Don’t Ask WWJD

You can find the jewelry all over the web. The initials remind us to ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” then we are to follow His example.

May I suggest we change the word “would” to “did”? Just for a little while we need to ask ourselves:  What did Jesus do?

What did Jesus do about going to religious services?

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. (Luke 4:16 KJV)

Not only had Jesus built the custom of attending the synagogue, He took His turn reading scripture.  I wish you would take the time to read this entire scene (Luke 4:16-21) to see that He understood what He read.

What did Jesus do about saying a blessing before He ate?

And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. (Luke 24:30 KJV)

This is only one of many verses that affirm Jesus blessed food before eating.  This one is my favorite because of the entire story – which takes a bit more reading (Luke 24:13-22). Has nothing to do with blessing the food, but a lot to do with understanding Jesus.

What did Jesus do about praying for what He wanted?

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39 KJV)

In Hebrews (12:2) we are told Jesus endured the shame of the cross. He knew it was coming and He knew shame and what physical torture there would be. Yet the end of this first of three prayers for the very same thing, He bent to God’s will.

What did Jesus do when asked about God’s the most important commandment?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38 KJV)

He gave the same answer that echoed from the time God created the heavens and the earth. However, He went a step further and continued the explanation:

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:39-40 KJV)

Jesus did not stop with answering the initial question. He moved on to the next step in God’s commandments, giving only two reasons for all the law and all the prophecies in the Bible. Two reasons that will answer all the questions about what Jesus DID do.

That should also provide for us the answers for:  What should I do that will follow Jesus’ example? Love God with all myi heart and my neighbors as myself. What Jesus did do is based entirely on those two ideals.

Yes. Totally applicable in this day and age, too.