The Evidence Of The Divine Imperative In Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus was remarkably self aware. He had a clear understanding of His calling and direction for His life. He led a radical lifestyle that challenged the status quo whilst upholding the truths of God and preserving the Spirit of the Law. He was intentional in his words and actions and assumed positions on a range of contemporary issues that were clearly counter cultural. In Luke 19:10 Jesus said “…for the Son of Man aome to seek and to save what was lost…” Jesus had a clear orientation in his life and ministry. He reached out to those on the margins and those who were in varying states of being dis-functional.

How Was Jesus So Self Aware?

Jesus protected himself from the expectations of His followers and the unrelenting pressures of public life. He did not play to the galleries nor was he seduced by his popularity or intimidated by the religious and temporal establishment of His times. He was proactive and not reactive. He was not rushed off His feet with the contemporary disease of busyness.

He protected Himself by creating spaces for solitude and retreat. He would regularly rise early in the morning to go apart to  meditate and pray.  He would actively seek to listen to God.  He did this regularly in the midst of his hectic schedule. We could gain some thing, if we set aside time to listen to God. He was aware of the  spiritual traditions of his people and made connections with the people he met and the events in his life .  He recognised the importance of place and time. He knew the strategic value of opportunity. Seize it!. He knew the Holy scriptures and revealed its meaning to his students and  helped them to understand by helping them to make the connections between God, the Holy Scriptures i.e. His Word, His Spirit and His World.

John’s gospel suggests that the motivation for the coming of Jesus into the world was the love of God and His commitment to His creation the world. – (Jn. 3:16; )  This awareness that Jesus had of being Sent is something the apostle John wants us to come to terms with and to recognise that Jesus was the ‘sent one.’ Jesus shared in His Fathers Mission and He was sent for a purpose.

In John chapter 9 in the story of the healing of the man born blind, Jesus explains in verse 4 “ We must do the work of Him who sent me…” Jesus highlights his awareness of  being sent for a purpose. This purpose was going to frame who he was and why He was sent  and what he was called to ‘do’. The word ‘must’ in grammar is an imperative, it is a command, it is a non negotiable.  Jesus had this sense of the divine imperative that would shape and determine everything He did.  In John 20:21; He is acutely conscious of being sent by His Heavenly Father He invites his disciples to share and participate in this holy destiny. They were to identify with him by participating and promoting this calling to engage in His mission to rescue, reconcile and restore people in their relationship to God and to live in love and peace with one another. Living in God’s abundance is a call to discover and celebrate the creators purpose for our lives. The Christian way is an invitation to live life well and to the full! Education for me is the art of making connections and learning to be aware of God’s purpose for our lives,  thereby making good informed judgement in life, that promote God’s love, hope, peace and Joy. Each a vital ingredient for the promotion of the common good and our corporate well being.