Becoming Like Jesus

As we enter the Lenten season, it is natural to reflect on what this season means for believers. Lent dates back to the beginning of the church and has been used to, simply put, focus on the life and death of Jesus, culminating in the resurrection. The Resurrection? Early followers of Jesus viewed resurrection as an eternal now, as something that could be experienced right now and is fully consummated when Jesus comes back.

Is this how believer’s live today? Or, do they live to make their lives as bearable as possible so that when they die they will float off somewhere to be with Jesus? The truth is… I find Christians on both ends of the spectrum. Wherever one may fall, the great thing about Lent is that it causes us to focus on Jesus and all the ramifications that his life brings for those who follow.

Paul, a disciple of Jesus, wrote to the church in Ephesus, “Be imitators of Christ.” And the disciple Peter wrote in his debut self-titled letter, “Be holy as Christ is holy.” Why would these guys write such things? Do our lives as followers of Jesus matter here and now? Simple answer, “Yes.” Can we actually become like Jesus? Once again you can find Christians that fall on both ends of the spectrum. I would argue that we not only “can” but that this was the goal of Jesus all along. And there are many others that agree with me, more so, I agree with them.

This was the argument of the late Dallas Willard. He writes,

“We can become like Christ in character and power and thus realize our highest ideals of well-being and well-doing. That is the heart of the New Testament Message.” (Preface, ix)

Yes and Amen. For the season of Lent I will be using Dallas Willard’s book, “The Spirit of the Disciplines” to grow in character and power. There is a reason the word “disciple” is in the word (discipl(e)ine). I pray that I can be holy as I imitate the only one I have ever met that is worth following.