Introduction: This morning we began a series on “Becoming like the Master.” If we desire to become like Jesus, we need to know who he is and what he did and what he continues to do through those who follow Him. Again this chapter is the last time Jesus addresses a crowd of people – the public in a teaching situation.
Let’s read the last few verses of this important chapter and then let’s walk through it.
The word for “Cried Out” in vs. 44 is the Greek word “Krazo”. It is an emphatic word. It is used in Matt 27:50 – “Jesus shouted out in a loud voice and gave up his spirit.” There is great feeling and emotion in his voice. There is almost a sense of agony in his voice. Why? In order to understand that we need to look up a few verses before. Vs. 37-43.
That last line is very important for us as we consider the next few weeks. Are we going to follow Jesus and do what he says regardless of what those around us say or think? This is a huge question. Especially as we look at training ourselves for evangelism. One of the key things that keep many people from sharing their faith is fear of what others might say or think. We need to see that for us who serve God and follow Jesus, that is not something we should concern ourselves over. We certainly do not want to be obnoxious but we must tell others about Jesus.
What did Jesus say about confessing him before men? Look at Matthew 10:32-39. Now many times this is used as a way to encourage people to make their faith in Christ public. But what is the context of this statement by Jesus? Look at chapter 10:1. The context of that of witnessing! Look at vs. 26.
We need a healthy fear of Gods in our lives.
Fear of God – I Peter 1:17-19 Ps. 2:11; 119:120; 128:1 Luke 12:4-5
So with that as a backdrop let’s consider what Jesus did in His life here on earth and how we are to be about following his example.
1. Represent – Jesus represented God by action and word – vs. 44-45
We must emulate Jesus in how he represented God to the world: for we are ambassadors for Christ. How do we do that? It begins with our quiet times with the Lord – being one on one with Him through prayer and reading and meditating on his word. When a person serves a country as an Ambassador they are considered an expert on that countries behalf. How do they get that way? By applying themselves to learning everything they can about what they are representing and emulating the characteristics and traits of that country.
By the same token we must apply ourselves to studying God’s ways so that we can accurately represent Him to the world. I have said this before – the reason why the church has fallen out of touch with our culture and lost its place of importance is largely because we as God’s children are not very good representatives of who he is or what He stands for. Thus the world has a skewed opinion of God because of what they see in us! Jesus represented God in action and word – we need to do the same.
2. Reveal – he came as the light. He brought light to the darkness – vs. 46
He didn’t come to judge – the judgment will come basically by men bringing it upon themselves by denying to believe in his word and work on the cross. The perfection of who he is will judge. “The word was God.” “The Word became flesh…” He came to reveal God the Father – he told his disciples that if they had seen him they had seen the father.
So how does that relate to us? Well Jesus said that we are the light of the world. Because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we have the ability to shine and reveal God to the world. That is why it is said that every person needs to do their part in serving because as we do, each of us reveals another part of God to one another. Therefore the Bible says we must shine before men so that they will see our good works and glorify God! This is a great work we have. Every day we have the opportunity to shine the light of God into a dark world. Just like I said this morning, it is not our job to condemn or judge people. Our job is to shine the light of God and his word into the hearts of people and help them see without Jesus they are condemned already!
3. Respond – Jesus spoke the commands of God. (vs. 49)
He said only what the Father told him thus his words are true and right. When God spoke Jesus repeated every word. We too must respond to the world with the words of God. This makes our time alone with God in his word crucial. We cannot tell someone else what God says if we never listen to him ourselves.
Our words need to be the words of God not our own. When we speak the words of God we have a promise that they will not return void!
Jesus not only spoke the words of God, He also did everything the Father told him to do including going to the cross. Remember the garden scene where Jesus is overwhelmed with dread of what was coming in way of the cross. But remember his words there – “not my will but yours be done.” Just like Jesus did - we need to hear the voice of God and obey what he says.
Turn to Jeremiah 7:3-11, 23-26, 27-28
We need to be very careful that we do not fall into the trap of thinking that just because we are in the house of God that we are safe. We must respond to God’s word in obedience. We cannot think that just because we are born again and a member of FBC that we can now do whatever we want without consequences. God is holy and He demands that we too be holy. That requires that we respond to Him and His word immediately through obedience. Jesus is our perfect example of that!
Again we are to let people know that they must respond to God in faith because without faith in Christ they are standing condemned to hell. Not because God has sent them there but because they have broken the law of God and because he is good and just he cannot let lawbreakers go unpunished. The beauty of this is that once a person recognizes that they are in fact a law breaker and deserve death and hell, they can then see Jesus and the grace offered through His sacrifice and can make a knowledgeable decision to follow him. There will be deep thankfulness in their heart because they will have a greater understanding of what they are being saved from and their lives will reflect that grace and mercy in how they live their lives in obedience to the commands of God to live holy and upright lives today!
4. Rest – he was secure in the command of God (vs. 50)
a. God’s command brings eternal life
b. That knowledge brought courage to face difficulty knowing that God’s word is strong and powerful.
We need to be able to rest in the words of God. He is the sovereign God of the universe. Nothing happens without first getting his ok! When we are following his word and being obedient there is nothing that can come between us and God. Only when we are disobedient do we step out from under God’s umbrella of protection. Does that mean life will be easy? No is doesn’t. Jesus told us that himself: the world hated me and the world will hate you. In this world you will have tribulations but fear not for I have overcome the world.
When we learn to rest on the promises of God, anything life throws at us, we will be able to endure. Not because we are super human but because our God in whom we have placed our trust is big enough to take care of us. Just like Lon and Nelson said this morning – we can face any problem no matter how grave if we will rely on God and rest in his word.
Finally we must rest in the fact that God is in control and that we can have confidence in what He tells us in his word. In the midst of crisis or jubilant times we can rest in the knowledge that God is sovereign. He knows what he is doing and he is capable of keeping you in the palm of his hand regardless of what is happening around you!
Conclusion: The enemy does not want you and me to take this journey in becoming like our master. He is going to do everything he can to get you sidetracked. Be aware of his tactics – busyness, vulnerable sin areas. He will use friends, family, work and even hobbies to try and get your eyes off the prize. Don’t let him! Be like Jesus – set your face like flint! The writer of Hebrews put it this way – Hebrews 12:1-2.
