The mind of Jesus wins – 25 March 2021

A week today, the Church will commemorate the Last Supper when Jesus washed His disciples’ feet and prepared them for what was to come.

Do we ever really consider what was in Jesus’ mind when He “took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body … Then he took a cup… This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew 26:26-28) This was such a poignant time, but Jesus appeared calm, even though betrayal was imminent and horror approaching.

Did Jesus think about what would happen to Him so soon; or was love for His disciples His main concern, to give them a vision to continue in fellowship with Him afterwards and so strengthen them, and also provide for those who would follow Him after them?

Jesus never faltered throughout His life in carrying out His Father’s Will, and didn’t falter at this point either. Although His anguish was revealed visibly when He prayed in the garden (Luke 22:43, 44) His heart was focused on God and His priorities clear. From a young boy, His choices were confident and purposeful because He was committed to His Father and He faced challenges with courage and commitment, competently making the right choices each step of the way – even when He stayed behind in the temple for three days to speak to the rabbis, oblivious of His parents’ concern for His whereabouts. (Luke 2:45-47 )

Jesus’ firm commitment to be obedient to God in His mission to save the lost meant personal cost. It was His choice. He stood up to the temptations of the devil even when He was exhausted after forty days without food and water in the desert. He calmed the storm and walked on the water – His faith knew no bounds – but his greatest triumph was to go to the cross, leading the devil in His train, and defeating him once and for all, bringing salvation to the world.

Jesus’ followers also have a mission and with it His power to succeed because we “have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16) and are urged to “not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of (our) mind. Then (we) will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) Old thought patterns obstruct, and hinder growth, but Paul urges the Philippians to “have the same thoughts, share the same love” and not do anything “from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble to one another, always considering others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:2-3)

We need to follow the example of Jesus Himself. “He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to become equal with God … of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took on the nature of a servant… He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death – his death on the cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8)

The beauty of Jesus is in His humility, His magnificence in His majesty, His grace in His obedience and His victory in His death.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know glory and majesty now because of Your humble and complete sacrifice of love to purify the sins of the world. Thank You for making it possible for me to know righteousness, victory and peace and, amazingly, have Your mind working in me