JESUS OUR EXAMPLE

Jesus Our Example - Susan Barnes

"You know the message God sent to the people of Israel…You know what has happened…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good." Acts 10:36-38

Jesus' ministry began after he had been anointed by God and this was something people knew, even those who met at Cornelius' house. What does it mean to be anointed and why did Jesus, the Son of God, need to be anointed? Some explain it by using the word, "enabling", while others use the word, "unction." It is the way God empowers us.

In Philippians 2:6-8 we are told that Jesus set aside all his divine attributes when he came to earth. So before Jesus was anointed he was not able to do anything miraculous because he was "as a man" (v.8). Jesus' willingness to set aside all his rights is astounding and should challenge our tendency to hold onto ours.

Jesus did his first miraculous sign at the wedding of Cana, after God had anointed him at his baptism. Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to enable and empower him. Likewise in order to live the Christian life and do what God wants us to do, we also need to ask for and be open to receiving the Spirit's enabling.

Jesus gave us an example, let's follow in his footsteps (1 Peter 2:21).