Jesus: model and a
guide to us all

Jesus is the model. In the Gospel of John at supper with friends, Jesus reveals a new teaching, reinterpreting the "Love yourselves." In the ancient teaching, love as yourself, with all the weakness from the perspective of imperfect love of each one. In the new teaching, the perspective changes radically; it is not more about the imperfect affection; Now, the model, the perspective, relativity is perfectible: "Love one another as I have loved you." The model is Jesus.

If Jesus proposes he can be taken as a model, it is that his exemplification is likely to be imitated. In fact, we are still far from being able to imitate his cures, although we can, in miniature scale, perform some cures. But it is not that that most of us received the opportunity of reincarnation. Our testimony is essentially moral.

Though Jesus, in essence, is not a simple man, he behaved like one, except for the so-called miracles. As Paul says, that glimpsed the 'divine' Jesus; Jesus became man, leaving aside his attributes of pure Spirit, like any man, except for imperfection.

As a model, Jesus goes on as a true master. In fact, in his time, the master followed the path shaping his attitudes in order to illustrate his teaching; an eminently practical teaching. And his disciples followed him, and went after him, trying to imitate his exemplification. Hence, Jesus' invitation to follow after him, denying our lower desires, charging us by our duties, and supporting with patience and resignation the trials and expiation.

Jesus was not an egomaniac with desire to be revered and worshiped by men; he did not want to dwell on the altars of gold and stone; he did not want to be seen as king, or as a general of legions of angels or appears as the Son of the Trinity. If he had an ambition, that was the desire to make us people who love; simple like that. The Gospels show us the example of Jesus in accordance with his teachings; the good shepherd feeds his flock with love, with charity.

The word caritas has as root carus, which means: the most important thing, affection, care. Therefore, the meaning of charity is eminently moral. Paul lists all the nuances of the term; and radicalizes its independence from charitable purposes, considering that even if we give away all goods to the poor, if we had not charity, that nothing good would be for us. The word charity translates the Greek word agape, which is one of the words that means love in Greek; and love covers a crowd of sins.

Often Jesus said: your faith has healed you. He also said: your sins are forgiven. A passage well known, the so-called anointing of Bethany, after washing the feet of Jesus with her tears and wipe them with her hair, after kissing his feet and anoint them with rare perfume, Jesus said that the sins of that woman were forgiven, because she loved very much; and then said to her: Go in peace, your faith has saved you. Jesus tells us, then, in certain occasion, love and faith are synonymous. So Paul says that faith is made in love.

The called good news was news that a herald brought about the impending visit of the King to this part. If Jesus accepts being identified as King, it was simply to be the Christ according to the Scriptures, an earthly majesty, and because he was, humbly, the representative of the Kingdom of God on Earth, according to the Jewish imagination. The herald of the good news of Christ was John the Baptist who did a baptism of conversion, or repentance, and concretized with fruits of conversion and repentance, showing that it required a radical change in behavior by adherence to the Father's love.

Jesus makes the service the model of sublimation. He came not to be served but to serve and give his life ransom for many. But the salvation that comes from sacrifice, is well understood, it is not a mechanical or miraculous action that is sufficient adherence of the believer to the mystery of incarnation, or the recognition that Jesus is the risen Lord of death. It is not enough just believe, we must adhere to project of the gospel, which is to serve without expecting anything in return; serve unselfishly.

Faith is fundamental, but faith bears fruit in love. The sacrifice of Jesus produces salvation because it engages the disciple to follow his example: sacrifice selfish desires and serve others. Love that seems so far from our imperfections can be manifested today by the act of understanding, indulgence, forgiveness, benevolence, and affection.