Practically Applying Jesus' Example Beyond Desire to Please God

The practical application of Jesus' example extends beyond merely desiring to please God, encompassing specific actions and attitudes that reflect his life and teachings. Jesus himself demonstrated a life of self-denial, prioritizing God's will over his own comfort or desires ^{[1, 6]}. This self-denial was not an end in itself but a means to fulfill his divine mission, as seen in his statement, "I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me" (John 5:30) ^[1].

Jesus' example includes several key areas of practical application for believers:

Self-Denial and Sacrifice: Christ's life was marked by self-denial, evident in his resistance to temptation in the wilderness and his ultimate sacrifice on the cross ^{[1, 6]}. He "pleased not himself" but sought to do his Father's will and work ^[9]. This self-denial is a test of devotion to Christ and is necessary for following him, engaging in spiritual warfare, and achieving spiritual triumph ^[1]. It involves denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, controlling appetites, abstaining from fleshly desires, and mortifying sinful lusts ^[1]. The cross, where the Son of God bore the sins of men, stands as a profound example of self-sacrificing love ^[10].

Diligence and Early Rising: Jesus demonstrated diligence in his ministry, often rising early for prayer and teaching ^{[2, 7]}. For instance, Mark 1:35 notes that "in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying" ^{[2, 7]}. This practice is presented as requisite for devotion, executing God's commands, and discharging daily duties ^[2]. Diligence is required in seeking God, obeying him, striving for perfection, cultivating Christian graces, and guarding against defilement ^[7].

Communion with God: Jesus consistently sought communion with God through prayer and intimate relationship ^[5]. His example encourages believers to engage in prayer and maintain a close relationship with God ^[5]. This communion is inseparable from love for God and is motivated by God's compassion and an awareness of human infirmities ^[5].

Rejecting Selfishness: Jesus' life directly condemned selfishness. He did not seek his own gain or pleasure but lived to serve others and fulfill God's purpose ^{[6, 9]}. Selfishness is contrary to God's law, which commands love for one's neighbor as oneself (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39) ^[6]. It manifests in being lovers of oneself, pleasing oneself, seeking one's own interests, and neglecting the poor ^[6]. John Calvin emphasizes that true godliness is not only about fulfilling duties to God but also about acting inoffensively towards others, abstaining from injustice, speaking truth, and exercising kindness ^[12].

Submission to God's Will: A core aspect of Jesus' example is his complete submission to the will of God. He taught his disciples to pray, "Your will be done," placing human will in subordination to divine will ^[13]. This submission allows believers to be governed by divine providence and to persevere in prayer ^[13]. Augustine notes that Christ did not please men, because in doing so, he aimed at pleasing God ^[11]. Paul echoes this sentiment, stating, "Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10) ^[3].

The imitation of Christ's example is not merely about outward actions but involves an internal transformation where one's will aligns with God's ^[8]. This includes accepting afflictions as beneficial, recognizing that they can promote God's glory, teach his will, and turn individuals to him ^[4]. Charles Hodge explains that while God's love is infinite, the death of Christ makes it consistent with moral excellence for that love to have unrestricted sway over sinful humanity ^[10].

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Early Rising — Christ set an example of -- Mr 1:35; Lu 21:38; Joh 8:2. Requisite for Devotion. -- Ps 5:3; 59:16; 63:1; 88:13; Isa 26:9. Executing God's commands. -- Ge 22:3. Discharge of daily duties. -- Pr 31:15. Neglect of, leads to poverty -- Pr 6:9-11. Practised by the wicked, for Deceit. -- Pr 27:14. Executing plans of evil. -- Mic 2:1. Illustrates spiritual diligence -- Ro 13:11,12. Exemplified Abraham. -- Ge 19:27. Isaac, &c. -- Ge 26:31. Jacob. -- Ge 28:18. Joshua &c. -- Jos 3:1. Gideon. -- Jdj 6:38. Samuel. -- 1Sa 15:12. David. -- 1Sa 17:20. Mary, &c. -- Mr ”
Galatians “Galatians 1:10 (BSB) — Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions Made Beneficial — In promoting the glory of God -- Joh 9:1-3; 11:3,4; 21:18,19. In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God -- Ps 34:19,20; 2Co 4:8-11. In teaching us the will of God -- Ps 119:71; Isa 26:9; Mic 6:9. In turning us to God -- De 4:30,31; Ne 1:8,9; Ps 78:34; Isa 10:20,21; Ho 2:6,7. In keeping us from again departing from God -- Job 34:31,32; Isa 10:20; Eze 14:10,11. In leading us to seek God in prayer -- Jdj 4:3; Jer 31:18; La 2:17-19; Ho 5:14,15; Jon 2:1. In convincing us of sin -- Job 36:8,9; Ps 119:67; Lu 15:16-18. In leading us to con”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Communion With God — Christ set an example of -- Lu 19:41,42. Exhortation to -- Ro 12:15; 1Pe 3:8. Exercise towards The afflicted. -- Job 6:14; Heb 13:3. The chastened. -- Isa 22:4; Jer 9:1. Enemies. -- Ps 35:13. The poor. -- Pr 19:17. The weak. -- 2Co 11:29; Ga 6:2. Saints. -- 1Co 12:25,26. Inseparable from love to God -- 1Jo 3:17; Joh 4:20. Motives to The compassion of God. -- Mt 13:27,33. The sense of our infirmities. -- Heb 5:2. The wicked made to feel, for saints -- Ps 106:46. Promise to those who show -- Pr 19:17; Mt 10:42. Illustrated -- Lu 10:33; 15:20. Exemp”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Selfishness — Contrary to the law of God -- Le 19:18; Mt 22:39; Jas 2:8. The example of Christ condemns -- Joh 4:34; Ro 15:3; 2Co 8:9. God hates -- Mal 1:10. Exhibited in Being lovers of ourselves. -- 2Ti 3:2. Pleasing ourselves. -- Ro 15:1. Seeking our own. -- 1Co 10:33; Php 2:21. Seeking after gain. -- Isa 56:11. Seeking undue precedence. -- Mt 20:21. Living to ourselves. -- 2Co 5:15. Neglect of the poor. -- 1Jo 3:17. Serving God for reward. -- Mal 1:10. Performing duty for reward. -- Mic 3:11. Inconsistent with Christian love -- 1Co 13:5. Inconsistent with communi”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 11, section 4: life well, and give laws to others, in the first place should consider the Divine nature; and, upon the contemplation of God's operations, should thereby imitate the best of all patterns, so far as it is possible for human nature to do, and to endeavor to follow after it: neither could the legislator himself have a right mind without such a contemplation; nor would any thing he should write tend to the promotion of virtue in his readers; I mean, unless they be taught first of all, that God is the Father and Lord of all things, a”
Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 15:2: For even Christ pleased not himself,.... He sought not his own ease, pleasure, profit, honour, and glory, but to do his Father's will and work, Joh 4:34; and he always did the things which pleased him, in his obedience, sufferings, and death; and sought not his own, but his glory: moreover, what he did and suffered were not for himself, but for us; he became incarnate for us; he obeyed, suffered, and died for us; he came not to be ministered to, to be attended upon as an earthly prince, enjoying his own ease and pleasure, things grateful to nature, but to minister to ”
CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 104: the sublimest exhibitions of self-sacrificing love. All heaven stands uncovered before the cross on which the Son of God, holy and harmless, bore the sins of men. And God forbid that redeemed sinners should regard the cross as an offence. God is not won to love by the death of his Son, but that death renders it consistent with moral excellence that his infinite love for sinful men should have unrestricted sway. Satisfaction to Justice unnecessary. 5. It is objected that the doctrine of satisfaction to justice by means of vicarious punish”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. I.--I. The subject of mercy, with the treatment of which the first book came to a close, is followed by that of the cleansing of the heart, with which the present one begins.(1) The cleansing of (part 2): did not please men, because in that very thing he aimed at pleasing God: and right in authoritatively teaching that we ought to please men, not in order that this should be sought for as the reward of our good deeds; but because the man who would not offer himself for imitation to those whom he wished to be saved, could not please God; ”
CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1, section 7.37: not they fear God. We might, indeed, be deceived, were it from the second table only that we formed our judgment about the godliness of a man; but if any one discharge the duties of the first table, which are evidences of godliness and of the worship of God, he must then be brought to this standard, Does he act inoffensively towards other men? Does he abstain from every act of injustice? Does he speak truth? Does he live in the exercise of kindness to his brethren? This is the reason why Christ pronounces mercy, judgment, and faith, to be the”
CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: procedure seems to him best, in respect of method, time, and place. For before we offer up any petition for ourselves, we ask that his will may be done, and by so doing place our will in subordination to his, just as if we had laid a curb upon it, that, instead of presuming to give law to God, it may regard him as the ruler and disposer of all its wishes. 51. If, with minds thus framed to obedience, we allow ourselves to be governed by the laws of Divine Providence, we shall easily learn to persevere in prayer, and suspending our o”

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