Checking with the Oxford Languages dictionary: “routine — noun — A sequence of actions regularly followed…adjective — performed as a part of a regular procedure rather than for a special reason…verb — organize according to a set pattern…synonyms — custom, habit, metered, pace, pattern, procedure, system.”

I recently visited my older brother Jim and his wife in Florida. In my week’s stay, I quickly noticed a set, daily routine that did not vary more than five or ten minutes for each event.

They would rise at the same time each morning, have a first cup of coffee, watch the news, and then take their showers. Breakfast followed: cereal with fruit, juice, and coffee. Reading and some jigsaw puzzle time would follow.

Fast forward to noon when lunchmeat sandwiches with chips and a fruit cup were served. They then spent time washing dishes and straightening the house, followed by about 45 minutes of reading and relaxing. On to a time with their jigsaw puzzle…and then their afternoon nap was on the horizon. After an afternoon dip in the pool, they prepared for dinner. In the evening, they watched the nightly news and Jeopardy, enjoyed reading and/or jigsaw time, and then they would get ready for bed. It was not a bad day — after day — after day. And just like that, by day three, I was fully engaged in their routine.

This caused me to consider my routines, and then I began to think about the concept of routine in Scripture. Did Jesus have any routines or customs? I think so.

Here are a few.

He made it a practice to love people. “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1 NKJV). Jesus knew at this time that one of His disciples would betray Him and yet He showed love and service to all. After He had supper with His disciples, Jesus arose from the table, took the towel and water basin, and washed the feet of His disciples. His love for them was so strong that He humbled Himself and became a servant to them.

Jesus was also able to love His enemies. He had a multitude of enemies. Scripture tells us that “while he was still speaking, behold, a multitude…drew near to him” (Luke 22:47). This was the group who came to the Garden to arrest Jesus. In the commotion, one of Jesus’ disciples took His sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Jesus did not hate or dislike these people. He did not resist the arrest, but instead, He touched the servant whose ear was severed and healed it and then went forth with those who came to arrest Him (Luke 22:50-51). This was His way of showing forth His love to them. He showed His great love for humankind when they nailed Him to the Cross.

Jesus made it a practice to forgive people. Jesus forgave the sinful woman of the city who came to Him and washed His feet with her tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head. She then kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil (Luke 7:37-38). Jesus forgave the paralytic and healed him. “Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you'” (Matthew 9:2).

His practice was to restore life to those who had lost it.

Jesus went to the home of Jairus to heal his daughter, but when they arrived, the people outside said the little 12-year-old girl was dead. Jesus said, “‘Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well'” (Luke 8:50). Jesus went into the house with Peter, James, John, the girl’s father and mother and “took her by the hand and called, saying, ‘Little girl, arise'” (Luke 8:54). Scripture says that the spirit returned, and she immediately opened her eyes, got up, and requested something to eat. Lazarus died and was in the grave four days, but Jesus said, “‘Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up'” (John 11:11). Jesus commanded the stone be removed from the cave and said, “‘Lazarus, come forth!'” (John 11:43).

He made it a practice to feed the hungry. On one occasion, Jesus fed four thousand men plus women and children (Mark 8:20, Matthew 16:10). Another time, it was five thousand (John 6:10, Mark 6:44).

He made it a practice to bless the children (Matthew 19:13-14). “Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'”

Probably the most important routine He had was that of praying. Mark 1:35 tells us: “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” Jesus started His day with prayer. This was His custom or routine.

Jesus never gave an excuse for not attending the synagogue. It was His practice or custom to be there every week. Some Christians are masters of excuses; they are tired, busy, play sports, mad at someone. We have heard them all.

Routines can be a great pattern of behavior, and it would be wise to model Jesus in His routines.

Richard DeMarte, United Churches of Lycoming County