The Goodness of Jesus (3)

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4.15

Goodness and holiness
An inseparable bond exists between the goodness Jesus personifies and the holiness He possesses by virtue of His divinity. Because Jesus is holy, He is good; and the goodness He manifests issues from and demonstrates His holiness. Many people do good works, including many people who either do not know or do not believe in God. But the works that cause the goodness of God to shine forth in glory are those which flow from the goodness and holiness of Jesus, alive within us.

Jesus has promised His followers that the works He did they also will do, and greater, more numerous, works than He did, because He has returned in all His holiness to His holy throne, where, seated next to our holy Father, He pours out His Holy Spirit into us, His Church (Jn. 14.12). This holy power from on high is given to us to work exceedingly abundantly within all who believe, that we might will and do that which pleases God and refracts His goodness into this world He loves so much (Eph. 3.20; Phil. 2.13).

Thus, the more we understand of the nature of Jesus’ holiness, and the more we realize that holiness within our soul, the better able we shall be to walk the path of goodness which He has marked out for us.

Holiness in life
The holiness of Jesus can be understood from three perspectives. First is the perspective of His life. Jesus was not immune to temptation. He was tempted in all ways like we are. The difference between Jesus and the rest of us is that temptation never led Him into sin. He was “without sin”, as our text insists, and therefore lived in perfect holiness all the days of His life.

He came not to abolish God’s holy and righteous and good Law, but to fulfill it (Matt. 5.17-19). No one could charge Him with any violation of God’s Law, and He was only finally condemned and crucified because He stuck to the truth of His claim that He was the Son of God and, therefore, God Himself.

And because Jesus was without sin, death – which is the wages of sin (Rom. 6.23) – had no claim and could exercise no hold over Him. He laid His altogether holy life down to the ravages of death, but then He took that life back again, destroying the power of death and the grave forever.

As we observe Jesus in the gospels, going about His life and ministry, we see goodness that issues from a holy life of pleasing God, obeying His Word, and touching and teaching people with truth and grace. Unless the holiness Jesus possessed is somehow operating in us, we will not be able to channel God’s goodness to the people to whom He sends us each day.

Holiness in death
The holiness of Jesus is also seen in His death on the cross, where the sinless One became the Sin-bearer for all the world.

Here we see holiness as complete self-emptying, to be filled with all the good and perfect will of God, no matter the cost (Matt. 26.39). Here is holiness that bears injustice, torment, depravation, shame, mocking, scorn, and betrayal – that the love of God might be made manifest. On the cross, Jesus demonstrated the heights of God’s holiness by the depths of suffering He endured.

The suffering of Jesus – vicious, violent, bloody, brutal, hate-filled and horrible – provides a stark contrast to the holiness of God, which is always pure and unstained by the ravages of sin. We know how truly holy God is when we consider how much He hates our sins; and we see that holiness in Jesus the sinless One, Who took our sins upon His own body, thus freeing us from them, for lives of holiness and good works.

Holiness is manifest as goodness when those who walk in the truth bear up with joy, thanksgiving, and love amid the injustices of a sinful world.

Holiness in all who believe
Thus, finally, we expect to see the holiness of Jesus in the good works His followers do as the Spirit of Jesus works in and through them. But as Christians, we must not give first priority to doing good works. In truth, we can learn all manner of good works, and our churches provide all kinds of opportunities for us to join a program for doing good to others; but unless those good works issue from the holiness of Jesus, living and vibrant and fruit-bearing within us, they will be only so many filthy rags.

We must not concentrate in the first instance on doing good; instead, fearing God, we must strive to bring holiness to completion (2 Cor. 7.1), for as we grow in the holiness of Jesus, we will both know and do those good works that express the goodness of God.

Strive to be holy, and you will do good. Strive to do good, and you may in some measure succeed; but not in the way that results in good works, flowing from the indwelling holiness of Jesus and His Spirit, which proclaim our hope and glorify God to the watching world. Jesus was holy, and out of His holiness, He did many good works. This is the pattern He calls us to follow in bringing the goodness of God to light in our world.

For reflection
1.  Why is it more important to pursue holiness than to pursue good works? How should we do that?

2.  What is holiness, and what does it mean to bring it to completion in the fear of God (2 Cor. 7.1)?

3.  Good works do not lead to holiness; holiness leads to good works. Explain.

Next steps – Transformation: Spend some time in prayer, seeking the Lord and asking Him to help you improve in the pursuit of Jesus’ holiness. Whatever He shows you to do, begin right away to put into practice.

T. M. Moore

The Law of God is holy, and Jesus fulfilled that Law, and taught us to do so as well. How can we understand the Law of God? What use does it have in our daily lives? These questions and more are addressed in our brief book, The Ground for Christian Ethics. This could be the most important book you’ll read this year. Order your copy by clicking here. Order several copies, and read and discuss it with some friends.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.