In 2018, I realized that I knew about Jesus, but I needed to truly know Him.* This epiphany transformed my approach to studying His character. Instead of merely asking, “How can I apply this scripture?” I began asking in each verse, “What can I learn about Jesus’ character: his actions, thoughts, and feelings?”
As I focused more on understanding Christ’s character, I noticed profound changes in myself. Although there’s still a big gap between me and the divine character I am striving to develop, I am regularly blessed with small gains. As I come to know Jesus’ character, I am becoming a little more loving, merciful, patient, peaceful, & wise. Ironically, by not directly seeking self-improvement, I am growing more by simply striving to really know Jesus better as a friend.** This transformation occurs, because focusing on Jesus naturally draws us closer to Him, making us less self-absorbed and more attuned to His Spirit and way of being.
This journey of understanding Christ’s character is both a test and a solution for how in tune we are with the Spirit and His love. When I struggle to comprehend His character, I know it’s time to ponder and search more deeply until the Spirit enlightens me.
My hope is that through these reflections, you too will embark on a journey to know Jesus’ character through your own study. These musings, though imperfect, are meant to inspire and guide you in your quest to understand Jesus better.
Although I personally believe in Jesus as the Christ and Savior, knowing Him can benefit everyone from atheists to stoics and from Buddhists to humanists, as well as Christians. So I generally refer to Him in this blog simply as “Jesus” to try to make his example and teachings more accessible to everyone, regardless of your spiritual and philosophical beliefs.
While studying verse-by-verse can disrupt the flow of narratives, it forces me to slow down, meditate, and focus solely on knowing Jesus’ character. Doing this even with verses that don’t directly include Jesus, is equally challenging and rewarding. The value of this lies in the challenge, providing profound insights and a deeper understanding of His teachings and example. This approach enriches my life, making each verse a lens through which I view daily experiences and conversations, revealing connections and applications I could never before notice.
The sole purpose of this blog is to delve into Jesus’ feelings, thoughts, and actions. While historical insights are sometimes necessary to facilitate my understanding, my goal remains clear: to know Jesus better.
Character, defined as the sum of moral and mental qualities of a person, is revealed through our responses to challenges. Jesus exemplified this by consistently looking outward with compassion, even in the face of immense suffering. Whether you believe in His divinity or not, the record of His example and teachings provide a perfect model of divine character.
The universal law of attention, the law of concentration, and the law of focus state that what you persistently think about will expand in awareness and energy in your life, shaping our desires and character. We become what we focus on, and in seeking to know Jesus, we naturally become more like Him. Building a friendship with Jesus, just like with anyone else, takes time and effort, but the rewards are immeasurable. Whether you see Him as the Savior, a prophet, a wise teacher, or simply a historical figure, His example and teachings of love, healing, wisdom, and sacrifice are incomparable.
Join me on this journey to know Jesus better. Together, let’s explore His character, draw closer to Him, and become more like Him every day by asking what each verse we read teaches about the character of Jesus.
* See “The Character of Christ”, David A. Bednar
** “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with” (Jim Rohn). Who do you want to spend the last day of your life? Start meeting with them as soon and as often as you can. (Paraphrase of Warren Buffett on Charlie Munger.) Charlie Munger said: “But you know I spent my whole life with dead people. They’re so much better than many of the people I’m with here on earth. All the dead people in the world, you can learn a lot from them. And they’re very convenient to reach. You reach out and grab a book.”