Follow the example of Jesus

And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes.
	Leviticus 21:10
The story is told of a man who, after parking his car, set out for a day hike in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Three miles into what was to be a relaxing afternoon outing, he noticed ominous storm clouds forming as the temperature dropped dangerously. Realizing a freak snowstorm was headed his way, the man began backtracking toward his car. He had a mile or so to go when the storm became so intense that he couldn’t see his hand in front of his face. Losing his way, he walked for two hours until he realized he was freezing. Feeling a deadly lethargy, the man knew that if he sat down, he would never get up, so he fought it for as long as he could. But finally, the desire to rest was just too overpowering, so he sat down at the base of a tree, the snow still falling intensely. As he sat down, he felt something next to him. Brushing away the snow, he discovered the body of a man who had evidently stopped to rest only a few moments earlier. Finding a pulse, the young man stood to his feet and, with a burst of newfound energy, picked up the man who had almost frozen to death, put him on his shoulders, and began walking feverishly. After walking fifty yards or so, he bumped into the side of a cabin. Feeling his way to the front, he banged on the door, which was opened by a man who welcomed the pair inside to warm themselves by his roaring fire. The application is obvious. In attempting to save someone else, the young man was himself saved. In caring for someone else, he himself was cared for. And that’s what Jesus meant when He said, “The measure you give out will be measured back to you” (see Luke 6:38). When tragedy strikes or when trials come, we’ll either say, “This ought not to be. Poor me,” or we’ll say, “This can be used for Your glory, so pour me, Lord. Pour me out to the people in need all around.” What did our great High Priest do in His time of tragedy, in His time of pain? Even as He hung on the cross in agony, He ministered to a man beside Him, to a woman below Him, and to the crowd around Him . . . “This day you shall be with Me in paradise,” He said to the needy thief beside Him (see Luke 23:43). “Woman, behold thy son,” He said to His grieving mother standing at the foot of the cross below Him (John 19:26). “Father, forgive them,” He prayed concerning the jeering crowd surrounding Him (Luke 23:34). No wonder Caiaphas rent his garments that day (Matthew 26:65), for he was disqualified from priestly ministry at that moment, superseded by the great High Priest whose garment was not rent (John 19:24). The garment of Caiaphas was torn. Not so the garment of Jesus, for Jesus will never lose control emotionally or grieve hysterically. Therefore, neither must we. I’m not talking about “keeping a stiff upper lip,” having a “positive mental attitude,” or a “don’t worry, be happy” mentality. I’m talking about the reality of our great High Priest living in you and me through both good days and bad. Stay in the place of ministry, gang. Follow the example of Jesus. When difficulties come your way, the best thing you can do is go for it more than you ever have previously, in giving out, in sharing with, and in caring for those beside and all around you. Pastor Jon Courson