Ponder This: How did Jesus embody goodness while on earth?
Scriptures To Consider: "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."-Matthew 5:16
Reflections From The PrayerBowl Team: Jesus always embodied goodness through his words and his actions. He is the gold star standard for goodness, and that's why, as Christians, we ask ourselves, "What would Jesus Do?" We know deep in our hearts that Jesus is our ultimate role model of goodness. I love that the Fruit of the Spirit of goodness follows the fruit of kindness because they go hand in hand. We are first called to be observant and identify areas where there are needs and then asked to do the good deed that will glorify God. Throughout the gospels, Jesus sees the need and then acts. Jesus included the outcasts, fed the hungry, and comforted the broken. Jesus helped others feel seen and heard. The most beautiful part of it all was that the invitation to his goodness was open to everyone, regardless of their past or present circumstances. He made those he encountered (those with open hearts) see their potential, inviting them to leave the past behind and move forward in goodness, not living for themselves but living to glorify God. We find a perfect example of this in John 8. This is the story where the Pharisees bring the adulterous woman before Jesus. This woman had sinned, and they brought her before Jesus to be condemned and embarrassed. But Jesus, in his goodness, was compassionate, fair, just, and full of mercy. Before saying anything to the woman, he says to the group, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Then he went back to writing on the ground. What do you think he was writing? Maybe he wrote out a scripture reminding them that God alone is the judge of sin (Isaiah 33:22), or that we need to look inward at our own sin and ask for forgiveness (Psalm 51), or the importance of listening to all sides of a situation before deciding the outcome. (Proverbs 18:13). Whatever it was that he wrote, along with the statement he made, all of the men walked away. When it was just Jesus and the women, he asked, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" Then he shared these life-giving words, "Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin." Jesus' goodness is not just about protecting the woman from judgment but also about treating her with dignity and care, offering forgiveness, and calling her into a new way of life. His goodness is transformative, inspiring change and growth in those he encounters.
When I think of how Jesus showed goodness during His time on Earth, a few of my favorite stories come to mind.
- One of the first is when Jesus was only 12 years old. His parents thought he was lost, but he was in the temple, sitting with teachers- listening, learning, and even sharing His own wisdom. When his parents found him, he explained that He needed to be in His Father's house. Even as a child, Jesus had a deep desire to be close to God and learn about His ways. To me, it shows the goodness in Him very early on- wanting to grow in truth and help others to do the same.
- Another favorite moment is when Jesus welcomed the children. While the disciples were trying to send them away, Jesus stopped everything and said, " Let the little children come to me." He had been performing miracles to large crowds. He did not pass over the children; he welcomed them, blessed them, showed His love for them, and valued them. He showed them what goodness looks like.
- Speaking of miracles - I love the story where Jesus feeds the 5.000. The crowd was tired and hungry. Jesus showed compassion. He took five loaves and two fish and turned it into a feast for thousands. That's Jesus' goodness in action —powerful and loving, meeting the needs of others.
- I also love the story of when Jesus was baptized by His cousin John. Even though Jesus was without sin and didn't need to be baptized, He chose to do it in honor of God. The quiet and humbleness really show how goodness is often about showing good examples.
All these stories remind me of when Jesus tells us to "Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." That is exactly what Jesus did - He let His goodness shine in big and small examples.
Jesus' goodness was evident in his first miracle when he turned water into wine. He knew running out of wine was embarrassing for the host, so he dialed up a miracle to not only provide more wine but better wine. He brought joy to the hosts and the guests. In John 4:43-54, he went on to save a young man in another town from a long distance. He healed a disabled person on the Sabbath, gave a blind man sight, and raised Lazarus from the dead. He fed 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus showed the sick and needy that they were loved. He honored women and gave them equal value. His goodness was a light for so many who were suffering.
In Matthew 5:17, Jesus tells us that He came to fulfill the Law of the Prophets and to become the Savior for all. The people who heard this and believed him saw this as the brightest of lights. Finally, the one has come to save us from the Romans and put Israel back on top. We know that is not what Jesus was there for, but the people who heard and listened to him were desperate to get the Roman boot off their neck. They witnessed Jesus' kindness and power. They felt his love but did not truly understand it until he came back from the dead. Through Jesus, they now had direct access to God.
