If Jesus is our example, then it’s NOT good news. His good examples condemn us because no matter how hard we try, we fall far short. If He looks at us and says to us, “I did it. Why can’t you?” Then, I’m doomed. I can’t do what He did. I can’t love people like He did. I can’t handle temptation like He did. I can’t focus on God wholly like He did. I can’t! I can’t!!!

How good to know that He is not my example, but my substitute! It is only those who are starting out in faith or those who do not know Christ at all who think Jesus as their example. They do not know themselves and that’s why they think they can be like Jesus. The more I travel on this faith journey, the more I realize how much further I must go. It is precisely when I think I’ve come so far, I find myself right back at where I started. It’s like a horror movie where the character tries to get out of the woods only to find himself right back at the familiar spot… All I can do at that moment is shout, “Help! Jesus!”

That’s why we need Jesus. Jesus came to do that which we couldn’t do on our own. If we think we can do it, we are deluded. We do not know Christ. We do not know ourselves.

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18

The only way to God is through Jesus. We cannot go to Him through our own good works. No matter how good we have been, the harder we tried, the wider we missed the mark because it would be for self-glory rather than god-glory. If you have fallen flat on your face, might as well stay bowed except this time, bow to God acknowledging that He alone can save us and keep saving us.

There really is nothing as freeing and as beautiful as the gospel – He died the death I should’ve died and lived the life I always wanted to live and given me credit for both! How can I not love Him?

PH