about myself anymore, there were others whose needs I had to learn to place before my own.   Over the years, and with each new child the Lord blessed us with, He also continued chiseling away at my selfishness and arrogance. I’ve had to learn that when you are a servant you are not always honored for every little thing that you accomplish.  As a servant, you can’t be consumed with your own well-being above everyone else’s.  As a servant, you will not always be treated the way you feel you deserve to be treated.  As a servant you can’t expect people to pamper you and treat you with the respect you feel you deserve for your efforts.  Even through all of these lessons over the years, there are times now when I may be tempted to complain when I have what seems like an insurmountable “to do” list.  It is at that very moment that I am convicted of my sin and am drawn to the ultimate example of humility that I can find only in my Savior.  In Mark 10:45 we see how Jesus viewed servanthood, “The Son of Man came not to be ministered to but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

If Jesus were like me, He would never have asked for suffering.  If Jesus were like me, He would prefer a life of comfort and luxury, spending His time being entertained and having a fun with family and friends. If Jesus were like me, He would prefer to be served by others rather than serve.  If Jesus were like me, He would choose to talk only to those who were kind to Him and wouldn’t feel like forgiving those who mistreated Him.  If Jesus were like me, He would not willingly love those who didn’t love Him first.  If Jesus were like me, there would be NO cross, NO substitutionary atonement, NO forgiveness of sin, NO eternal life, and absolutely NO hope for mankind.     

During this time of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the grave, I am especially thankful that Jesus is absolutely nothing like me!  I’m grateful that Jesus did not come to earth to be served, respected, pampered, honored, loved, admired, adored or entertained.   In Isaiah 53:3 we truly see how Christ was treated as He came to die in our place, “He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” I am humbled and in awe of His greatness as I reflect on the humility, love, mercy, grace and forgiveness of Christ.

 The power of Jesus shed blood on the cross for my sin has washed away the penalty and debt that I owed but could never repay myself. Peter tells us in I Peter 2:24, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. The resurrection of Jesus from the grave showed that death has no power over Him. “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting?  O grave, where is your victory?  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:54b-57 Jesus finished work on the cross is our only source of hope!     I Peter 1:18-21 explains this hope, “Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, BUT with the precious blood , as a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.  For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and HOPE are in God.”

 Praise God Almighty that Jesus is nothing like me!  Because Jesus is the spotless lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, we have the hope of eternal glory.  I pray that you will take time to examine your heart in light of the sacrifice Jesus has made for us on the cross and humbly reflect on the condition of your heart in comparison to God’s Holy Word.  What if Jesus were exactly like you?