Take a moment, and give some thought as to what makes for a good person. My understanding of Greek philosophy, even with the brilliance of Aristotle, the question of a good person was never fully explained. At best, a good person was better than a bad person.
Rather than get immersed in this binary thinking of character development, we turn to Jesus as Lord of life who brings us “abundant life.” Abundant life is the good life. Found in living a life with God, we experience the source of joy, hope, peace and of course, love.
Scripture assures us, “God first loved us” (I John 4:9-11). Reflecting on love, is the will, the choice, the volition to do good for the benefit of others. Such love is therefore, self-giving for what is good is of God. By the way, in early English the word “good” was derived from the same word as God. There is no reason to hesitate therefore in the expression “God is good.” However, push this further and consider Good Friday as “God’s Friday.” Good is powerful in meaning.
We are well aware the Cross is more than a good deed. It is a reflection of self-giving love to be sure, but more importantly it is the Truth about our life in Christ. Our foundational faith is found in the Cross which is a sign of new life and a new reality whereby not only “can nothing separate us from the love of Christ” (Romans 8:35) but “all things work together for good, for those who love God” (Romans 8:28). That is our story.
Quickly, go with me to the painting by Laura James of Jesus feeding the five thousand. It is easy to get bogged down in explaining this miracle, much less preaching time and time again to those who turn deaf ears and no longer hear the joy found in breaking bread.
Most of us however, see in this painting the promise of New Life in the hands of Jesus who looks up (meaning looks at the big picture) at God who is bringing about a new creation found within your life and mine. We recall the story of creation in Genesis 1. Go ahead and count the number of times God uses the word “good.” Light is good. The sky and water and vegetation are good and every creepy animal is good and when it comes to the creation of you and me, we are made in the image of God and are considered “very good.” Goodness abounds.
Back to our original question of who is a good person? What we learn from Jesus is when He breaks bread with us, we are placing our confidence in this life with God and step into the Kingdom of God where goodness adds to faith and yes, faith equips us to be good by living into a good life. As James writes in his letter, “Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17).
