The Lord Jesus Christ Our Model Of Good Works “Thou art good, and doest good” Psalm 119:68

Goals/Approach Meditate on the Lord Jesus Approach What did He do? How did He do it? Approach As we meditate on the Lord Jesus, let’s keep asking ourselves, “can this be true of me?”

Why did He go about doing good? “He went about doing good” Acts 10:38 Because God is good! He is God, that is His nature He is God’s son He is God’s man (Christ)

Is it realistic to think of the Lord Jesus as a model? Yes! Obviously, we are not God, but… We are sons of God (Romans 8:16) We have God’s Spirit living in us (a Spirit of power and love and a sound mind) (2 Tim 1:7) “Be ye therefore imitators of God as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1) We are God’s men “created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Ephesians 2:10) We have God’s Word, which can make us “complete, fully fitted to every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17)

He did good because He is God’s son As the Son of God, being one with His Father, he did the works of His Father to represent and honor Him. “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for what things soever he does, these also does the Son likewise. “ - John 10:32 “Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father...” – John 10:37-38

He did good because He is God’s son “Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father...” – John 10:37-38 “If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.” – John 14:9- 10 “…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father…”

He did good because He is God’s son “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” – John 10:25 “the works that I do in my Father's name…” – John 10:30

He did good because He is God’s Man “But his delight is in Jehovah’s law, and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2 “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power” As a “good man”—God’s man (Christ)—He was full of “good treasure” and brought forth “good things” Matthew 12:33-35

What did He do? “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” - Acts 10:38

What did He do? He ministered to those in need Touched the leper (Mark 1:41) (he healed him too) He didn’t make assumptions “What will ye that I shall do unto you?” Matthew 20:32 He freely gave of His time “Who touched me?” – Mark 5:31 “Go, call thy husband” – John 4:16 “This man receives sinners, and eats with them.” – Luke 15:2

What did He do? He stood up for those who were oppressed “Let her alone; why trouble ye her?” Mark 14:6 “Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day? – Luke 13:16 He empathized with those in pain “Jesus wept” John 11:35 He ministered to people’s basic needs “I have compassion on the crowd … and would not send them away fasting lest they should faint on the way.” Matthew 15:32

What did He do? Comforted those who were suffering. Taught God’s word “He saith unto his mother, Woman behold thy son!” Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!” John 19:26 Taught God’s word He spoke soothing words “that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.” - Isaiah 50:4 “Thy sins are forgiven” – Luke 7:48 “Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more” – John 8:11

What did He do? Prayed for others “but I have prayed for thee” (Luke ) John 17 Resisted Satan’s assaults against Himself and others Matthew 4 / Luke 4 “come out of him, and enter no more into him.” Mark 9:25 Treated God’s people equally Pharisee: “we know that … you do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality.” Matthew 22:16