Jesus Christ: Playmaker

How do you think Jesus interacted with others? Did He smile all the time? Did He laugh a lot? Was He always sullen and isolated?

The Bible teaches that Jesus was one who loved people. He loved them hypothetically and abstractly, but He also showed love through practical means. He would be the kind of person others enjoyed being around. One of the false charges thrown against Him was that He was a drunkard and a glutton (Matthew 11:20). They charged Him with such because of His behavior. He spent time with people. He was probably gregarious and outgoing. I'm not suggesting that Jesus went around playing practical jokes or causing trouble, but He was far from a sour-faced isolationist.


Jesus was a hearty man. He was robust, daring, full of vigor and zeal. He was strong. He was brave. He was fully capable of doing the unexpected. He loved life and pursued it graciously, respectfully, and vigorously. I think He gave bear hugs to friends until they thought their ribs would crack. He was like the uncle who loved to tease his nephews, or the rugged pioneer who fearlessly set out to explore. He was a go-to man, a marathon runner, a playmaker. 


I am painting a picture. Sure He was a man of sorrows, but He also had a zest for life! I don't know exactly how He acted each day, but I do know that He had that kind of demeanor. I know that because of 2 Peter 1:5. In this passage, Peter is telling us how to partake of the Divine nature mentioned in verse 4. If we want to be like God, then we should act like God! And how does God act? Peter said that part of the Divine nature is virtue.

"Virue" is translated from a word that literally means manliness. That's not to suggest that women should try to be more manly. The use of the word, according to Vincent's Word Studies, denotes "energy...translating into vigorous action."It is a zest for living, a zest for true life that we are to possess.

Would your faith be called full of energy and zest?

How do we possess virtue in that sense? Here are four ideas for your consideration.

1. Have confidence in the faith. That may sound like an oxymoron, but it is not if you see "faith" as the body of doctrine taught in the Scriptures. (See Ephesians 4:5.) Have confidence that you are following the Word of Life and that by following the doctrines of the Word, you will save yourself and any who listen to you (1 Timothy 4:16). (At the same time, if you are not following the faith that comes from the Bible, you have no reason to be confident!)

2. Choose to see through faith, not fear. Faith is not a blind acceptance of some hoped-for reality. I am not suggesting that anyone should put on blinders and refuse to see reality for what it is. That's not faith but insanity. What I am suggesting is that we look at the Bible and see things from THAT perspective. Faith comes by the word of God (Romans 10:17), not by the whims of fictitious hope. When God tells us something will come about, we must trust His word on the matter. So choosing to see through faith means that we trust that God knows what He is talking about. We must trust in Him and have confidence that He knows what He is doing and that He will bring about what is best for those who love Him. That means that even death itself can be seen as a victory!

3. Think of others. The best way to depress yourself is to think of yourself exclusively. Ironically, selfishness harms you. The only way to truly have a robust life is to give that life in service to the Lord (Mark 8:35).

4. Hang around zestful people. One man said, "It's hard to soar with the eagles when you hang around a bunch of turkeys." Your peers influence you. Seek out people who are ALIVE!

If virtue is an attribute of Divinity, how do you suppose Jesus expressed that?
How can you express the same character in your own life?