The Case of the Do-Gooder

‘How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. ‘ Acts 10:38 

All through the New Testament, not much is said about the physical features of Jesus, the Christ. Most of us rely on the statues, films, and pictures generated over hundreds of years by the Church and artists of old. Over time, we realize that who He was had nothing to do with what he looked like, and everything to do with what he did and how.

Jesus knew what was in the heart of men; still, He did good. He saw their weaknesses, hypocrisies, and prejudices straight up, and yet, he dealt with empathy. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and fed the hungry, knowing that they would turn around and crucify Him. Let’s not forget his disciples, we know their stories, and yet, the Acts of the Apostles happened.

He made a choice in Gethsemane before Judas brought the soldiers, Jesus had chosen death. So He stood there as Pilate repeatedly tried to secure his life, and said not a word. Jesus did not call for reinforcements from Heaven when His own people screamed for His crucifixion. He knew he was God, but was bantered between Herod and Pilate as a common criminal, all in the bid to save a world that hated Him. He didn’t bat an eyelid when the people he had come to save chose a murderer over him, their God.

He didn’t stop there. Crucified with common criminals, he still had the heart through His pain and agony to save the one that believed; to pray for the ones who wanted Him dead, begging His Father to forgive them. He did not speak up in His defense but withstood the blame, the pain, and the sorrow, and when it was time, died. It was finished, He had run and finished His race, a real do-gooder.

The following characteristics are evident in His life:

1. Humility before God
2. Wisdom and understanding
3. Love for men, that overlooked their weaknesses and failings
4. A willingness to do the will of God, at the cost of His life

A real do-gooder is one who walks with the Holy Spirit and is therefore led by God. Doing good as we all know it is not easy, people turn around and bite the hands that fed them or don’t want or appreciate the things that are done for them. People have changed from their ‘giving ways’ because of acts of the ‘ungrateful,’ who are really us, all of us. 

The twenty-third chapter of Luke shows that doing good was the lifestyle of Jesus Christ. It was part of His DNA. He lived and did what He saw or heard from His Father, it wasn’t about Him. To live like Christ in a day like this is to be led, even in our giving. To walk with God is to walk with wisdom, understanding that we are giving not for ourselves, but for God. Jesus Christ gave of Himself, it wasn’t just about what He did, but how He did it too, he lived to give. He would go hungry to talk to the Samaritan woman. He fed thousands when His cousin John died. He put back the ear of the soldier, his disciple cut off in error, amongst other things that He did just before He died. Giving or living as led, with understanding and wisdom.

May the living water of the Holy Spirit continue to flow in and through us in Jesus’ name.

Till next time, be transformed!!