Introduction
“Ezra wants to repent!” My oldest grandson, Malachi, ran up to his father with those exciting words about his younger brother. Those words showed Malachi’s shallow understanding of the word. He meant that Ezra wanted to give his heart to Jesus. He would have never believed Jesus, too, needed repentance.
“Repent” is a word heard only in the Bible and in church. And it’s the only word used in English Bibles for turning away from a course. The actual Greek word has the meaning of turning one’s life around and following Jesus. Its deeper meaning is to renew one’s mind to align with God’s. Its still deeper meaning is to lay down one’s human desires and weaknesses to live by Holy Spirit’s will and power.
God’s Occasions to Repent
There were times God was determined to do bad things to bad people. However, someone intervened in intercession. He turned away (repented) from the bad He intended. (Exodus 32:9-14)
Jesus, Lord at Thy Birth
This idea is in the Christmas song we sing. Angels proclaimed that God’s Anointed One was born. Magi worshiped him as the King of the Jews. He was born a human, yet was still God.
Jesus called Himself the Son of Man. This was the title Daniel gave to the Anointed One. But Jesus’s phrase also speaks of His humanity. He emptied Himself of divine abilities. Paul wrote that God’s Anointed One
…of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:7)
Jesus was a helpless baby, a powerless man. Twice He said, “The Son can do nothing of his own accord.” He was unable to do anything without Holy Spirit.
Jesus grew up in human culture, among people with their human thinking, independence from relationship with God, and self-will. We all have the habit of reaching out and taking what is forbidden, encouraged by the Enemy.
He Needed To Seek Father’s Thinking
Jesus grew up learning the Law. He instinctively knew its value for living. The spirit of sonship moved Him. He observed Mary’s submission. He listened to the stories she told Him and memorized the Writings about obedience. The Lord’s servant learned from Isaiah 55:8, “My thoughts are above your thoughts.” He read what Joshua said, “You are not able to serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:19)
However, Jesus had the “mind of Christ”, as Paul mentioned in 1 Cor 2:16, continually adjusting His thoughts to conform with Father’s. He could have easily healed the lame beggar at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3). But He listened as the Father said, “Not yet.”
He Followed the Path of Repentance
Jesus submitted to ritual water burial. He knew his natural life needed burial (Romans 6:4-7). He told His cousin John it was necessary to fulfill righteousness (Matthew 3:15).
Jesus spent much time in prayer. He said, “The natural man is weak.” (Matthew 26:41, Mark 14:38) He knew His own human thinking fell short. God’s Anointed One needed to turn His thinking toward God’s in repentance. He needed to forsake His human desires for God’s. He went alone to pray (Luke 6:12, Luke 9:28).
The perfect Lamb desired to avoid the cross. He asked to not drink that cup (Matthew 26:36-43, Mar 14:35-36, Luke 22:41-44). But He chose to spurn that desire for the Father’s will. “Yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Matthew 26:39, Mar 14:36, Luke 22:42)
Application
Just as the perfect Son of God needed to exercise repentance to follow the Father’s will, so each of us must
- be ritually buried in water to show the death of the self
- keep seeking the guidance and power of Holy Spirit
- keep turning our thoughts toward God’s
- keep seeking His will for our life…even if it kills us
- keep trusting He will make all things right and give us restoration of life.
Questions
Have you surrendered your life to King Jesus? He will give you His life and restore your health, wealth, and well-being. He will help you fulfill His reason for creating you.