Jesus Christ – The Divine Leader

Jesus was a Man of Action.

“Action” definition – from L. actionem “a putting in motion; a performing, doing,”  Antonym : Inaction – “idleness, apathy, neglect”.

The Manly Actions of Jesus

• Takes on an apparent Mission Impossible – His mission is to free humans from sin that has plagued humans since the Garden of Eden and from the curse of the broken covenant with God.  Born into poverty in the ‘backwaters’ of Galilee, the son of a carpenter, during the political domination of Jews by Romans and Herod, tyrannical puppet King.[1]
• Jesus prays – Jesus has a deep personal relationship with His Father, praying often (Matt 14:23, Mark 1:35, 6:46, Luke 5:16), sometimes all night (Luke 6:12).
• Seeks out His heavenly Father at a young age – At the age of 12, stays behind by Himself in crowded Jerusalem to learn and teach at the Temple.  When found, He chooses to be obedient to the authority of Mary and Joseph (Luke 2:41-52).
• Submits to Baptism by John – Despite being God and without sin, Jesus identifies himself with sinners when He lowers Himself to be baptised by John (Matt 3:13-17).
• Spends 40 days in Wilderness and battles Satan – Voluntarily goes into the Wilderness without provisions for 40 days.  After surviving this ordeal, resists Satan’s temptations and forces Satan to “be gone” (Matt 4:1-11).
• Recruits an unlikely band of Apostles – Choosing men who appear to be unlikely leaders (e.g. fisherman, tax collector, without education, etc.), Jesus actively seeks out the Apostles at the start of His ministry (Mark 3:13-19).
• Jesus boldly lays down the new Law – Symbolically replaying Moses’ actions on Mount Sinai, Jesus gives the Sermon on the Mount, His first declaration of the new standard of the law of love (Matt 5-7).
• Jesus courageously reaches out to the “unclean” – After the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus touches and heals an unclean leper (Matt 8:1-4), heals the slave of a Centurion (enemy and Gentile) and exorcises a demoniac in Gentile lands (8:28-34).
• Jesus confronts the dominant Jewish religious leaders with Scriptural Truth – Despite not having a “pedigree”, Jesus has a superior knowledge of Scripture (and God’s will).  On multiple occasions, Jesus teaches the Sadducees, Pharisees and scribes, despite consciously knowing they plan to kill Him.
• Jesus goes to the Cross – Despite the common knowledge of the brutality of crucifixion, Jesus willingly submits to beating, scourging and crucifixion.
• Jesus forgives on the Cross – Jesus personally experiences the greatest injustice ever committed (i.e. the killing of God) and yet He asks His Father to forgive us (Luke 23:34).
• Jesus commands us to spread the Gospel (Great Commission) – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Matt 28:19-20; CCC 905).