Did you realize that Jesus is very dangerous? On the mount of transfiguration, we see how Peter, James & John fell down like dead. In John 18:6 we find the soldiers who came to arrest Jesus fell down backwards when Jesus spoke to them. Jesus is dangerous, and no man can approach Him as he pleased. John in Revelation fell as dead when he saw Jesus. It was pure grace that kept Jesus from becoming a consuming fire.
However Jesus came to this earth in disguise. He hid his consuming glory from mortal man. He was gracious and good and went about doing only good.
Peter later summarizes Jesus’ life like this in 1 Peter 2:23
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
According to Heb 12:29, "our God is a consuming fire.". Jesus said to Peter that He could protect Himslef by asking His Father to send a legion of angels to destroy those who tried to harm him. However Jesus is good and gracious. In John 1:17 we read that "the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Don't mistake Jesus' submission to His enemies that led to His Crucifixion as a sign of His weakness. Nay it was a sign of His love for us.
In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis narrates the following about Jesus (Aslan).
“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”
Je4sus' life on this earth is summarised in the following verse from Acts 10:38. "How 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."
In fact when he question the Pharisees about His good deeds they did acknowledge that Jesus never did evil to any man but only good as we read in John 10:31-33
At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him. But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?” “We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God.
Even His enemies acknowledged that Jesus always did good to the people though they accused Him of blasphemy against God.
If Jesus, the all powerful God, choose to be only good to mankind, how do you think we should conduct our lives on this earth? I was really impressed by this goodness of Jesus. In fact that realization changed my life. There were times in my life when I was smart and often checkmated people. It was not that I was nasty or bad to people but I would withhold good from people and often checkmate them. Often my mannerism has been threatening to others and others probably obeyed me or put up with me because of my forceful and authoritative attitude. But this example of Jesus taught me that I should always be good to others. Jesus has called me to be an instrument of good in this world just as how he lived.
Indeed, Jesus told His disciples to be harmless.
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16
Jesus also told us to be as good as His heavenly Father who could choose not to send rain on the evil people but choose not to do that as recorded in Matthew 5:43-48.
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’r and ‘Hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,s that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Later Paul conveyed a similar message in Ephesians 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
When it was the normal way of life to use threats against a slave or a servant, Paul told his followers not to follow that norm but instead treat them with respect.
If Jesus, who was all powerful and could have called legions of angels anytime to destroy His enemies was gentle and good, how much more gentle and good should we be.
It is true we need to stand for the truth of the Word of God but we should do it with humility. We should not use threats and intimidation. We are called to show the love and kindness of Jesus to the world.
