The Pattern

From “What Would Jesus Do?” to Following Jesus

Personal reflection · Mark 8:34–35

Write as much or as little as you wish. Every field is optional, and you may stop at any point.

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Observe

The chapter summarizes the pattern of Jesus’s life seen throughout the Gospels. He refused temptation, left success behind, stopped for the overlooked, touched the excluded, confronted hypocrisy, washed feet, restored failure, and forgave his executioners.

Jesus's actions sometimes appear contradictory. He withdrew from one crowd but stopped for another person; He spoke sharply in one setting and was silent in another. The consistency is found not in replicating isolated behaviors, but in understanding how each action related to His mission, the people involved, and His relationship with the Father.

Jesus Himself defined following Him not as admiration, but as movement and surrender. In Mark 8, he invites people to deny themselves, take up a cross, and follow Him, a path that directly challenges personal instinct and preference.

What stands out to you about Jesus’ response in this situation?

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Reflect

Respond to any of these questions — or none.

Having reviewed Jesus's leadership, which part of His example most challenges the way I currently lead?Which aspects of Jesus's character do I find easiest to admire, and which do I tend to overlook or resist?When I ask, “What would Jesus do?” is my answer based on my own assumptions, or is it increasingly shaped by the actual stories of the Gospels?How is my study of Jesus moving from observation to practice in how I handle authority, respond to pressure, or treat people?

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Examine

What assumptions, motives, fears, expectations, habits, or pressures may be influencing how you see this situation?

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Pray

Ask God to help you move from observing Jesus to following Him, even when it challenges your instincts and preferences.

Ask the Holy Spirit for clarity about what you may be overlooking.
Bring the people affected by this decision into prayer.

What do you want to bring into prayer?

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Discernment pause

A brief pause to slow the decision down.

What do I know to be true?
What am I assuming?
Who is affected?
What may be influencing me?
What would alignment require?
What deserves prayer before action?

What needs further discernment?

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Apply

Carry it forward

Having seen how Jesus actually led, what part of His example most challenges the way you currently lead?

One step to considerIs there one conversation, action, pause, question, or responsibility you may need to consider next?

Kept on this device as you type.