THE TREE IN FULL BLOOM

It was hard to write about the virtues and vices of Saul and David. I saw myself in many of the negatives and only a few of the positives. But to write about the character of Jesus, now that takes a whole other level of daring. He doesn’t present to us character as we are. That was the purpose of writing on Saul and David. Jesus Christ presents to us the character of what we may become.

So as you read this, please remember that I’m just doing my best. My presentation of Jesus as the blueprint for real human character will have deficiencies. I know this because I have flaws myself, and that extends to my writing. But I also feel compelled to write because we need a vision of what true Christian character should look like. That is my purpose: to display to you, as closely as I can, a view of Jesus’ character through the Blueprint of the Christian Character Tree. Perhaps this will even correct some misconceptions of who Jesus is and how that affects what we are to become. 

Sometimes, folks talk about Jesus like he’s just a motivational speaker with better one-liners. Others treat him as if he’s a spiritual insurance policy in sandals. But neither of those pictures comes close to who he really is. For us as born-again believers, Jesus Christ is our Lord, our Savior, our substitute, and our risen King. He didn’t just show up to hand out a few tips for better living or sprinkle some wisdom on our problems. He came to rescue sinners—through his life, his death on the cross, and his resurrection.

But here’s the thing: because he’s our Savior, Jesus also shows us what it means to be truly human. If you want to know what a whole, holy, and joyful human life looks like, don’t start with Plato, Jordan Peterson, Mel Robbins, or even your favorite preacher. Start with Jesus. He’s not just a good man—he’s the God-man.¹ That also makes him the smartest man. Dallas Willard wrote:

He is the smartest man who ever lived. He is now supervising the entire course of world history (Rev. 1:5) while simultaneously preparing the rest of the universe for our future role in it (John 14:2). He always has the best information on everything and certainly also on the things that matter most in human life.²

So my friends, when we look at his life on earth, we see what God intended for us all along.

This changes how we look at the Christian Character Tree we’ve been talking about. If you’re like me, your tree has seen better days. The soil gets a little polluted, the roots get tangled, and sometimes the trunk is wobblier than we’d like to admit. And the fruit? Well, let’s just say it’s not always ready for the produce aisle. But when we look at Jesus, his tree is the picture of health. His soil is pure, his roots go deep, his trunk is strong, and his limbs reach high. The sap flows freely, and the fruit is always the real thing. Jesus doesn’t just admire truth, goodness, and beauty—he is truth, goodness, and beauty in person. He didn’t just preach the Beatitudes; he lived them. He didn’t just talk about virtue; he put it into action—touching the untouchable, calling out the fakes, blessing children, and walking straight toward the cross.³

The Soil: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty in Person

At the very bottom of this tree is the soil—truth, goodness, and beauty. These aren’t just fancy ideas we hang on the wall of our minds. They’re rooted in God himself.⁴ When Jesus came, these big ideas weren’t just theories anymore. They showed up as a real person. As John says, “The Word became flesh and lived among us,... full of grace and truth ” (John 1:14, ESV).  Jesus never twisted the truth or used it as a weapon. He spoke it because he is the truth. He’s the only one who can honestly say, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 10:10, ESV) 

He is pure goodness, with not a hint of corruption. Jesus loves what is right, not because he’s trying to keep up appearances or earn a gold star. He’s never petty, never vindictive, never working an angle, and never stingy with his mercy. Even when he speaks hard truths, it’s never because he’s just fed up. When he calls someone out, it’s not for show. His passion is a holy love that refuses to settle for even half-truths. That’s why Jesus can be gentle with a hurting person and tough with a hypocrite, all in the same afternoon, and never be two-faced.⁵

And then there’s beauty. Not the kind that gets you a million followers or a product endorsement. Isaiah said Jesus didn’t have the kind of looks that would turn heads. He didn’t win people over with style. But spiritual beauty just shone from him. You see it in his mercy to the woman caught in adultery, in the way he welcomed children, in his meals with outsiders, in the towel he used to wash feet, and in his calm strength before his accusers. The cross, which looked ugly to the world, became the most beautiful moment in history because Jesus, the sinless Son of God, gave himself in love.⁶

The Roots: The Beatitudes as the hidden life of Jesus

We often treat the Beatitudes like a list of impossible goals, or possibly something you’d find stitched on a throw pillow from Hobby Lobby. But they’re much more than that. They’re the hidden roots of God’s kingdom. Before they ever describe us, they describe Jesus. He isn’t ‘poor in spirit’ because he’s lacking anything—he’s sinless. But in his human life, he depended completely on his Father. He never went off on his own or acted like independence was the same as maturity. Again and again, the Gospels show Jesus living in humble, joyful trust in what the Father wanted.

That kind of trust is the deep root of real spiritual life. Jesus is meek, but never a pushover. He’s merciful, but not soft. He’s pure in heart, not just putting on a show. He’s a real peacemaker, not someone who just pretends everything’s fine to keep the peace. He hungers and thirsts for righteousness, and he takes the heat for it all the way to the cross. For Jesus, the Beatitudes aren’t just nice ideas—they’re the climate of his heart.⁷

When we get this, we see how these roots draw up the supplements Peter lists in 2 Peter 1: virtue (moral excellence), knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love (as a supplement, not the theological virtue discussed later). Peter didn’t just come up with these after too much coffee in the Seminary library. He learned them by watching Jesus up close. He saw virtue in Jesus’ choices, knowledge in his wisdom, and self-control in his discipline. He saw steadfastness under pressure, godliness in every day, brotherly affection for the disciples, and love that went all the way to the end. Peter’s list sounds like a man trying to describe the air he breathed for three years.⁸

The Trunk: The cardinal virtues fully integrated in Jesus

This is the part of the tree that does the heavy lifting. The trunk is made up of the cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude. These are the main supports for life. The theological virtues—faith, hope, and love—reach up like big limbs and branches toward God. For us, these virtues can be a little shaky or out of balance. In Jesus, they all fit together perfectly.

Take prudence. It’s not being timid—it’s knowing what faithfulness looks like in the moment. Jesus had it in full. He knew when to speak and when to stay quiet. He could spot a trap a mile away and never got caught. He could read a room, see what was in someone’s heart, tell a story, give a warning, welcome a sinner, or walk away when it wasn’t the right time. He was never rash, never gullible, never swayed by the crowd, and never panicked. You couldn’t trick him into foolishness.⁹

Now look at justice. Jesus always gives God and people what they’re owed. He honors his Father and tells the truth about sin, even when it’s unpopular. He never flatters the powerful. He turned over tables in the temple because worship matters, and he called out hypocrisy because people matter. He noticed those that everyone else ignored: widows, the poor, the blind, the ashamed, and the unclean. He wasn’t just ‘nice’—he was truly righteous. That’s why he was a blessing to the vulnerable and a real threat to the phonies.¹⁰

Think about his temperance. Jesus wasn’t ruled by his appetites. Hunger didn’t control him in the wilderness. Popularity didn’t go to his head in Galilee, and power didn’t tempt him in Jerusalem. He enjoyed a good meal, but food, comfort, or approval never ran his life. He had authority without showing off, power without pushing people around, and freedom without losing control. If temperance is keeping your desires in check, Jesus is the only one who has always kept both hands on the wheel.¹¹

Then there’s fortitude. C. S. Lewis said courage is every virtue at the testing point. If that’s true, Jesus is courage itself. He wasn’t reckless or dramatic for the sake of it. He was steady. When truth called for it, he walked right into conflict and set his face toward Jerusalem. He faced misunderstanding, loneliness, betrayal, injustice, torture, and the cross. In Gethsemane, we see that real courage isn’t lack of pain—it’s obeying God even when it hurts. Jesus didn’t float to the cross on a cloud. He went there sweating blood, praying honestly, and standing firm to the end.¹²

The Limbs: The theological virtues fully realized in Jesus

Now for the theological virtues: faith, hope, and love. We need to be careful here. Jesus is the Son of God, so he isn’t a ‘believer’ just like we are. But as a real man, his life was distinguished by perfect trust in his Father. He prayed, he obeyed, he rested in the Father’s plan, and he gave himself over to God completely. His life shows us what faith looks like with no sin in the way.¹³

This is also where the ancient theological term kenosis really matters. Philippians tells us the Son "emptied himself"—ekenosen. This doesn't mean Jesus stopped being divine, shaved off his Godhood, or shoved his divine attributes into a locker somewhere outside of Bethlehem. It simply means he didn't exploit his equality with God for personal gain. He chose humility, taking on the form of a servant. He did this by adding humanity rather than subtracting deity, willingly accepting the messy realities of a human life: weakness, dependence, suffering, obedience, and relying on the Spirit for ministry. The incarnation wasn't some kind of divine method acting. Jesus wasn't pretending. He actually lived a human life exactly as it was designed to be lived: fully yielded to God, entirely empowered by the Spirit, and obedient all the way down. This is precisely why he is both our substitute and our ultimate pattern.¹⁴

Hope stands out in Jesus, too. In the Bible, hope isn’t just wishful thinking or a forced church smile. It’s a solid confidence in what God has promised. Jesus lived with that kind of hope. He endured the cross ‘for the joy set before him.’ He knew the kingdom was coming, that his Father would vindicate him, and that suffering wouldn’t have the last word. His hope wasn’t about avoiding reality—it was anchored in the resurrection to come.¹⁵

And then there’s love. In Jesus, love is the tree in full bloom. He doesn’t just feel kindly toward people—he gives himself for them. He loves his Father completely and loves his people ‘to the end.’ He spends his days blessing, teaching, touching, warning, feeding, forgiving, weeping, washing dirty feet, carrying shame, and giving up his life. He doesn’t love by lowering the bar. He loves because real holiness always includes love.¹⁶

The Development of Jesus: growth without sin, maturity without moral defect

Careful theology is important here. Let’s be clear about this: when we talk about Jesus growing in character, we don’t mean he went from bad to good, or selfish to holy, or confused to wise, as we do. He never sinned. He never had to apologize or ‘get his act together.’ 

Luke records that Jesus increased in wisdom, in physical stature, and in favor with both God and people. The book of Hebrews points out that even though he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. Kenosis tells us this growth isn't a staged performance. The incarnate Son embraced the actual, day-in and day-out conditions of living a human life. That doesn't mean he started out disobedient and eventually learned to obey. Instead, his perfectly sinless obedience was tested, lived out, proven, and matured through real human experiences.¹⁷ Think of it like a masterfully crafted sword that only shows its true strength in the heat of battle. Or, for the Tolkien fans among us, like Aragorn’s sword, Andúril, which had to prove itself before he could lead the Army of the Dead.¹⁸ Jesus’ obedience was not like a chronic liar who finally figures out how to tell the truth. It was perfect from the beginning, but it was made evident and complete through the trials he endured.

So yes, Jesus really did grow as a human. Really. The boy in Nazareth became the man who faced the wilderness. The carpenter became a rabbi, and the rabbi became the suffering servant. The one who obeyed at home obeyed in obscurity, in popularity, in controversy, in sorrow, in Gethsemane, and all the way to death. His character didn’t need fixing—it was revealed and proven more and more as time went on. That’s why he’s not just the Savior who forgives us; he’s the model for what mature humanity looks like.¹⁹

The Sap: the spiritual disciplines in the life of Jesus

If the actual Son of God relied regularly on prayer, solitude, Scripture reading, fasting, worship, community, and service, why do we so often treat these things as optional extras for the super-spiritual? 

Jesus didn’t treat his time with the Father as an afterthought. He got up early to pray. He pulled away to quiet places. He spent whole nights praying. He fasted in the wilderness. He read the Scriptures and quoted them as if every word had come straight from his Father—because it did. He made sure to worship in the synagogue. He kept steady rhythms of Sabbath, teaching, table fellowship, service, and mercy. He chose deep communion over a hurried life. His spiritual disciplines weren't religious life hacks. They were the vital channels for a lived, direct connection with the Father, empowered by the Spirit.²⁰

This is exactly why Dallas Willard’s insights are still so helpful. Remember, Willard emphasized that Jesus isn't just an atoning sacrifice; he's the smartest man to ever live—the only one who really understood how life works. Richard Foster framed it differently but made the same point: Jesus is the master of life, not simply a religious mascot. Modern leaders like John Mark Comer, John Ortberg, and the Renovaré ministry continue to hammer this home for our generation: if we seriously want to become like Jesus, we can't just admire his stellar character while totally ignoring the habits that sustained it.

The sap that keeps the tree healthy isn’t just good intentions or warm feelings. It’s a life built around God’s presence, soaking up the atmosphere of the Spirit, and living in the light of God’s grace.²¹

The Fruit: what perfect character looks like when it ripens

When you put all this together, it’s easy to spot the fruit of the Spirit in Jesus’ life—it’s everywhere you look.

• Love? It's everywhere.

• Joy? Not a fake smile or forced cheerfulness, but a sincere delight in his Father and real gladness in doing God’s will.

• Peace? He could sleep through a storm and calm anxious hearts.

• Patience? He put up with slow, forgetful disciples longer than most of us could stand.

• Kindness? Children ran to him, not away from him.

• Goodness? No mixed motives—ever.

• Faithfulness? He finished everything the Father gave him to do.

• Gentleness? He never broke a bruised reed.

• Self-control? Every desire and bit of power was kept in check.²²

Simply put, Jesus isn’t just a branch on the character tree—he’s the whole tree in full bloom.

And here’s the main point. The goal of the Christian life isn’t to stand around admiring Jesus like art critics at a museum. The real goal is to be united with Christ by grace through faith, so that his life is formed in us by the Holy Spirit.

We’re not saved by trying to copy Jesus. We’re saved by Christ alone. But if we belong to him, we’re also learning from him. The standard is Jesus himself, and thankfully, our hope is Jesus, too.

So when we ask what perfect human character looks like, it’s not a list of traits—it’s a person. Jesus is truth with a heartbeat, goodness with calloused hands, and beauty bending down to wash dirty feet.

He’s the root, the trunk, the limbs and branches, the sap, and the fruit—all in one amazing life. 

If you ever wonder if real Christian character is possible in a world as broken as ours, just look at the Gospels. Jesus isn’t just an example to admire. He’s a Savior to trust, a King to obey, and a life we’re invited to share.²³

Endnotes

1. Luke 2:40, 52; Heb. 4:15; 5:8–9; John 1:14 (ESV).

2. Willard, Dallas. The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God. Harper, 1997. p. 95.

3. Matt. 5:1–12; 2 Pet. 1:5–7; Gal. 5:22–23 (ESV). See also Jonathan T. Pennington, The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing: A Theological Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2017); and Jonathan T. Pennington, “3 Things You Didn’t Know About the Sermon on the Mount,” The Gospel Coalition, November 16, 2017.

4. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, I–II, q. 61 and q. 62, trans. Fathers of the English Dominican Province, New Advent, accessed March 31, 2026,https://www.newadvent.org/summa/2061.htm andhttps://www.newadvent.org/summa/2062.htm; Peter Kreeft, Wisdom of the Heart: The Good, the True, and the Beautiful at the Center of Us All (Charlotte, NC: TAN Books, 2020).

5. Mark 10:18; John 2:13–17; 8:1–11; 18:37 (ESV). See also D. A. Carson, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation with the World: An Exposition of Matthew 5–10 (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1999).

6. Isa. 53:2; John 13:1–17; 19:1–30 (ESV). See also Timothy Keller, “The Humility of Jesus,” Gospel in Life, May 24, 1998.

7. Matt. 5:3–12; John 5:19, 30; 6:38; 8:29 (ESV).

8. 2 Pet. 1:5–7 (ESV). See also N. T. Wright, After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters (New York: HarperOne, 2010).

9. Luke 2:46–47, 52; Matt. 22:15–22; John 2:23–25 (ESV). See also Craig L. Blomberg, Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey, 2nd ed. (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2009).

10. Matt. 23:1–36; Mark 11:15–17; Luke 4:18–19 (ESV). See also D. A. Carson, Jesus the Son of God: A Christological Title Often Overlooked, Sometimes Misunderstood, and Currently Disputed (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012).

11. Matt. 4:1–11; John 6:15; Mark 1:35–39 (ESV).

12. Luke 9:51; 22:39–46; Mark 15:1–39 (ESV). See also Timothy Keller, “The Heart of Jesus,” Gospel in Life, February 11, 2007.

13. John 5:19, 30; 8:28-29; 17:1-26; 1 Pet. 2:23 (ESV). 

14. Phil. 2:5-8 (ESV), Gerald F. Hawthorne, The Presence & The Power: The significance of the Holy Spirit in the life and ministry of Jesus. Word, 1991. pp. 207-208. This is the best source in my opinion in one place to understand the role of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ ministry and particularly the explanation of kenosis in Ch. 7 of this book. See also Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2020), chap. 26; Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013), Part 7; John MacArthur, "What does it mean that Christ 'emptied Himself' in Phil. 2:6-7?" Ligonier, accessed March 31, 2026; Jason C. Meyer, "Only the Greatest Humility Accepts the Lowest Place," Crossway, December 14, 2021; and Mark Jones, "Why Jesus Needed the Holy Spirit," Desiring God, March 12, 2019.

15. Heb. 12:2; Luke 23:46 (ESV). See also N. T. Wright, Interpreting Jesus: Essays on the Gospels (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Academic, 2020).

16. John 13:1; Mark 10:45; Luke 19:41; 23:34 (ESV).

17. Luke 2:52; Heb. 2:10; 4:15; 5:8-9 (ESV). See also John Piper, "How Did Jesus 'Learn Obedience' and 'Become Perfect'?" Desiring God, June 30, 2016; and "Why Did Jesus Need to 'Learn Obedience'?" Desiring God, December 25, 2017.

18. J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings. William Morrow, Illustrated Edition, 2021, pp. 789-790.

19. Luke 2:51–52; Matt. 4:1–11; Phil. 2:5–11(ESV).

20. Matt. 4:1–4; Mark 1:35; Luke 4:16; 5:16; 6:12; 22:39–46 (ESV).

21. Dallas Willard, The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus’s Essential Teachings on Discipleship (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2006), 61–62; Dallas Willard, “Doing What Jesus Did,” dwillard.org, November 16, 2002; Richard J. Foster, “The Jesus Way of Life,” Renovaré; Richard J. Foster, “Ten Counsels in Spiritual Formation,” Renovaré; John Mark Comer, Practicing the Way (Colorado Springs: WaterBrook, 2024); Practicing the Way, “About,” accessed March 31, 2026,https://www.practicingtheway.org/about; John Ortberg, The Life You’ve Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002); John Ortberg, “About,” accessed March 31, 2026,https://www.johnortberg.com/about.

22. Gal. 5:22–23; Mark 4:35–41; Matt. 11:28–30; 12:18–21 (ESV).

23. These organization is all about our becoming formed into the image of Christ: Renovaré, “About,” 2026,https://renovare.org/about/overview; John Mark Comer has spent years seeking to develop spiritual disciplines which will help place a person in the position for God’s spirit to work in his heart, mind and Soul. Practicing the Way,https://www.practicingtheway.org/; and John Mark Comer, “Practicing the Way,” www.johnmarkcomer.com.