People in the Bible Who Pleased God – Jesus (Part 2)

    I wrote this addendum to last week’s post to show how Jesus perfected the pleasing conduct exhibited by the people in the Bible – perfected because He exhibited every facet of the pleasing conduct that we have studied, He was consistent in His behavior, and He was wholly without sin.

    Please take time to read each passage listed, and if you have other appropriate Bible passages that have not been included on any of the given points, please email me (if you’re reading this on my blog, my address is listed at the bottom of the post) or reply to me from your inbox; I would very much appreciate any additional scripture you can suggest.

    Let’s summarize the pleasing conduct we have learned so far in our study:

• Enoch – willing to seek/willing to speak
• Noah – a doer of the work
• Abram – willing to sacrifice
• Joseph – trusted God
• Job – learned who God is and who he was before Him
• Moses – a humble servant
• David – sought God’s heart
• Solomon – asked for wisdom
• Daniel – determined to be undefiled
• Mary – believed God and humbly submitted
• Zacharias & Elizabeth – prayed and obeyed

    Now, please open your Bible and see how Jesus exhibited every one of these facets of pleasing conduct:

    Like Enoch, Jesus was willing to seek/willing to speak: John 8:28, John 7:16, John 12:49-50, John 14:10, 24, Hebrews 2:11-12

    Like Noah, Jesus was a doer of the work: John 4:34, John 17:4

    Like Abram, Jesus was willing to sacrifice: John 10:17-18, Ephesians 5:2, Hebrews 9:23-28, Mark 10:45, Titus 2:13-14

    Like Joseph, Jesus trusted God: Luke 23:46, Psalm 31:51 Peter 2:23, Hebrews 2:11-13

    Like Job, Jesus knew God and knew who He was before Him: John 1:1-2, John 13:3, John 17:1-3, 5; 25-26, John 10:14-15, 24-30, Hebrews 10:5-7

    Like Moses, Jesus was a humble servant: Mark 10:45, John 13:3-17, Philippians 2:7-8, Matthew 11:29

    Like David, Jesus sought God’s heart: John 5:30, John 8:29

    Like Solomon, Jesus was given wisdom: Luke 2:46-52, Mark 6:1-2, Matthew 7:28-29/Mark 1:21-22/Luke 4:31-32, 1 Corinthians 1:22-24, Colossians 2:2-3

    Like Daniel, Jesus determined to be undefiled: Hebrews 4:14-15, Hebrews 7:26

    Like Mary, Jesus believed God (His Father) and humbly submitted: Philippians 2:8, John 6:38, Isaiah 53:1-11, 1 Peter 2:18-24

    Like Zacharias & Elizabeth, Jesus prayed and obeyed: Matthew 26:39, Luke 22:42, Hebrews 5:7-8

    Take time to read and think on these passages to see why God was well-pleased with His Son. Let's continue to learn from the ordinary people who pleased God and to follow in the footsteps of our extraordinary Saviour!

You can do it! So can I!!

People in the Bible Who Pleased God – Jesus

    Three times in the Bible – once through a prophet, and twice directly - God proclaimed that Jesus was His beloved, in whom He was well-pleased.   

“Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!* I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will declare justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry out, not will anyone hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, till He send forth justice to victory; and in His name Gentiles will trust.” (Matthew 12:18-21 NKJV)

*The original text recorded in Isaiah says: “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights!” (Isaiah 42:1). When God is well pleased with someone, His soul delights in them!

    Eight hundred years before Jesus was born, God proclaimed, through His prophet, Isaiah, that His soul was well pleased with Jesus. Jesus was God’s chosen Servant who would confirm the promises He made to Abram, Isaac, and Jacob, and bring hope to the Gentiles (Romans 15:8-12, 2 Corinthians 4:6). Jesus was willing, and waited for the time when His Father would prepare a body for Him, because He delighted to do His Father’s will (Psalm 40:6-8, Hebrews 10:5-7).

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

    Just before Jesus began His ministry (around the age of 30, Luke 3:23), He went to John at the Jordan River to be baptized “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). When we piece together the three gospel accounts of Jesus’ baptism, we find that Jesus prayed after He came up out of the water* and it was then that the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove, and suddenly a voice came from heaven which said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22)

    When John (the baptizer) saw the descent of the Holy Spirit and heard the declaration of God, it confirmed what God had told him of the coming Messiah; he knew that this was the Son of God (John 1:29-34). So, in the following days, John pointed his disciples to Jesus – the Lamb of God he had prepared the way for – and they heard Jesus speak and began to follow Him (John 1:35-37).

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

    Six days after Jesus told His apostles that He would have to suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, that He would be killed and be raised the third day (Matthew 16:21), He took three of them (Peter, James, and John) up on a high mountain by themselves. Jesus transfigured before them: His face shone (shined) like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light (Matthew 17:1-2). I like Mark’s description of this instance: “His clothes became exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.” (Mark 9:3). It was then that Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus (Matthew 17:3, Mark 9:4).

    Peter who was greatly afraid and did not know what to say, suggested what he thought to be a suitable idea: Let’s make three tabernacles, one for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for Jesus – after all, these people represented the Law, the prophets, and the promised Messiah; the very Son of God – but while Peter spoke a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” When Peter, James, and John looked up again, they saw no one but Jesus.

    At age 12, Jesus said, “…I must be about My Father’s business.” (Luke 2:46-49). He increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men (Luke 2:52). As we saw earlier, Jesus began His ministry by determining to fulfill all righteousness in being baptized, and He spent His days exemplifying God to the people and telling them of God, His Father and how they can become citizens of His eternal kingdom (Matthew 7:21-27).  Jesus did not come to do His own will, but His Father’s only (John 6:38, 5:30) – His very food was to do the will of the Father (John 4:34) – and even as the horrific crucifixion loomed on the horizon, Jesus steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51-53), and when the time came, Jesus finished His prayers to His Father with this humble statement, “…not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42) All He did throughout His life, death, and resurrection was all that His Father had given Him to do (John 17: 4, 19:30).

“Jesus said to them, “When You lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things which please Him.” (John 8:28-29 NKJV)

What can we learn from Jesus?

    We can follow Jesus' example. We are commanded to walk just as He walked (1 John 2:3-6), and He left us an example that we should follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:18-24). We, too, can and must, deny self, take up our cross daily and follow Him (Matthew 16:24, Luke 9:23) Take time to read and consider Matthew 10:38-39, Romans 12:1, and 2 Corinthians 5:15.

    We can determine to know and to do God’s will. God’s will is unchanging; what is written is what we can know and it is what we should be doing. The LORD teaches the humble His way (Psalm 25:9, 12-14), and all Scripture was written for our learning (Roman 15:4, 2 Timothy 3:16-17). We need to read and study so we can grow (1 Timothy 4:12-16, 2 Peter 3:18). When we walk in the light we can find out what is acceptable to the Lord (Ephesians 5:8-10, John 3:19-21), and when we walk in wisdom (that is from above, James 3:13-18), we can understand what the will of the Lord is. Just knowing is not enough, we must do God’s will (James 1:21-25); it is in the doing that His will is proven to be good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2). Read and think on Colossians 1:9-14.

    We can do the things that please God. When we humbly follow Jesus’s example, have a heart determined to do God’s will, and a mind focused on giving God the glory, we will please God. Read through the gospels and renew your mind in how Jesus lived before God the Father, how all He did and said pointed people to the Father. We can do that too! Let’s determine to know Jesus, so we can learn to faithfully keep God’s commandments and allow the love of God to be perfected in us (1 John 2:3-6).

    Jesus was the Son of God. His Father was well pleased with Him and told us to hear Him. Jesus said that we must do the will of Father (Matthew 7:21). Let’s prove our love for the Father by doing what He commands, just as Jesus did (John 14:31), so we too can be pleasing to God!

You can do it! So can I!!

People in the Bible Who Pleased God – Zacharias & Elizabeth

    Opening our Bibles to the first chapter of Luke, we are introduced to a beautiful older couple from the tribe of Levi. The husband, Zacharias, served in the temple, and he and his wife, Elizabeth, “were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” (Luke 1:5-6)

    The angel, Gabriel, appeared to Zacharias while he was burning the incense in the temple. When Zacharias saw him he became afraid, but Gabriel said, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, your prayer has been heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.” (Luke 1:8-13)

    We are told in verse 7 of this chapter that Zacharias & Elizabeth had no child because Elizabeth was barren. I think it is safe to deduce that Zacharias’ prayer was, for a long time, to have a child – he may have even asked specifically for a son – to carry on in service to the Lord. Now, they are both well advanced in years and Zacharias’ prayer has been heard and God is granting his petition: a son, whose name will be John.

    Gabriel tells Zacharias of John’s birth and life: you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth (v14), he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and drink neither wine nor strong drink (v15), he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb (v15), he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God (v16) He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah to make ready a people prepared for the Lord (v17).

    Zacharias simply could not believe these glad tidings – How can I know that this will happen? – so, because he did not believe, he was made mute and would not be able to speak until the day these things would be fulfilled.

    We now get our first glimpse at the heart of Elizabeth. After Zacharias completed his time of service at the temple, he returned home and after those days, Elizabeth conceived and she hid herself five months saying, “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach* among people” (Luke 1:25). Elizabeth praised God for being gracious to her and blessing her with a child.

*reproach means shame, disgrace. Read and consider how Rachel felt, and how Hannah felt, when they were barren, and their responses when they were blessed with a child (Genesis 30:30:1-2; 22-23, 1 Samuel 1:1-2:11).

    When Elizabeth was six months along, Mary (who was now pregnant with Jesus), came to visit her. When Mary entered the house and greeted Elizabeth, her baby leaped in her womb and she was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to Mary in a loud voice: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:42-45)

    Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months before returning to her house (Luke 1:56), and it soon came time for Elizabeth to give birth, and a son was born. When their neighbours heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.

    When it was time for the baby to be named and circumcised, they expected him to be named Zacharias after his father, but Elizabeth said, “No, he shall be called John” (Luke 1:59-61). When they made signs to Zacharias, he wrote on a tablet, “His name is John,” and they all marveled. At this moment, Zacharias’ tongue was loosed and what was the very first things he did? He praised God!

    Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and he praised God for His mercy in remembering His holy covenant with Abraham and redeeming His people, and then he prophesied about his infant son: “And you, O child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins. Through the tender mercies of our God, with which the Dayspring* from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace.”  *Dayspring literally means Dawn, representing the Messiah

What can we learn from Zacharias & Elizabeth?

    We should pray and continue in faithful service. Zacharias & Elizabeth did not become bitter that they did not have a child; they did not turn from God nor blame Him because Elizabeth was barren. They made their requests known to God and continued in faithful service to Him. Their prayers for a child may have begun within the first years of their marriage, but it wasn’t until they were old that it was granted. Don’t give up on prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Don’t give up on God (1 Corinthians 15:58). Don’t grow bitter, grow better – not so you will earn your request, but so you will be properly prepared for whatever God grants you. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight (1 John 3:22-23; 5:14-15) and your prayers will be heard!

    When we are prepared we can be useful for God. Zacharias & Elizabeth humbly served God, never knowing that in doing so they were also preparing themselves to be parents to a son who would be the prophet preparing the people for Jesus’ teaching. When we humbly obey God and cleanse ourselves from what is dishonorable, we can be set apart and useful for the Master, and prepared for every good work (2 Timothy 2:19-26). We don’t look for how great or small the task will be or how God will use us, we simply ready ourselves (through continued study, prayer, praise, and obedience) for whatever God gives us to do each day.  

    We can praise God and give Him the glory. Elizabeth gave glory to God before and after the child was born – the neighbours heard that the Lord had shown her mercy – Elizabeth very likely proclaimed God’s praise to all who came to help and visit her at the birth of her son – and the first words out of Zacharias’ mouth were proclamations of praise at God’s faithfulness, mercy, and grace! Whether we are waiting or content, God is worthy of praise! Tuning our hearts toward gratitude and thanksgiving, and thinking about God’s continuing faithfulness, will help us to proclaim His praises to those who ask a reason for the hope that is in us with meekness and fear (1 Peter 2:9; 3:15).

    Zacharias & Elizabeth are not mentioned beyond this chapter, but what is written in the fifty-nine verses pertaining to them shows a lifetime of faithful service to God and each other.  They trusted in God, they prayed to Him, and they praised Him and gave Him the glory. They knew the Scriptures, they knew the promises and prophecies of the Messiah, and rejoiced that the fulfillment of those same prophecies was beginning in their lifetime. We do not get a sense of “Look at me! Look how God is using me!” but of “God is redeeming His people as He promised! God is merciful! God is faithful! May God be glorified!”

    We only have the dash that is carved between the dates on our gravestone, let’s make the most of that time by preparing ourselves to be useful for our Master by humbly obeying His commands each and every day of our lives!

You can do it! So can I!!     

People in the Bible Who Pleased God – Mary, the mother of Jesus

    About 800 years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah prophesied that He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14-15) and about 700 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Micah prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah* (Micah 5:2). *Ancient name for the town of Bethlehem

    A young woman enters the pages of history described as one betrothed to Joseph (Matthew 1:18). Betrothal in these times meant that there was an agreement between both families and that Joseph and Mary were considered engaged to be married – but it was more than that – Mary was, from the time of the betrothal, considered Joseph’s wife, and he her husband, though they did not live together nor know one another until after the wedding.

    When Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be pregnant. Joseph did not want Mary to be made a public spectacle so he thought about dissolving their agreement secretly, but an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him that the child was conceived of the Holy Spirit; he was also told that Mary would have a Son and that he was to call him Jesus (literally means Saviour, Matthew 1:18-25).

    We are given more background to Mary’s story in the gospel of Luke. The angel, Gabriel, was sent by God, and he spoke to Mary saying, “Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” Mary didn’t know what to think about such a greeting as this, but Gabriel told her to not be afraid because she had found favour with God – she pleased God. 

Side note: This same ‘favour’ is used in speaking of David in Acts 7:45-47 – he found favour before God. 

    Mary is told that she will conceive and bring forth a Son and He will be called Jesus (read Luke 1:31-33 to see how Gabriel describes Jesus). Mary asks how it could be possible because she was a virgin, and Gabriel tells her simply that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Highest would overshadow her – that the Holy One she would bear will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). He goes on to tell her that her relative, Elizabeth, once barren and now old, was 6 months pregnant (with a son, John the baptizer, Luke 1:5-25, 57-80) – “For with God nothing will be impossible”  (Luke 1:37) – and Mary’s response? “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be according to your word.” (Luke 1:38). In saying this, Mary declared herself a willing servant, wholly submitting to God and His will.

    We see a beautiful facet of Mary’s heart and mind, as well as her knowledge of the Scriptures, in Luke 1:46-55 – take the time to read this passage. Mary sings that her soul magnifies the Lord – declares His greatness – and that her spirit rejoices in God her Saviour. She goes on to describe God as One who regards the lowly people who serve Him, One who is mighty, who does great things, who is merciful on those who fear Him; One who is strong and powerful, who is able to pull down the mighty and exalt the lowly, able to fill the hungry with good things, and the One who helped Israel, and in His mercy, He remembered His promise to Abraham and his seed.

Side note: Mary sings words similar to Hannah’s prayer, when Hannah offered a prayer of rejoicing after being blessed with her son, Samuel – see 1 Samuel 2:1-10, specifically verses 5-8

    Mary pleased God. He chose her to be the mother of Jesus. And from what we can learn from the rest of the gospels and the beginning of Acts, Mary remained a faithful maidservant to God: She quietly considered matters she didn’t yet understand (Luke 2:41-51), she stood by the cross while Jesus hung there (John 19:25-27), and she (and Jesus’ brothers) continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the apostles after Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:9-14). I think it is good to note that her only recorded words after Jesus began His ministry were, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2:5). She submitted to God, followed Jesus, and pointed others to Him, as He pointed all to God.

What can we learn from Mary?  

    When we are prepared, God can use us. Mary, likely never considering how God would/could use her, was faithful to His law and kept herself pure, and because of this was prepared for the role she was to have in Jesus’ birth. We, too, need to seek God’s will (Ephesians 5:10, 17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17) so we can study and show ourselves approved by God, being a worker who is pure in heart and motive (does not need to be ashamed), and who knows the Truth (not carried away by winds of doctrine, Ephesians 4:13-15, 1 Timothy 4:12-16). Read and consider Hebrews 5:12-14. God gave us work to do: good works (Ephesians 2:10, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Titus 3:8, 14, Matthew 5:14-16, Hebrews 13:16), proclaiming His praises (1 Peter 2:9, Hebrews 13:15), bearing fruit (John 15:8, Galatians 5:22-23), and teaching others (Matthew 28:18-20, Titus 2:3-5, 1 Peter 3:1-4). When we are prepared to do the work, God can use us to light the way for those seeking Him, and He can use us to strengthen our brethren (Ephesians 4:29, 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11). Let’s determine to keep our vessels filled with oil so that we are ready and prepared to do the work (Matthew 25:1-13).  

    We can trust God and willingly submit to His will. I’m sure Mary didn’t fully understand what Gabriel meant by the overshadowing power of the Highest, but she knew that the Highest was God, and with Him she would be okay. Can we trust Him like Mary did?  YES! He is the same God. He loves us and gives us instructions and commands that are for our good always (Deuteronomy 6:24-25), He has provided all we need to succeed in our walk along the difficult path (John 3:16-21, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Ephesians 6:10-18, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:14-16, 1 John 2:3-6), He longs to be gracious to us (Isaiah 30:18), and to welcome us home. Trust Him. “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good, blessed is the man who trust in Him.” (Psalm 34:8)

    We can tell others to follow Jesus, as we continue to follow Him all our days. There are many people in the religious world who want to give great significance to Mary, but Mary’s words were “Whatever He says to you, do it” – these simple words are potent because they clearly say that it is Jesus who needs to be listened to, and His words should be our command. Consider also the woman who wanted to venerate Jesus’ mother in Luke 11:27, then look at Jesus’ response in verse 28. Mary pointed others to Jesus the Christ, not in a loud way, but in a clear, concise way, and we can do that too. We can also hear God’s word and keep it, just as she did. The last we hear of Mary, the mother of Jesus, was after Jesus’ ascension, and we find her with the apostles and brethren (about 120 people, Acts 1:15) earnestly praying; they all had the same mind to serve God and they continued in it together.

    Mary was a woman prepared to obey God and willing to submit to His will. She was one who listened to Jesus and pointed others to Him. She faithfully served God, and when there were times that she didn’t understand, she still trusted Him and continued in obedience to Him. Let’s hear Mary’s words: “Whatever He says to you, do it” as she points us to Jesus and let’s submit to God’s will so that we are prepared to be a useful vessel that can help others come to know Jesus, and let’s follow Him all of our days.

You can do it! So can I!!