Jesus and Paul Did This

Jesus and Paul Did This Lk 22:15 - And He said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;…  NASB
 
Philippians 1:23 - But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;…  NASB
 
1 Thes. 2:17 - But we, brethren, having been bereft of you for a short while —  in person, not in spirit —  were all the more eager with great desire to see your face.  NASB 
 
Jas 1:14-15 - But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. NASB

• The Greek Word For Lust 

Epithumeo (ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o) - to set the heart upon, i.e. long for (rightfully or otherwise).  This is the definition from Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance.
 
In the verses above the same Greek word "epithumia" is used. In the passage about Jesus and the passages about Paul it is translated as "desire, earnestly desired, or greatly desired".
 
When it is used in James it is translated "lust".
 
But the Greek word is the same one "epithumia".
 
Many times we take the word "lust" and always connect it to some-thing that is bad, but you can see from the scripture references above that both Jesus and the apostle Paul lusted or desired greatly, but not in an evil way. 
 
Change the word "lust" to "great desire" and no one has a problem with that definition.

• How Did Jesus Lust? 

Jesus lusted to eat the Passover with His disciples. In other words, He thought about this event way before it ever happened. He knew He was going to die but before He died, He was going to have the Passover meal with His disciples.
 
He thought about it and He thought about it "earnestly," the text says.
 
He was going to announce being betrayed by Judas (vs.22), and denied by Peter (vs.34).
 
Wouldn't it be great if we thought earnestly about partaking of the Lord's Supper on the Lord's Day the week before?
 
At times, I am guilty of not thinking much about it until Sunday. Shame on me! 

• How Did The Apostle Paul Lust? 

According to the two scriptures above, he "lusted" or thought about departing this world to go and be with Jesus Christ. Now there have been times in my life where I have really wanted to leave this world and go be with Jesus.
 
In fact, I could probably say I have been where Paul was when he penned this scripture. I have had strong desires (lusts) to go to Heaven and I have had the same strong desires (lusts) to stay here on earth.
 
The second way he "lusted" was about seeing his Christian brothers and sisters in Thessaloniki.
 
I was baptized at the Lake Mount Church of Christ in Rogers, Ohio in 1975 and when I visit that part of Ohio it is always nice to go and see some brothers that helped me grow in my faith.
 
One dear brother is Bob Taucher. The love he has for the Lord is contagious and I am glad I was able to begin my life in Christ around him. When I think about going back to Ohio I have great desire (lust) to see him and fellowship with him.

• So, If You Are Going To Lust 

Yes, if you are going to lust, then the best way to do it is like Jesus or the apostle Paul.
 
Don't lust in a bad way, lust in a good way.
 
Hopefully, you will be lusting about taking the Lord's Supper, going to Heaven to be with Jesus, or going to see some family, friends or brothers and sisters in Christ.
 
Think About These: 
 
Christianity is a way of walking as well as a way of talking.
 
What can't be done by advice can often be done by example.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago
 
Minister of God's Word