What Would Jesus Do?

“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered[a] for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.” –  1 Peter 2:21-23. 

Most of us have made decisions with not enough thought put into them. Seldom do we slow down and ask a pivotal question, “What would Jesus do in this situation?” What would Jesus do if Jesus were running this meeting? If Jesus was having this discussion with my spouse, what would He do? If Jesus was handling my finances, what would He do differently? How would Jesus speak into the various problems and concerns that I face today?

Obviously, doing what Jesus would do is a tall order. Jesus prayed constantly, lived purely, labored patiently, and lived purposefully.  These are all things we can and should emulate if we want to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, and help us when we need to make some difficult decisions. 

Yes, we want to do what Jesus would do, and yes, we want to imitate Him as best we can. But if we truly want to imitate Christ, than it requires more than pondering what He would do when we face a tough circumstance or a difficult decision.  

If we want to imitate Christ we must know Him. If we are to know what it means to follow Christ, then we must seek to study Christ—-his life and teaching and, most importantly, his death and resurrection. It is not only a question of what would Jesus do, but what has Jesus done. Once we understand what Jesus has done, we can best understand how to follow Him faithfully. By focusing on what Jesus has done, we will be able to see the bigger picture of God’s plan to glorify himself through the life, death and resurrection of His Son. 

Asking what Jesus has done moves us to the question of “why?” Why did Jesus “…humble himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8) By submitting to the Father’s will, Jesus revealed the Father’s love for His fallen creation. Although we don’t deserve it, God showed us love, mercy, and grace in Jesus’ death.  

What do we do when we realize the Son of God died on the cross for each of us? The appropriate response, of course, is thankfulness, bowing down, and acknowledging Christ as our Lord and Savior. And in the same vein, we look for ways to serve the Lord in our daily activities. So the question every person must grapple with is not only “What would Jesus do?” but rather “What will you do with Jesus?” 

Discussion Questions: 

1. How can What Would Jesus Do be part of our daily lives? 
2. How can What will you do for Jesus be part of our lives as well?