Most of us have a hard time relating to Jesus. His ministry in the Gospels is so different from our daily lives! Think about it – have you given sight to any blind people lately, or made any paralytics walk, or raised anyone’s child from the dead? Probably not.

The Gospels record Jesus performing extraordinary miracles. These miracles inspire us to worship Him as God’s Son and put our faith in Him. But they also make Him seem unapproachable in the context of our ordinary lives.

So most Christians fail to integrate their faith in Jesus with the rest of their lives. They see Him as far off, distant, and removed. They miss out on the new life He offers because they think He has nothing to do with their daily lives.

He Lived a Daily Life
But here’s the thing – Jesus’ ministry was only the last three years of His life. Before He ever preached a sermon or performed a miracle, He lived an ordinary life for thirty years. And He lived it perfectly in a way that pleased God.

This is what makes the gospel profound, and what makes discipleship possible. Jesus went through every stage of life and human experience. When you try to imagine the first thirty years of His life, it’s amazing how ordinary He becomes.

Jesus was a child. He learned how to walk, talk, and use the potty. He had parents who told Him what to do. He had siblings who got on His nerves. He had teachers who gave Him homework. He had friends that He liked to play with.

Jesus was an adult. He got up early to go to work. He provided for Himself and His mother. He ran His own business and paid taxes. His friends got married, bought houses, and had kids. He went to church every Saturday.

Jesus had a body and feelings. He got tired, hungry, and thirsty. He felt angry, sad, and scared. He experienced all of our weaknesses and limitations. He was tempted in every way. He died and was buried. His soul went down to the grave.

Jesus was an ordinary person just like us! And His daily life was just as ordinary as ours.

Jesus Makes our Daily Life like His
Our goal as Christians is to be like Jesus. John says, “Whoever claims to live in God must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6). We must live our lives the way Jesus lived His.

This doesn’t mean performing incredible miracles. Rather, it means submitting ourselves to the Holy Spirit as He recreates Jesus’ daily life in and through us. In other words, it means living your life the way Jesus would if He were you.

This requires obedience to His commands and reliance on His Spirit. There is a distinctly Christian way to live your life. And if you’re willing, He will help you discover it.

What stands out most about Jesus’ “ordinary life”? Leave your thoughts with a comment below!

(This post is the first in a series. Follow my blog if you want to receive more posts!)