A Feeling Jesus

BY REV. DORAL PULLEY

Jesus Christ was a three-fold being – spirit, soul and body just as we are. Therefore, he is qualified to be God’s perfect pattern for humanity and our example of a person living a holistically healthy, balanced and well-rounded life (John 10:10).  Jesus Christ not only relates to us as spiritual beings but he is also able to identify with us as soulish beings.  Our soul is composed of the mind (thinking), the heart (feeling), the intellect (processing information) and the will (deciding and acting).

There are four basic human emotions; happiness, sadness, anger, and fear. All other emotions are various combinations of these with varying degrees of intensity and duration. Jesus Christ was in touch with his emotions.  He demonstrated emotional fitness because he was able to identify his emotions, process them, and channel them in the proper direction.  Paul, in his epistle to the Hebrews, said “We have not a high priest who can’t be touched with our feelings and weaknesses; He was tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

God is concerned about every aspect of our lives.  If it concerns us, then it concerns God.  God promised to perfect those things that concern us (Psalms 138:8).  We don’t have to deflect our emotions, suppress them or pretend that we don’t have them.

Emotions are gifts from God and are neither right nor wrong. Emotions are energy in motion, providing us the energy necessary to accomplish the things that we need to do.  When our hearts are overwhelmed with emotions, God is our rock and stabilizing force (Psalms 61:2). We can cast all of our cares upon God because God cares for us (I Peter 5:7).