Whenever I’m around young children, I’m fascinated by their learning style as miniature mimickers. Whatever we do, they try to do. Our flawed examples are, unfortunately, passed along to our kids, which is exactly why I’m thankful we have Jesus as a better standard. We know he never sinned, so we can guess what his first 30 years were like, which is what we are to imitate.  

He obeyed his parents 100%, although surely there were times when he felt like disobeying. He put his siblings ahead of himself and observed what others needed. He never took anything that didn’t belong to him, and never swore. He participated wholeheartedly in every Sabbath day worship, and nothing in his life mattered more than his relationship with God.

He never longed to own something that belonged to another person and never said nasty things about someone else to make himself look better. He never told a lie or withheld the complete truth, and because he wasn’t married, he never slept with a woman.

We ought to be stretching ourselves toward leading this kind of a life.

Once Jesus began his formal ministry as a teacher, he continued to be a spectacular model. He didn’t hide out in solitude but spent time in public, healing, helping and educating people. He was a radical, a strong person who shook up the status quo. He revolutionized the Jewish religiosity of the day and trimmed down hundreds of laws to two: loving God and loving others.

I’m glad Jesus’ angry outburst at the temple was included in Scriture. The story describes him responding negatively to merchants who were selling animals there. The Bible says he made his own whip to rout them out, probably by striking directly at them. I find it fascinating that in his anger, Jesus took time to find the materials he needed and weave together an effective whip.

He then showed strength and determination as he chased out men and animals alike, following that by scattering their coins all over the floor. He finished by flipping over the massive wooden tables used to transact business, proving he was not the weakling many pictures show him to be. Finally he shouted, “Get these [animals] out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”

We already knew we were to model our lives after the “gentle Jesus, meek and mild.” But did we know we were to imitate this other Jesus, too? None of us will ever need to do exactly what he did with a whip in a temple. But we’re all called to live radically with a personal passion to pursue righteousness.

I’m wondering if I’ve even begun.

”All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power.” (Psalm 145:10-11)