(5) Jesus: Perfectly Holy

Jesus set the example of perfect humanity in obedience to the Law of God without legalism. The Pharisees pursued perfection and missed it completely. Jesus pursued perfection and hit the mark perfectly. But as far as the Pharisees were concerned, Jesus did not keep the law perfectly. Why? Because they had established a very strict and narrow interpretation of the Law. And then, in addition to the Law God had given, they had their laws on how to keep God’s Law. That’s right, they had laws for the Law! Jesus rejected all this. Especially their proud, self-righteous attitude.

Take for example the Sabbath. Jesus blew the Pharisee’s interpretation of the Law and their application of the Law right out of the water. He did things they thought were sinful to do on the Sabbath. And how did He explain this outrageous behavior? He told the Pharisees, "The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27 NET). The New Living Translation really captures what Jesus was saying. "The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.”

But by means of ever so many minute and often absurd requirements, vexing and burdensome restrictions – including the one that forbade men to still their hunger by picking heads of grain on that day – the rabbis were changing the sabbath into a cruel tyrant, and man into that tyrant’s slave . . . as if God’s intention had indeed been to make “man for the sabbath,” instead of “the sabbath for man.” – William Hendriksen

So, what was the difference between Jesus’ view of the Law and the view of the Pharisee’s? The answer to that question is really quite simple. It is a matter of focus on the heart and being led by the Holy Spirit in applying the laws of God to life. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for focusing on stringent, external conformity to a list of rules and missing the matters of the heart. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for dictating to others how they should live out the Law rather than allowing God to show them.

God’s design for man is not just being unfeeling robots who just do the right thing. God’s design for man is for man to enjoy relationship with Him. This is a matter of affections, values, and desires. It is a matter of the heart. You don’t become a perfect human by trying to do everything perfect, you do it by knowing, loving and pursuing the delighting in the one who is perfect.

And isn’t that exactly what Jesus said His life was all about? “I am doing just what the Father commanded me so that the world may know that I love the Father.( John 14:31 NET)” Jesus didn’t live His life focused on a list of rules. He lived His life focused on a relationship. He didn’t spend His life looking over His shoulder to make sure He hadn’t broken any laws. He spent His life looking up to His Father and living in intimate fellowship with Him.

So how do we live to be the humans God created us to be? We don’t do it by trying to do all the right things and not do the wrong things. We don’t do it by focusing on all the rules man makes to tell us if we measure up. We grow to be all God created us to be by pursuing Him. Hearing His Word. Knowing Him. Loving Him. Living in fellowship with Him. If this is what is in our hearts, all the rest will fall into place. Do you want to be perfectly human? Then pour your life into pursuing Him! Pour your passion into relationship with Him.

Next:  (6) Jesus: Perfectly Sinless