What Would Jesus Do?

If you were a Christian in the 90s, you are undoubtedly familiar with WWJD bracelets, a simple reminder to live like Jesus in everyday life. But have you ever stopped to really ask, What would Jesus do… if He were a pastor in 2025?

Would He have a podcast? Run a leadership conference? Post sermon clips to Instagram Reels? Maybe. But knowing what we know of Jesus’ life and habits, I think He’d do ministry a little differently.

In a world obsessed with visibility, Jesus valued withdrawal. In a culture that rewards volume, He prized listening. In a time when crowds demanded constant access, He often chose solitude.

1. Jesus Knew When to Step Away

Luke 5:16 says, “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
That’s not a one-off moment of burnout recovery; it’s a pattern. Even when ministry was booming, He slipped away. When the crowds pressed in, He stepped out.

If Jesus led a church today, I don’t think He’d buy into our unspoken rule that busyness equals faithfulness. He’d probably close His laptop midweek, take a long walk by the river, and remind us that fruit grows in silence before it’s seen in public.

The Son of God didn’t fear missing out, He feared missing the Father’s voice.

2. Jesus Didn’t Need to Be the Loudest Voice in the Room

When Jesus spoke, people listened, not because He shouted, but because He carried authority. He asked questions. He told stories. He paused. He let silence do its work.

Our modern church culture tends to equate charisma with calling, as if the Spirit moves most when the mic is hot and the energy is high. But some of Jesus’ most profound moments happened in whispers, in quiet homes, on secluded hillsides, around small tables.

Imagine Jesus at a staff meeting today. I don’t think He’d dominate the conversation. He’d listen carefully, ask heart-level questions, and speak only when it mattered most. His power wasn’t in performance but in presence.

3. Jesus Focused on Depth, Not Numbers

We often celebrate ministry through metrics such as attendance, engagement, and growth curves. Jesus poured into twelve. And within that twelve, He gave special attention to three.

He could draw crowds of thousands, yet He consistently chose smaller circles. That’s not a strategy of inefficiency, it’s a vision for transformation. Jesus knew that deep roots produce lasting fruit.

If He led a church today, I suspect He’d spend less time on the stage and more time around tables. He’d still preach to the multitudes, but He’d invest the best of His energy in a handful of people, teaching, mentoring, and walking with them until they learned to walk with God themselves.

4. Jesus Valued Being Over Doing

When Martha was busy serving and Mary was sitting quietly at His feet, Jesus gently said, “Mary has chosen what is better” (Luke 10:42).

That doesn’t mean He disapproved of hard work, He simply knew that our identity isn’t earned by ministry activity. The modern church often measures success by output. Jesus measures it by obedience.

I imagine Jesus walking into some of our leadership conferences today and asking, “How’s your soul?” Not, “How’s your strategy?”

A Different Kind of Ministry

Jesus would thrive in any era, but He’d probably surprise us with His methods. He’d still love the crowds but never chase them. He’d still teach truth, but with compassion and rest in His tone. He’d still confront hypocrisy, but without self-promotion.

He’d remind us that the Kingdom doesn’t expand through noise but through love.
That power isn’t proven by personality but by presence.
That sometimes the holiest thing a leader can do is stop, breathe, and listen for the still, small voice of God.

In short, if Jesus were ministering today, He’d still do exactly what He’s always done:
Withdraw to pray, walk slowly with people, tell stories that reveal the heart of God, and give His life for others.

And maybe that’s our cue. In a loud world, perhaps following Jesus means learning again to live quietly, with courage, conviction, and deep communion with the Father.