The Understatement of Understatements: There Is No One Like Jesus

There is no category for Jesus.
And that’s the problem.

I’ve come across a few people lately who don’t believe that Jesus was God (the Son).
It makes me think they are not reading the Bible.
I’m not talking about the obvious passages where He is referred to as a deity.
“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (Colossians 2:9)
I’m not even talking about those parts where He does only the kinds of things God can do, such as walk on water or multiply fish and bread.
I’m talking about His personality.

I’m talking about who He actually is when you watch Him move through the world.

Singular.
Completely and constantly misunderstood then and now.
And the kind of person I’d like to be, but never will be this side of heaven.
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own…” (Philippians 3:12)
I’m talking about the fact that He did not care what people thought about Him, though He wasn’t detached or cold.

He never tried to win the room.

He never adjusted Himself to stay liked.

He never protected Himself at the expense of truth.

“I do not receive glory from people.” (John 5:41)
I’m talking about the fact that He only ever did what was true and right in the moment.
“I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.” (John 8:28)
“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” (John 4:34)
I’m talking about His utter holiness.
“He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.” (1 Peter 2:22)
I’m talking about how He was tortured and hung on the cross saying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
I’m talking about the way it says that He,
…though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Phil 2:6-8 ESV)

Emptied Himself. 

This is not normal. It’s not the world’s way. It’s not my way, but I want it to be. 

So utterly focused on His Father and what He was there to do and who He was there to love and forgive. 

There are a million things we could say about being disciples of this God Man, but to follow Him in this is really all there is. 

So here are 5 easy steps to emptying yourself like Jesus. 

Just kidding, these are all incredibly difficult, but in trying anyway, we move in a Godward direction, which is the point. 

There are no steps to becoming like Jesus.
But there are ways to move in His direction.

1. Stop managing your image
Decide, ahead of time, that the approval of people is not your goal.
“If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)
This shows up in small moments. What you say. What you don’t say. Whether you correct something or let it stand.
Jesus was free because He was not curating Himself.

2. Tell the truth in the moment you see it
Not harshly (with yourself or anyone else). Just honestly.
“Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17)
He didn’t wait for the perfect setting. He didn’t soften truth to protect Himself.
He lived aligned with reality at all times.

3. Surrender the outcome before you act
The outcome of the truth is the right outcome.
“Not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)
Most of our self-protection is outcome control.
Jesus obeyed knowing the result would go His Father’s way.

4. Love: Move toward people instead of away from them
Especially the ones who cost you something.
“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Emptying yourself is not withdrawal. It’s presence and it’s costly.
It is choosing love when it would be easier to stay distant.

5. Give up your right to keep score
Release the need to be repaid, recognized, or vindicated.
“When he was reviled, he did not revile in return.” (1 Peter 2:23)
“Father, forgive them…” (Luke 23:34)
This is the deepest.
This is where you could truly start to become like Him.

None of this is natural. None of it is efficient. None of it is how the world works.
Which is exactly the point.

But there’s a real question here.

But Why? 

Why should we be like Him?
Why was it good that He was like He was?
Why not just be a little more guarded, a little more strategic, a little more like everyone else?

What looks like loss in Jesus is life.
What looks like weakness is strength.
What looks like emptiness is fullness.
What looks like weakness is actually strength.
What looks like emptiness is actually fullness.

“Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25)
We spend most of our lives trying to hold ourselves together.
Jesus does the opposite.
And He is the most alive person who ever lived.
Life. 
He is not showing us an extreme version of humanity.
He is revealing the nature of God.
Self-giving.
Unafraid.
Full of truth and mercy at the same time.
“God is love.” (1 John 4:8)

So when Jesus empties Himself, He is not acting out of character.
He is showing you what ultimate reality is like.
Because this is what you were created for.
There is a reason something in you wants this, even as another part of you resists it.
You were designed for it.
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” (Romans 8:29)

This is not about becoming less yourself.
It is about becoming your true self.
The self that does not need to grasp or prove anything. 
The self that is free to love.
Because this is where freedom actually is
We think freedom is getting what we want.
Jesus shows that freedom is not needing to protect yourself at all.
“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

Free from the need for approval.
Free from fear.
Free from the constant pressure to prove you belong here. 
You don’t belong here. You belong where He is.

And furthermore! 
This is how the world changes.
Jesus did not change the world by controlling it. He changed it by giving Himself.
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32)
The world is full of people trying to win.
Very few are willing to love like this.
So what now?
This is not a call to try harder.
It is a call to look at Him long enough that you begin to trust Him.
“And we all… beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
You become like what you behold.
So look at Him.
Watch how He moves.
Watch how He speaks.
Watch what He refuses to grasp.

And then, in one small moment today, let go of something you’ve been holding too tightly.