Happy Sunday,

I hope we are all having a good day

Today I will love to talk about Jesus and the example he set for us to live in.

When the human mind is exposed to abnormality from a tender age, it is easy to assume that such is normal.

Most of the problems we face in life arises as a result of a lack of boundaries.

So far, I have spent 21 years of my life getting myself to a place where I can understand the concept and delicacy of setting and keeping boundaries.

Jesus Christ was known in the Bible for setting boundaries. Not just that, He makes his boundaries abundantly clear.

He would regularly take time away from people, even when they were looking for him, to go and be alone with the Father.

If he felt the need to live into everyone’s expectation of him, he would never have had time to be alone with God.

He is a living example of how one should live in a manner that is pleasing to God.

Today I also learned in church that there are no grey areas in life.

God created light to create a distinction between light and darkness. This act alone was the very creation of “Boundaries”.

I will be following a few chapters in the book of JOHN to highlight some of the times Jesus exercised boundaries:

John 2:1-4

Jesus’ mother told him there was no more wine at the wedding celebration and his response was

“Dear woman, that’s not our problem. My time has not yet come.”

John 2:13-16

It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration and Jesus saw merchants selling animals and exchanging money in the Temple. Guess what he did?

He made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out saying

“Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

John 2: 23-25

“Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him…

…But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people…

…No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.”

John 3:1-8

Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee, came to speak to Jesus and he made it clear to him that,

“Unless you are born again, you can not see the kingdom of God.”

He explains more from verses 10-20

John 4: 20-24

When the Samaritan woman asked Jesus why Jews see Jerusalem as the only place of worship while Samaritans insist on Mount Gerizim, Jesus set a boundary by choosing not to pick a side but instead opened up the woman’s mind to another possibility by saying

“The time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem…

…for God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

John 4: 46-48

In Cana, the same town Jesus turned water to wine, a government official approached him to heal his dying son and He said,

“Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?”

Jesus, too, did not like to be used.

He wants us to strengthen our belief even in the face of adversity.

John 5:16-17

The Jewish leaders harrass Jesus for breaking Sabbath rules, not knowing He was God, and his response was,

“My Father is always working, so am I.”

He explains more about His concept from verse 19-47.

verse 45 stands out to me,

“You search the scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the scriptures point to me!”

This is to show how ignorant these leaders were. They were quick to exert their cruelty, but slow to listen and learn.

John 6:14-15

After Jesus fed five thousand people (5,000) with five barley loaves and two fish, they exclaimed that he was the Prophet they had been expecting.

Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, so he slipped away into the hills by himself.

John 6:24-29

When the crowd Jesus fed asked him when he got to the other side of the lake, he responds with,

“I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs…

…But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food…

…Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

Jesus always advocated for self awareness. Jesus, too, was big on mental health.

John 7:14

Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach.

He knew the Jewish leaders were looking for him and trying to kill him, but that did not stop him from doing the work he was sent to earth to do.

He chose not to be affected by their insecurities and evil intent.

He established that boundary and lived that example with his actions.

John 5:6

Jesus also respected other people’s boundaries and sought consent even before healing them.

He did that with the Samaritan woman and also with the Lame man in John 5:6 where he asked him,

“Would you like to get well?”

There are so many more examples in the book of JOHN, not to mention other books in the Gospel that shine light on Jesus’ exemplary life.

We are all learning to live according to this often unspoken rule.

It takes a lot of intention and discipline to keep up.

As we start the new week, spend time reflecting on these verses and begin to establish your own boundaries on how you choose to relate with yourself and others.

You are not cattle.

You are God’s own.

You are royalty.

Let’s endeavor to set some boundaries today.