What Jehovah Asks

During the final year of Jesus' ministry, his apostles Peter, James, and John accompanied him to a high mountain, possibly a spur of Mount Hermon. There they saw a prophetic vision of Jesus in magnificent glory and hears God's own voice declare:  "This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved:  listen to him....." (Matthew 17:1-5) Basically, that is what Jehovah is asking of us-to listen to his Son and follow his example and teachings. (Matthew 16:24)  Thus, the apostle Peter wrote: "Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely." -1 Peter 2:21. 

Why should we follow Jesus' steps closely?  Because by imitating him, we imitate Jehovah God. Jesus knew the Father intimately, having spent untold billions of years with him in heaven before coming to earth.  (Proverbs 8:22-31; John 8:23; 17:5; Colossians 1:15-17) While on earth, Jesus loyally represented his Father. He explained:  "Just as the Father taught me I  speak these things."  In fact, Jesus imitated Jehovah so exactly that he could say:  "He that has seem me has seen the Father also." =John 8:28; 14:9. 

What is involved in listening to Jesus and imitating him?  Does it mean being under a law?  Paul wrote:  "I myself am not under law." He was here referring to "the old covenant,"  the Law covenant made with Israel.  Paul did    acknowledge that he was under  law toward Christ."  (1 Corinthians 9:20, 21; 2 Corinthians 3:14) With the end of the old Law covenant, a "new covenant" came into force with its "law of the Christ" that all servants of Jehovah today are obligated to obey. -Luke 22:20; Galatians 6:2;Hebrews 8:7-13. 

Jehovah did not have "the law of the Christ" put down in the form of a code, organizing it into various categories, as was done with the old Law covenant. This new law for Christ's followers does not include  an extensive list of do's and don'ts. In his Word, however, Jehovah did preserve  four comprehensive accounts of the life and teachings of  of his Son. Moreover, God inspired  some of Jesus' early followers to provide written instructions regarding personal behavior, congregational affairs, conduct within the family, and other matters.  (1 Corinthians 6:18; 14:26-35; Ephesians 5:21-33; Hebrews 10:24, 25) When we conform our lives to the example and teachings of Jesus Christ and heed the counsel of inspired first-century Bible writers, we are obeying "the law of the Christ."  Jehovah asks this of his servants today.

Next time: The Importance of Love

From the Watchtower magazine, 1999