The Spiritual Practices of Jesus
The Spiritual Practices of Jesus
Exploring the Spiritual Disciplines of Jesus
Spiritual practices profoundly shaped Jesus’ life and mission. He demonstrated that for him and his followers, practices were never subject to discussion; they were essential. In a manner that has always garnered admiration, Jesus consistently got straight to the point regarding significant issues, and this was equally true for spiritual practices. He understood their true value was never found in efforts to earn religious accolades or to enhance one's image. He understood something different that was much superior! Spiritual practices are the lifeblood of our bond with God.
The Model of Christ: Keep Your Eyes on It!
When it comes to Christian spirituality, as in all matters of faith and practice, Jesus is the gold standard. He is always our starting point. What He said and did trump everything. Scripture continually reminds Jesus’ followers to follow Christ's example. Here are just a few examples where scripture writers demand we focus on the example of Jesus:
“We must keep our eyes on Jesus…” Hebrews 12:2
“If we say we are his, we must follow the example of Christ.” (1 John 2:6)
“Think the same way that Christ Jesus thought.” (Philippians 2:5)
“Keep your mind on Jesus…” Hebrews 12:3
“Live your life with love, following the example of Christ…” (Ephesians 5:2)
“Let’s turn our attention to Jesus…” Hebrews 3:1
“I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do.” (Jesus speaking to His disciples in John 13:15)
Some of the Spiritual Disciplines Jesus Practiced
The remarkable example of Jesus goes beyond his exceptional character, his profound wisdom, or his capacity to remain composed under intense pressure. It also encompasses spiritual disciplines. The four gospel accounts of Jesus — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — provide compelling evidence that Jesus used spiritual disciplines. The gospels do not attempt to offer a comprehensive or authoritative set of practices for those who follow Jesus. They merely confirm that Jesus did not merely teach about spiritual disciplines; he also practiced them himself. His profound model of spirituality is compelling: “I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do.”
I sense, and appreciate, your hunger for a deeper life with Jesus! The Compass Spiritual Formation Newsletter aims to mark the path to that deeper life. Join for a free subscription to stay updated and keep the journey moving ahead. A paid subscription will unlock more resources for exploring a deeper life with Jesus. We know spiritual practices were, for Jesus, the lifeblood of his relationship with God.
Here are twelve of the spiritual practices of Jesus, providing biblical proof of the fact that Jesus used various spiritual practices:
Jesus Practiced Praying
“Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray…” Luke 11:1
Jesus Practicing Fasting
“Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights…” Matthew 4:1-2
Jesus Practiced Worshiping
“…On the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.…” Luke 4:16
Jesus Practiced Reading Scripture
“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
Jesus Practiced Solitude and Silence
“Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16
Jesus Practiced Community
“Jesus sat down, all the apostles with him, and said, ‘You’ve no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you…’” Luke 22:15
Jesus Practiced Generosity
“Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied.” Mark 5:41-42
Jesus Practiced Celebrating
“At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said…” Luke 10:21
Jesus Practiced Simplicity
“The Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Matthew 8:20
Jesus Practiced Serving
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” Luke 10:45
Jesus Practiced Resting
“Because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, Jesus said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” Mark 6:31-32
Self-Evaluation Questions
What are one or two things that draw your attention to the example of Jesus regarding spiritual practices?
It is often striking to think that Jesus, the perfect Son of God, used spiritual practices. What did he know that caused him to use at least these spiritual disciplines?
Which of Jesus’ spiritual disciplines do you want to try to build into your life as you seek to follow his example?
Here’s an idea: listed above are 12 spiritual practices used regularly by Jesus as the lifeblood of his relationship with God. What if you took one each month and began to experiment with its use in your life? Keep notes about what works, what you learn, and how each one helps deepen your connection with God.