Jesus has feelings. Scripture tells us that Jesus wept. He enjoyed fellowship with his closest friends. He attended weddings. He was betrayed 3 times by the one who claimed to love him the most. He was misunderstood. He was wrongly accused. “We do not have a great high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way, just as we are-yet he did not sin.”
Jesus never let his feelings get in the way of obedience. Jesus even sweated “in what was like drops of blood falling to the ground” as he prayed “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.” Jesus did not submit to his feelings; he submitted to his Father.
Remember the catchy old saying “What Would Jesus Do?” I had the wrist band in many colors. I’ve had a couple sisters in Christ teach me “We never have to ask what would Jesus do, we just have to look at what he did.” Jesus lived a full surrendered life lived in obedience for the glory of God at whatever the cost even when he didn’t feel like it.
Warning here….I will get personal on this blog friends out of love for God and love for you. I hope this is a place that only points you to Jesus and encouraging you as you follow him so I will add application questions. Know I’m preaching these things to myself always. Where are you following your feelings verses a life of surrendered obedience rooted in Gods Word? Are you reading your Bible to even know what obedience to him looks like or are you going off of someone else’s teaching that makes you feel good? Are you giving God partial obedience but holding some back because it feels hard? Are you following what culture feels is appropriate or what God has said? Are you following your feelings when you’ve been hurt by the one you love? Maybe you aren’t even feeling love for the one you said you would love until death to us part. Maybe you are lonely and wondering if anyone sees or cares. Maybe you feel like you need a glass of wine to unwind from the day to help with your stress/nerves(note drinking a glass a wine is not bad but if its to help you escape feelings or help you feel comfortable in a situation instead of finding satisfaction in God this would be called what the Bible says is drunkenness). Maybe you aren’t feeling like going to worship with your family after a long week. Maybe you feel you need just a little recognition for that act of service you did so you post a picture. Maybe you are feeling deep physical pain and struggling to trust God. I could go on and on with this list…you can see where I’m going.
Lets look at what Jesus did…”For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Jesus also right when he began his public ministry was tempted for 40 days straight in the dessert by Satan and each time Jesus followed a temptation with scripture. Satan even thought he was being wise by quoting scripture out of context. This shows the importance of camping in your Bible daily taking in God’s Word.
It is ok to feel. God desires for us to feel the depths of his love. We see clearly in the Bible that Jesus felt deeply but the key is turning over our agenda when our feelings aren’t in line with Gods Word. We are to trust and obey in spite of our feelings. So how do you obey when your feelings are going against everything God’s Word says….you fix your eyes on the joy set before you. You fix your eyes on Jesus. We know we have so much to look forward too in Christ, now and for all eternity. We can look forward to the day that our feelings will fully be made new. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Jesus makes all things new including our feelings!
I’m so thankful we have a Savior that didn’t follow his feelings because if he had we would all still be drowning in our sin deserving the full wrath of God. We have a Savior that “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even on a cross.” Oh what a Savior we have, Jesus Christ our Lord!
Lord will you help me and all reading to walk as you did not based on our feelings but in full submission and obedience with thanksgiving fixing our eyes on you Jesus the author of our faith.
Thankful for Jesus’ obedience,
Lane
**Also I will try to include my scripture references for those that want to go into further reading. This is what I truly hope you will do.
Philippians 2:8, Hebrews 2:12, Hebrews 4:15, John 11:35, John 18-19, Mark 22:42-43, Matthew 4, Revelation 21:4
Also more reading on obedience when you don’t feel like it:
http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/lay-aside-the-weight-of-not-feeling-like-it
Eyes Fixed on Jesus 