Today I am embarking on an incredible journey where I am trying to truly, literally, fully live and walk as Jesus walked. It is my 30th birthday and the Bible tells us that Jesus began his ministry at the age of 30. In an effort to understand my Savior more fully I will be doing three things this month: I will attempt to live “Jewishly,” read the four Gospels weekly, and to live out the commands and teachings of Jesus as  literally as possible.

As I was trying to explain to my sister what I would be doing during my month of living like Jesus she had a hard time wrapping her mind around what I would actually be doing. She said, “I still don’t fully understand what some of the changes you’ll be making will mean for your day to day.” In an effort to clarify what I want to do here is a list of the guidelines I’m setting for my Jesus month:

Eating Kosher- I decided to keep my kosher laws as simple as possible. I have 2 rules:
1) Avoid “unclean” foods such as pork, shellfish, and bottom feeders. So… I can’t eat any catfish or shrimp or pork or camels this month. 2) Ed Dobson wrote extensively about keeping Meat and Dairy dishes separate. That will be my goal as well. Farewell Chicken Nachos. I’ll see you May 1.

Looking Like Jesus-One way to live more Jewishly will be to dress the part and to join with some of the traditions that are very foreign to this city boy living in 2010.

The Tallit Katan is an undershirt/underpancho that has the tassels attached to the four corners. There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus wore the fringe on his garments. The commands for wearing the fringes come from Numbers 15:37-41 and Deuteronomy 22:12. Before today I gave wearing the the tallit a trial run. Each time before I put it on, I recited the traditional blessing: “Blessed are you, Lord, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with his commands and has commanded us to wrap ourselves with the fringes.” Believe me, I am keenly aware that I am wearing the tallit katan. It isn’t uncomfortable but it is a bit stiff. Maybe over the course of the month it will relax and fit like a Hanes undershirt.

I am also growing out my beard. Not because every painting we see of Jesus shows him sporting a sweet beard but because of the command found in Leviticus 19:27. It says, “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.” I stopped shaving about a week ago so I am a little ahead already in the beard department.

When I told my wife my plans for this month she mandated that I wear sandals. So, I am wearing sandals too.

Observing the Sabbath- Each week I have a day off built into my schedule. Since my son’s arrival I have truly enjoyed the benefits of a day off from ministry. I have done little to no work- I rest and enjoy my son. I still check my email and occasionally I’ll have to finish a pwrpnt or work on something youth ministry related but nothing compared to the years before. I would work nearly as much as a regular work day. The Sabbath is different than just a day off. It is a day set aside for the glory and remembrance of our Lord. When I can I will observe the Sabbath (sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday) to the best of my ability. No phone, no computer, no tv. Just rest and time to spend with my family.

Eating with Sinners- Jesus was accused of being of the Devil because he associated with “sinners and tax collectors.” So, how can I, today in my community and context, eat with sinners?

As I was sitting at lunch the other day, I was asking myself this very question. Typically, I take a book with me and use my lunch hour to read. Sometimes I have my iPod with me. As I reflected on this I realized that my current lunch habits isolate me and close me off from the dozens of people sitting around me. Jesus withdrew to solitary places to pray and reflect but when he was in the marketplace- the community- he was engaging people in discussions, meeting with and reaching out to people. Jesus ate with people.

In order to “eat with sinners” this month my plan is this: whenever I am out at lunch during the day, I will look around the restaurant for a guy or a group of guys eating and I will ask if I can join them at their table. Not a perfect solution but definitely an interesting one. I feel like I’m on the right track because this proposition makes me really uncomfortable.

Other-
Get up before dawn and “retreat to a quiet place”
Give away “treasures”
Praying the prayers Jesus prayed
Celebrating a Passover seder (check)
Living simpler
Curtaining media intake

So this is just a short list of some of the external changes that I am making during this month. Some of them are minor but most are major. Of course, I understand the limitations of external changes. Walking like Jesus isn’t only about what I wear or what I eat. However, it is my hope that these external changes will act as a catalyst to shake up my routine to make dramatic internal changes.

I planning on posting about my Jesus month again next week. I want to make sure I have time to record and reflect on what I’m experiencing. Again, if you have any suggestions for my Jesus month, write them in the comment section.