Knowing Our Savior - The Approval of Christ

It looks like the days for our reconnection in person might be coming soon (for those of us who are comfortable with it). I’m excited about that. I miss coming together with you all, and this blogging is really not my wheelhouse. I’m thankful for Ben and Bobby and the great lessons they have been putting together.

For the next few weeks, I thought it might be nice to spend time focusing on the personality of Jesus. Knowing Jesus is knowing God. Those who spent time with Him knew Him intimately, and it’s no coincidence that those who knew Him the best made the biggest impact for Him. The Twelve Apostles got to know him, not as just the Messiah, but as a friend. Even Paul, who did not know Jesus in the flesh, came to know Him through the Holy Spirit and the Apostles.

Question for you. How do you view Christ?

•        As a character on the pages of scripture (albeit the most important character)?
•          As the image we’ve seen in movies, pictures, etc?
•          As a man with real cares, needs, and personality?

For our first look at the Personality of Jesus, I thought we’d consider those times when we saw His approval of others. It’s at these times when I picture Christ with a warm smile, like a proud parent, witnessing and recognizing the “redeeming qualities” in those he interacted with. Think back to your childhood. How did it make you feel when a parent or teacher was proud of you? Seeing Jesus in this way is motivating for me, as it makes me want to act in such a way that might bring a smile to His face.

Consider these scriptures where Christ offers praise/compliments to others (this is not an exhaustive list):

·         Matthew 8:5-13 - Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant - Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,  saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.  For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!  And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

·         Matthew 15:21-28 - ²¹ Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” ²³ But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” ²⁴ But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” ²⁵ Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” ²⁶ But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” ²⁷ And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” ²⁸ Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

·         Matthew 16:15-19 - He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.  And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed[d] in heaven.”

·         Luke 21:1-4 - And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, ² and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. ³ So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; ⁴ for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God,^[a] but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

·         John 15:14-15 - ¹⁴ You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. (This is following Christ giving his disciples the new commandment to “Love one another.”)

We see Christ offering praise for various reasons in scripture, but primarily we see him acknowledging faith. He also builds up Peter, preparing him for kingdom service. He acknowledges the widow for her sacrifice. He offers friendship to the obedient – I mean, what more approval do we need than the friendship of Christ?

Service, sacrifice, obedience…these things are all born of faith.

We all seek approval – some need it more than others, but an “atta boy” makes us feel good, right? However, that can be a dangerous temptation if we’re not careful. Sure, receiving praise from others is not something we should feel bad about, but seeking the approval of other people for our own ego is contrary to God’s purposes. If we chase that feeling, we would likely find ourselves making compromises for the sake of man rather than walking with God.

·         1 Thessalonians 2:4 - On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

·         1 Corinthians 1:26-31 - ²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

So, to obtain the approval of Christ – we must be faithful – obeying His command to love one another. We must sacrifice and serve. In the parable of the talents, the master said “Well done, good and faithful servant. To those servants who returned on His investment. They bore fruit with what he gave them. Sure, we know we are not justified by works – but the fruit we bear is a reflection of our relationship with Christ – the closer we are to Him, the more fruit we will bear. In fact, He bears fruit through us. So let us strive for that, the day when we will see His face, and maybe see Him smile at us as He welcomes us home.