Jesus Honored Others

Jesus imitated Jehovah in honoring others. Once in a crowd, there was a woman who had suffered a flow of blood for 12 years. Doctors had been unable to cure her. Under the Mosaic Law, she was considered ceremonially unclean and should not have been there. She got behind Jesus, touched his garment, and was healed. Jesus did not stand on technicalities of the Law, scolding her for what she did. Instead, knowing the circumstances, he honored her, saying: "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be in good health from your grievous sickness." -Mark 5:25-34; Leviticus 15:25-25-27.

Another time, a Phoenician woman said to Jesus: "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David. My daughter is badly demonized." Knowing that he had been sent to the nation of Israel and not to the Gentiles, Jesus said: " It is not right to take the bread of the children [of Israel] and throw it to little dogs [Gentiles]." The woman answered: "But really the little dogs do eat of the crumbs falling from the table of their masters." Then Jesus said: "O woman, great is your faith; let it happen to you as you wish." Her daughter was healed. Jesus honored this Gentile because of her faith. Even his use of the expression "little dogs," instead of referring to wild dogs, softened the matter and showed his compassion. - Matthew 15:21-28.

Jesus kept teaching his disciples about the need to be lowly in mind and too honor others, since they still had the me-first problem. Once after they had an argument, Jesus asked: " What were you arguing over?" They kept silent. for "they had argued among themselves who is greater." (Mark 9:33, 34) Even the night before Jesus died, "there also arose a heated dispute among them over which one of them seemed to be the greatest." (Luke 22:24) So during the Passover meal, Jesus "put water into a basin and started to wash the feet of the disciples." What a powerful lesson! Jesus was the Son of God, next only to Jehovah in all the universe. Yet, he taught his disciples an honorable lesson by washing their feet. He said: "I set the pattern for you, that just as I did to you, you should do also." - John 13:5-15.

Next time: Paul Showed Honor