What He Didn’t Do

History is made up of things that happened. Sometimes fiction is written about a differing outcome, but in school we concentrate on dates, people and events. We make up rhymes to help us remember.

Some are not quite sufficient. For example, we learned: Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. Then someone taught us: Columbus sailed the deep blue sea in 1493. Mustn’t forget: Columbus set sail once more in 1494! Confusing.

Christians talk, write, read and teach about what Christ did while He was here on earth. Most of our Bibles have a Harmony of the Gospels to show what occurred chronologically. It is good to do such studies, to check what was done, with whom, what was said and why.

However, we also need to take a look at what Jesus did NOT do. He did not bring people into the Temple to worship God. Oh, he was in the Temple often, speaking, reading and usually making its leaders angry. But He didn’t spend most of His time in Jerusalem. He spent it walking across Judea speaking to the people. And, He didn’t confine those visits to Jews.

Another thing He did NOT do was set up a priestly system with overseers. Many denominations have done an excellent job of that, but Christ did not. Instead He sent His followers out to speak to others, just as He had done. His instructions were simply to tell people that the kingdom of God was nigh (Luke 10).

He did NOT build a great university, gathering professors to expound on the greatness of God or His creation. He taught one-on-one, as with Nicodemus; He taught in small groups, as with the twelve. He taught multitudes on hillsides. He had no campuses, no professors, no debates.

That doesn’t mean any of these things are bad, just that they were not necessary for His purpose. His purpose is not ours, either. We are to witness to others regarding His life, but His purpose was to glorify His father and to die for the sins of the world. We are not called to do so. We are called to be a part of the body of Christ working in this world to do his bidding. We have different gifts to accomplish our tasks, too.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6-8 KJV)

Within that body, we have specific tasks, all designed to work toward perfection:

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11-12 KJV)

We must take care that it’s not our ‘perfection’, but Christ’s we use as our goal.

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:12-13 KJV)

We do this to grow!

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Ephesians 4:14 KJV)