Jesus Models the Best Way to be Adaptable
Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Nancy, and I’m adaptable. It’s not a characteristic I normally talk about. It’s one of those parts of me I take for granted. Years ago, when I took Gallup’s Strength Finders test, adaptability was identified as my number one strength. According to Gallup, I live in the present and I am flexible. I can learn and change quickly.
At the time I took the Strength Finder’s test, I interpreted my adaptability as going with the flow ~ as long as the flow led to fun. I was spontaneous, and always on the look out for what would create a happy environment.
More recently, I dove into the enneagram and what I could learn about myself. As an enneagram 9, I discovered that I am always looking for inner stability and peace of mind. I do not like conflict, and I am willing to adapt to the point that I fall asleep to my own desires.
I have a love-hate relationship with the concept of adaptability. For example, I see its positive possibilities, but I often feel it portrays me as wish washy. Gallup obviously sees adaptability as a possible strength in a leader. In fact, after surviving the Covid shutdown, many people see the ability to be flexible as a huge benefit.
Jesus is Adaptable
Earlier this year I began to study the life of Jesus by reading the book of John. I was surprised to discover that Jesus is adaptable. I don’t want to say Jesus is a stick in the mud, but I have never seen Him as the go with the flow and have fun type. I’ve always perceived Jesus to be a non-conformist and anchored solidly in truth. It honestly never occurred to me to layer the characteristic of adaptability on top of those traits!
What I’ve discovered as I’ve read very familiar Bible stories is Jesus is often willing to be flexible. However, Jesus’ adaptability isn’t like mine. Jesus chooses to adjust to honor another person, and as a way to move forward His mission.
Wedding at Cana
The first story that opened my eyes was the wedding at Cana. Jesus was at a wedding with his disciples, and his mom. It’s nice when sons go to weddings with their mothers. Jesus was just there to enjoy the day and the celebration surrounding the couple.
The unthinkable happens at this happy event. They run out of wine; it’s a wedding disaster. The happy couple are unaware, but Mary knows. Consequently, Mary does what any mother would do when she knows her child can help. Mary inserts herself and Jesus into the problem.
I can’t imagine Jesus being mad at his mother, although He does clearly tell her the problem is none of their business. Jesus also tells her “…my hour has not yet come.” (John 2:4, CSB) Jesus hadn’t woken up that morning with the thought: today is the day I reveal my power!
John doesn’t say much more about Jesus and Mary’s interaction. For instance, he doesn’t tell us if Mary gives Jesus the infamous, I’m-your-mother look. Nor does John describe Jesus as being impatient with His mom for putting Him on the spot. Instead, John tells us that Mary states, “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5, CSB) What’s a son to do?
In that moment, Jesus adapted. He honored His mom, and He performed a miracle, revealing His power. Jesus did the miracle quietly. He didn’t draw a crowd around himself and declare, “watch this!” He asked some servants to help, and He provided wine for the wedding. In fact, Jesus provided the best wine of the entire event.
Jesus Motivation to Adapt
For a moment, Jesus and Mary were on opposite sides of a fence. They saw the same circumstance from two totally different points of view. Both Mary and Jesus knew they weren’t on the same page about what should be done. Mary was Jesus’ mom, but Jesus was the Son of God. Nevertheless, Jesus graciously adapted and didn’t make Mary feel as if she inconvenienced Him.
Jesus honored His mother, and He furthered his mission. As a result of seeing the miracle, Jesus’ disciples experienced their first revelation of Jesus’ true self.
“Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed him.”
John 2:11, CSB
Jesus Adapted to Nicodemus
Jesus didn’t just adapt to His mom. Jesus also adapted when He met with Nicodemus. When one reads the story of Nicodemus in John 3, one can’t help but notice Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night. Sermons are written about Nicodemus and what we learn about him because he visits Jesus under cover of darkness.
For Nicodemus to have actually met with Jesus at night, means that Jesus adapted his schedule to meet with Nick. Jesus gave up a full night’s sleep to honor Nicodemus by meeting him at a time that was comfortable for Nicodemus. Jesus also moved forward His mission by drawing Nicodemus to consider relationship with Him.
Jesus Adapted while in Samaria
Jesus adapted his travel plans to minister to a group of Samaritans. In John 4 we read the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman. After Jesus impacts her life, she goes to town and gets everyone to come meet Jesus. John 4:40 tells us the townspeople ask Jesus to stay, and He chooses to stay for two more days.
Jesus was just traveling through Samaria. He and his disciples were headed back to Galilee; Samaria wasn’t his destination. Jesus chose to honor the Samaritan woman and her friends by staying at their request. In addition, He moved forward His mission by revealing God’s plan to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth to the Samaritans.
When Jesus Doesn’t Adapt
Of course, Jesus doesn’t always adapt as revealed in John 2 when Jesus clears the temple. I admit, as I read the story in John 2:13-24, I know I would’ve adapted to avoid conflict. I would’ve tried to rationalize their behavior and understand things from their point of view. Jesus doesn’t hesitate to toss their tables. For Jesus to adapt to the money changers would have conflicted with His mission of bringing God’s Kingdom to earth.
Jesus doesn’t adapt to avoid conflict. Jesus is all about expressing the Father’s love to us, and inviting us into relationship with Him and the Father. Jesus chooses to adapt, showing us how much He loves us and honors us, when it furthers His mission of uniting us in intimacy with the Father.
Jesus has Adapted to Me
I believe there have been moments in my life when Jesus adapted to me. I remember as a child driving home from my grandmother’s house. For whatever reason, it was just my parents and myself. I was in the back seat and my parents assumed I was asleep. They discussed the fact that my grandma was not doing well, and I could hear the fear in my mom’s voice.
I remember tucking my face into my pillow as I snuggled next to the cold car door, and begged God to heal my grandma. To this day, I believe God answered the prayer of an eleven year old girl who wasn’t yet ready to say good bye to her beloved Grandma Lucille. God honored me, and I became a profound believer in prayer.
Jesus Adapts for Love and Mission
My guess is you have a story or two as well. One of the ways God expresses His love to us is by honoring us and adapting to our requests. In each Bible story I mentioned someone came to Jesus and asked something of Him. Jesus adapted because someone was seeking what only He could give, and it furthered His mission.
I think it’s important to note, that Jesus didn’t make each circumstance ideal. The wine Jesus miraculously created, ran out. Nicodemus had to face his peers the next day, plus the Samaritan woman had to deal with the man who wasn’t her husband. And finally, the townspeople had to decide how they would now view the woman Jesus first talked with at the well.
When Jesus adapts for us, it’s not about the circumstance. It’s about His mission. It’s about relationship. It’s about being anchored in the truth of how deeply He loves each of us.
God created my personality to go with the flow. Even so, Jesus teaches me how to truly be adaptable from His example. It’s based in loving others so much, one chooses at times to be flexible and honor another above one’s self. It’s firmly grounded in revealing God and His Kingdom to those who need His grace.
