Jesus Christ's relationship model 01/24/2012
Ever since I started the journey of studying the infinitely profound concept of Grace, I was burdened with the desire to understand Christ's relationship model. How did Christ show Grace in his contact with others? MY QUESTIONS I knew Love was the primary motivation (John 3:16), but how did he do it in the everyday situations? How did He demonstrate that Love with the people around Him? Was there a pattern in His interactions that I could learn from? Were there constant character traits that were shown? Was there someting that attracted them to Him and, conversly, was there something that prevented Him to show His love to them? MY FOUNDATION My first question was: Did Christ have overarching attributes that qualified who He was? Yes. I used John 1:14,17 as my foundation: Christ, full of Grace and Truth. My first thesis was that His contact with people was imbued with both amazing Grace and godly Truth. My second question pertained to the initial contact He made with others. I had already studied why His interactions with the Pharisees were so different than the others. But what was the common thread between those who were attracted to Him? or those He sought out? Did they commonly demonstrate something I could learn? My thesis here was that both faith and humility were present at the scene. My third question was one of process. Is there a particular recurring order Christ prefers when He interacts? Does He demonstrate Grace before Truth? or vice versa? My analysis showed that Grace (more often then not) preceded Truth. MY METHODOLOGY First, I took the 'Harmony of the Gospels'. The episode structure within the table is based on Edward Robinson's A Harmony of the Gospels in Greek as well as Steven L. Cox and Kendell H Easley's Harmony of the Gospels. I wanted to establish a chronology for the events of the life of Jesus depicted in the four canonical gospels. Second, I excluded 2 particular relationships: - His dealings with the Pharisees because their pride prevented any graceful contact with Him - His teachings and parables to the followers and disciples because it was an on-going three year (often one way) relationship  Jesus' relationship model (Click image to enlarge) MY FINDINGS I was amazed to discover that Jesus had a model He used very often with the people around Him. He started by establishing contact by going to see someone, accepting someone's request for Him or sitting down with strangers who unknowingly needed Him. He was very gracious with His time with sinners, lepers, tax collectors, Samaritans and other of society's refuse. He gave a lot of Himself. Once He established the contact, once He developed the relationship, He gave some form of grace. It could be a healing, an encouragement, a protection from others, a glimpse of the Kingdom, a forgiveness, a touch, a listening, a relief of whatever suffering they had. Then, after dispensing grace, He would finish with a certain truth about God or command future actions to take. Whether it was 'go and sin no more' or 'Do not tell anyone what has happened here', Christ would finish the interaction with a teaching for the crowd or an exhortation for the graced one. MY DOCUMENT The document below takes each interaction, regrouping them where they appeared in the Gospel account. I then separated the interaction in 3 parts, with the references of the verses that pertain to: 1. The relationship established with Humility and / or Faith 2. The acts of or explanations on Grace 3. The acts of or explanations on Truth May it become my personal relationship model. 
Add Comment The Pharisees' 10(+1) commandments 12/22/2011
-- GraceGuy I am more... 09/26/2011
I am more... than what I look like than what I say than what I'm good at than what I like than what roles and titles I have I am more... than what I think about than what I dream about than what I know than what I believe I am more... than what I have done than what I can do than what I want to do than what I will do I am more... than how fast I run than how strong I am than how high I jump than how smart I am I am more... than the successes I had than the people I love than the money I have than the smile I wear I am more... than the mistakes I made than the people I have wronged than the money I lost than the scars I wear I am more... than where I've been than where I am than where I'm going I am more... than when I was born than when I will die I am more than who others think I am. I am more. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10 - GraceGuy A piece of humble pie 09/26/2011
It's taken me some time to realize that some concepts are not related to others. I would find it easy to love those who loved me back, to believe in what I can touch, to hope when all evidences point to a certainty, to be happy when everything goes my way and to feel graced when I worked hard at doing good around me. All lies. All illusions. All smoke and mirrors. When I put my ego aside a moment, I discover that: 'Love has nothing to do with what I feel or others' love towards me Faith has nothing to do with what I see Knowledge has nothing to do with my reasoning Hope has nothing to do with hard data Joy has nothing to do with my circumstances Grace has nothing to do with my deeds' This reminds me of what I wrote earlier: 'Riches have nothing to do with what I own Wisdom has nothing to do with what I know Salvation has nothing to do with what I do Freedom has nothing to do with what I choose Glory has nothing to do with how others see me Food has nothing to do with what I eat or drink Value has nothing to do with my accomplishments Beauty has nothing to do with what I see Strength has nothing to do with what I can bear Pleasure has nothing to do with me Power has nothing to do with what I control' Ouch. When I need it... 09/23/2011
When I let the circumstances dictate my joy... When I feel lonely in a crowd... When I am right and others are wrong... When I am wrong and others are right... When I feel I am better than others... When I am too weak to go on... When I rebuke and discipline those under my authority... When I lose patience with the ones I love... When I take for granted the blessings around me... When I fail again in my weakness... When I let past mistakes and hurts poison my present... When I let worries and doubts creep into today... When I get caught up in trying to fulfill my own needs... When I forget the importance of meeting others' needs... When I am drowning in myself When my flights are fueled by my ego When guilt clouds my outlook When forgiveness seems impossible to give When I pursue vain accomplishments... When I don't have time for those who matter... When I neglect to spend time with my Creator... When I forget what my Savior has done... When I choose to stray from my Lord's plan... ... I need Grace. GraceGuy's Epitaph 06/15/2011
I have recently been re-exposed to the fragility of life : how it hangs by a very thin thread, how we can't control what happens to us and how Grace is all that really keeps that thread from breaking at any moment. I then started reflecting on epitaphs, those sentences we leave on our tombstones for all of prosterity to see. The questions started flooding in: What sentence would define me ? What words would best describe my dreams, my goals, my aspirations, my achievements, my relationships ? We are such complex people, how can it all be reduced to one last saying ? If the passerby knew absolutely nothing about me, what could I tell them ? What do I really stand for ? What is at my core ? I searched my soul for the basic truths I hold more than anything else. I have found 3:
And while I don't expect my epitaph to be written soon, it was a blessing to reflect on what it would say. Enjoy.  GraceGuy - He strove to be like Christ, Filled with Grace and Truth; From above, overflowing to others Who is she ? 05/09/2011
She sees beyond everything the mirror reflects to my broken state, my hurting heart, my aching soul, my unspoken needs. Her ears listen to me when I have too much and nothing to say. Her tongue speaks words of peace, love and truth that fill me. Her heart gladly rejoices with mine and breaks into pieces with mine as well. Her hands, ah her wonderful hands. They touch me when sin makes me a leper. They pick me up when I am crippled by my desires. They grab me when I am sinking in my sea of doubt. They give me sight when I am blinded by pride. They feed my soul when I am hungry for answers. They water my heart when it is an arid desert of callosity. They raise me from the death of my own actions. Her feet run to embrace me and shower me when I come back from my shameful deeds. She runs away from sin and yet stands by me in mine, waiting and encouraging me to run away with her and Truth, her partner. When I was wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, she was all I had left. Her undeserved gifts are sufficient, rich, abundant, exceeding, manifold, contagious and glorious. They are renewed every single morning and they are free. She paid the ultimate price for me, showed me the way to eternal joy and walks with me every day until I get there. She is Grace. - GraceGuy My first Easter 04/21/2011
"Before we see the cross as something done for us, we need to see the cross as something done by us" - John Stott I asked him to heal me and feed me without any intention to follow him I tested his teachings and refused to let go of my beliefs I expected him to liberate us from the Romans I betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver I broke bread with him at his last supper I fled when the soldiers came to take him I kissed him to show the soldiers who he was I took him into custody and brought him before the high priest Caiaphus I put him on an illegal trial with false witnesses I brought him to the governor Pilate I questioned him about the accusations I brought him to Herod and returned him to Pilate I let the crowd decide his fate and washed my hands of it I wanted the liberation of a known murderer instead of his I sentenced him to death to appease the crowd and my ego I beat and flogged him multiple times with whips I spat on him I made a crown of thorns and placed it harshly on his head I made him carry his cross up the mount and pushed him to the ground I put his hands on the cross and nailed him to it I put his feet together on the wooden block at the base of the cross and nailed them to it I lifted the cross and slipped it in the hole I divided his clothes and cast lots for it I placed a sign above his head I give him vinegar to drink I pierced his side and saw blood and water spill out I looked on approvingly, content of his death I mocked his lack of power, even while I was hanging on a cross beside him I denied ever knowing him, three times I doubted his messianic claims I heard him say ridiculous words to his supposed father I saw him draw his last breath I took the limp body off the cross I placed it in a tomb and rolled a massive stone to close it I guarded the tomb and prevented anyone from reaching it I kept the empty tomb a secret I persecuted those who thought he was risen I was there that first Easter. My sins did all of this. And yet, through faith, His Grace covered me. - GraceGuy Grace is... 04/17/2011
Gift that is undeserved Love that pays the price Faith that demands a decision Justice that is satisfied Freedom from the slavery of sin Obedience that remembers the cost Forgiveness that covers all Compassion that gets its hands dirty Light that shows the way Prayer that is heard Glory that is cause for praise Hope that does not fail Strength that rises to the occasion Satisfaction that quenches all desires Blessings that are renewed daily Riches beyond imagination - GraceGuy Grace, my daily creed 11/03/2010
My prayer for today Because of: - my state of sin and who I am comes from my fallen heart - Christ's atoning work and the gift of grace and unconditional love - my being forgiven, loved, and graced - my calling which is to know and glorify only Him Today, by His grace only, I will: ...be rigourous with myself - strive to be more holy - put God first, then my family, then the church and then my work - work hard, earn my keep and give Him the first fruits - pray, listen to His voice and follow His leading - read His word, meditate on His word and let it dwell richly in me - resist temptation and do His will - exemplify the Gospel and show Fruit - die to myself and take up my cross - hold my promises - cry out to Him and sing His praises - repent, rejoice and be glad - be controlled by the Spirit - glorify Him ...and gracious with others - serve Him and others - forgive others Today I will be careful: - where I get my advice - what I look at - where I go - what I do - how I walk - what I think - what I want - what I say - what or how I feel - what I read - to talk to God intimately and personally in prayer all the time. Today He promises me His: - grace - provision - presence - bread - peace - love - satisfaction - wisdom - compassion - joy - favour - support - forgiveness | AuthorI am on a journey to learn and experience biblical Grace. This page holds my 'oh wow, I didn't know that about Grace' moments based on the research discoveries you read on this website. This is my personal journal to my 2Pt 3:18 growth and understanding of this infinitely deep concept. ArchivesJanuary 2012 CategoriesAll | ||
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