“Happy Birthday!” Jesus. You are the unmatchable Gift!

 

 

Jesus is the most self-controlled Man Who ever lived. He did not lose control of Himself even one time in even the slightest way. From His birthday through His deathday He never lost it. Thirty three years is an amazing run to keep one’s self control. I would personally be thrilled with thirty three days!

 

Jesus went thirty three years. How did He do that? I am sure the full answer is much bigger than a man with my mind can comprehend or explain. However, I know the answer is not, “He is God and it was easy for Him.” He is God but He is also Man and He was tempted in every way that we are yet without sin. His temptations to lose control or hand over control were real and powerful. However, having been tempted directly and severely He did not lose control of Himself even one time in even the slightest way. How did He do that? Here are two major realities about His inner life that assisted in this amazing run of self control.

 

First He was motivated by love for His Father and an aching desire to please His Father. Jesus said in John 4:34, “My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish His work.” Jesus possessed in a powerful and compelling way the truth that life and joy and fulfillment are found in doing the will of God. He knew and fully lived the reality that we are not nourished by indulging our sin natures and by giving away the control of ourselves. 

 

God condemned His people through Jeremiah (in 2:13) when He said they had “forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” They did what we are continually tempted to do. They gave in to the belief that life and joy and meaning can be found apart from God. They went looking for life and joy where Jesus refused to look.

 

Every aspect of life is joyful and meaningful when lived under the rule of God. But the loss of self-control results from trying to find joy in aspects of life that are disconnected from God. Jesus knew it would not work to find joy in pleasing Himself so He stuck religiously to pleasing the Father. That was the beginning of His self control.

 

Our questions: Do I really believe that nourishment, real life, is found in doing the will of God? Do I really believe that giving the control of my life to anyone or anything other than God is not only sinful to God but harmful to me? Where am I looking for living water? Have I ever experienced the “spiritual high” that is called in the Word “the joy of obedience?”

 

Second, Jesus was guided by a clear vision about His work on earth. Jesus knew exactly what was expected of Him and He submitted to that expectation with deep commitment and tenacity. It was all very clear to Him and that clarity aided His self control as He was striving to fulfill that mission. He envisioned Himself obeying the Father by going to Jerusalem and being betrayed and being beaten and being “lifted up” on the cross and dying for the sins of all mankind. It was all clear to Him. It was necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up in order for many to place their trust in Him and receive eternal life. Seeing this vision motivated His self control to actually fulfill all that was needed.

 

In a parallel truth Jesus was also self-controlled because He could see the amazing fruit of rescued lives and returned glory on the other side of the cross. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus saw the rescued lives and the return to His former glory with the Father. It all enhanced His self control.

 

A clear vision is so compelling and so motivational—it just grips you. Not everyone has experienced this but those who have experienced it know the excitement and joy of a noble vision.

 

Our questions: Do I have a clear vision of my own calling from God? Can I see the beautiful preferred future that God wants to create through me? Do I know the deep meaning in life that arises from clear and Godly vision? Am I galvanized for self control by the compelling dream of what God wants to accomplish through me? Do I have a noble cause that is bigger than me? Am I energized by the vision of serving others with my unique gifts and the thrill of self-transcendence?

 

We are celebrating today the physical birth of Jesus Christ the God-Man.  He lived for thirty three years and did not lose control of Himself even one time in even the slightest way. I am sure that humans, even given a long, long time, could never chronicle the blessings and joys that resulted from His self control. I am sure that humans could never fathom the loss and pain and terror that would have resulted if He had lost control of Himself for even an instant in even the slightest way.

 

Our last question: Do I have any idea what kind of joy and freedom and blessing and glory to God that could result from my own self control?