What Would Jesus Do? Matt 4, Luke 4-5

By Mary Stallings

What would Jesus do?

This is phrase often heard in Christendom. It is typically asked as if there is a very easy, clear answer to what Jesus would do in any situation. However, the more I read about Christ's life, the more the answer to this question seems hazy. Let's take a deeper dive into the New Testament to look for answers to the question,

What would Jesus do?

When with the Pharisees?
Jesus would be kind and turn the other cheek, right?
No, He used sarcasm. (John 10:30-31)

When in the temple?
Jesus would be reverent.
No, He flipped tables.  (Matthew 21:12)

When Peter tried to comfort Christ and tell Him He wouldn't die?
Jesus would calmly correct him.
No, Jesus told him, "Get thee hence, Satan." (Matt 16:23)

When devils ask to go into swine?
Jesus would refuse.
No, Jesus consents and assists in mass destruction of private property. (Mark 5:13)

When a man morned the loss of his father?
Jesus would comfort him.
No, Jesus told him to let the dead bury their dead. (Matt 4)

Even just in our readings for the week, there were some surprising things Jesus did.

When some fishermen make the biggest catch of their life?
Jesus would congratulate them.
No, Jesus asked them to forsake all and follow Him.

When His cousin John the Baptist, who was chosen to proclaim the gospel and prepare the way for Him, was wrongly imprisoned?
Jesus would go help him...right?

Let's dive further into that last one.

Here is a map of Israel.

Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time when He heard about John. He had just finished His long period of fasting and resisting Satan's temptations. John was being held in Machaerus (Just east of the bottom body of water—the Dead Sea).

The scriptures states, "Now, when Jesus heard that John had been cast into prison, he departed into Galilee" (Matt 12).

See Tiberias on the map? That is where Jesus went. Almost exactly the opposite direction of where John was imprisoned. Why? Because that is where the Spirit carried Him (Luke 4:14).

It must have seemed so wrong—what was there in Galilee? And Jesus surely had the power to save His cousin if He had wanted to. But instead He followed the Spirit and went to Galilee.

And look what happened because He did so:

1. He fulfilled prophecy (Matt 4: 14)
2. He taught in synagogues (Matt 4: 23)
3. He healed the sick (Matt 4:23)
4. He called 4 apostles (Matt 4: 18 & 21)
5. He preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5)
6. He healed a leper (Luke 5:13)
7. He caste out devils (Luke 4: 35)
8. He healed Peter's mother in law (Luke 4: 39)
9. He healed a man of palsy (Luke 5: 24)
10. He received many followers (Luke 4:42)

Imagine all that Christ would have missed if He had gone to Machaerus. The seemingly right choice was the absolute wrong choice. Truly, God's ways are not our ways, and so sometimes, they don't make sense or seem consistent. Jesus shows us that time and time again:

When a crowd followed Him:
sometimes He left the crowd, other times He embraced them.
When someone was wrong:
sometimes He corrected harshly, other times He drew in the sand.
When someone wanted to be healed:
sometimes He ignored and insulted them, other times He healed them.
When someone was sad:
sometimes He was stern, other times He wept with them.

In truth, Jesus' ministry was full of surprises, both to his disciples, followers, enemies and even us as the readers. But one thing was consistent.

What would Jesus always do?
Follow the Spirit.

What it comes down to is, despite social norms, past actions, or even other’s feelings, Jesus followed the Spirit. Period.

And in order to do what Jesus would do, we should do the same.




Footnote:
Picture credit: "Every Knee Shall Bow" by J. Kirk Richards