Walking in His Footsteps: Jesus as Our Perfect Example

Amid life’s swirling uncertainties, where everything seems adrift, there is a story that offers hope and direction. Imagine a guiding light in the form of a person who not only shows the way but walks it alongside you. For Christians, that person is Jesus Christ. He is not only our Savior and Lord but also our perfect example.

One evening, a small group of followers gathered around Jesus, hanging on His every word. His life was a living testament to the love and grace of God, a tangible blueprint for how we should live, love, and serve. Through His life and teachings, Jesus invites us to follow in His footsteps, offering a path of hope, love, and purpose.

Peter, one of His closest disciples, later wrote to the early Christians, emphasizing this call: “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21 NKJV). Peter’s words remind us that Jesus’ life, including His suffering, is a model for us to follow. His footsteps lead us through the valleys of hardship and onto the peaks of faithfulness and obedience.

To follow Jesus means living as He lived. The apostle John echoes this sentiment: “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6 NKJV). This isn’t just about copying external behaviours but embodying His character and spirit daily. It’s about letting His love, humility, and grace flow through us.

Paul, writing to the Ephesians, urges us to “be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Ephesians 5:1-2 NKJV). Jesus’ life was marked by selfless love and sacrifice. As His followers, we are called to reflect that same love in our interactions with others, offering our lives as a fragrant sacrifice to God.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians offers a profound insight into the mindset of Jesus: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV). Jesus’ humility and obedience are central to His example. He emptied Himself of divine privileges, embracing the role of a servant to fulfill God’s redemptive plan.

In one of His teachings, Jesus explained to His disciples, “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43-45 NKJV). True greatness in God’s kingdom is found in serving others, following Jesus’ example of sacrificial service.

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus performed a powerful act of humility by washing His disciples’ feet. He said, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15 NKJV). This act of humility and service is a powerful reminder that no task is beneath us when loving and serving others.

Jesus’ commandment to His disciples was clear: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34 NKJV). Jesus’ love was radical, unconditional, and transformative. By loving others in this way, we bear witness to His presence in our lives and in the world.

John, in his epistle, underscores this call to sacrificial love: “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16 NKJV). Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross sets the standard for how we should love – with a willingness to lay down our lives for others.

Paul’s letter to the Romans calls us to unity and acceptance: “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God” (Romans 15:5-7 NKJV). Jesus’ example teaches us to embrace one another in unity, reflecting His welcoming heart and glorifying God through our harmony.

The apostle Paul also emphasizes forgiveness in his letter to the Colossians: “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Colossians 3:13 NKJV). Jesus forgave us completely and unconditionally, setting an example that we are called to follow in our relationships with others.

Finally, in Hebrews, we are encouraged to look to Jesus as we run our race: “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (Hebrews 12:2-3 NKJV). Jesus endured immense suffering with joy and perseverance, providing us with the ultimate example of endurance and faith.

As we reflect on Jesus as our example, we are reminded that following Him is not always easy but is profoundly rewarding. His life of humility, love, service, sacrifice, and perseverance provides a clear path for us to follow. By walking in His footsteps, we grow in our faith and become a beacon of His light to those around us.

In conclusion, Jesus is our perfect example. His life and teachings offer a roadmap for living a life which honours God and blesses others. As we strive to imitate Him, we find purpose, strength, and joy in our journey. May we continually seek to follow His example, walking in His footsteps and reflecting His love and grace to the world.