What difference did He make? (Influence)
Matt 28:18-20
This morning we are looking at the final question about classic Jesus. In a way, I believe that this is the most fascinating question of all. It is a question that we will make automatic answers about.
We quickly talk about the act of salvation and how we and all who believe can go to heaven. That is a huge difference that we gentiles were given. We did not have the law at all and were without hope or direction. Our earliest ancestors had some kind of desire for connection with a higher power and created all kinds of false Gods.
But God from the very creation of all we know had a plan…. No plan is not a firm enough word.
God had designed everything completely. The only variable in the design was the inclusion of free will as the single most important power allowed to mankind.
This morning, I am not focusing on the basics of Jesus mission on earth; I am not specifically interested in his mission to the Jews or Christians.
I have been studying more the differences that we find in our culture because of our Christian heritage….I suppose I am even more focused on what I know the most about which is our American culture.
I know I can’t be sure that even in this church setting that everyone here will agree with me. But I am going to lay out a few givens that Christians share.
First Jesus then man existed -- Nearly two thousand years ago in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village where He worked as a carpenter until He was thirty. Then for three years He became an itinerant preacher.
This man never went to college or seminary. He never wrote a book. He never held a public office. He never had a family nor owned a home. He never put His foot inside a big city nor traveled even 200 miles from His birthplace. And though He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness and power, crowds of people followed Him.
While He was still young and after only 3 years of preaching and teaching, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His followers ran away. He was turned over to His enemies and sentenced to death on a cross. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – the simple coat He had worn. His body was laid in a borrowed grave provided by a compassionate friend.
But three days later this Man arose from the dead – living proof that He was, as He had claimed, the Savior whom God had sent, the Incarnate Son of God.
-- Nineteen centuries have come and gone and somehow in this modern age of science and education this man Jesus Christ is still a central figure in the human race.
The French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte said, "You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
-- Napoleon witnessed the power of Jesus Christ centuries after his earthly life ended. A power which he the great emperor could not maintain with military might even when alive.
-- The British writer and historian H. G Wells (1866-1946) was asked which person left the most permanent impression on history.
He answered, “By this test, Jesus stands first.” “I am a historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.”
Another Non-Christian opinion comes from Will Durant, a modern historian and philosopher
He was asked what he felt the apex of history was, his answer: “the three years that Jesus of Nazareth walked the earth.”
I found historians in ancient through modern times that acknowledged the importance of Jesus as a significant figure.
His influence was and is so great that our calendars are divided into two different eras, tied to his existence on the earth. BC – Before Christ and AD stands for the Latin phrase "anno domini" which means "in the year of our Lord." In more recent times for sake of political correctness, CE (Common Era) and BCE (Before common era) are being used as an indication of sensitivity to other religions that have adopted the same calendar.
The split of time based on the approximate year of Jesus birth was considered to be an important turning point of history in 525 AD. Over 500 years after the death of Jesus the official calendar we still use today was set.
So the year of Jesus Birth is the mile stone that centers our calendar that makes this August 2009. That affects everyone albeit small and seemingly insignificant it is still a marker.
At this point I am going to suggest that it is not the differences He made and much as the influence that He generated in the simple nature of his life.
His influence came from his personal focus on specific areas of human life.
First as a teacher is represented the importance of education, especially in the ability to read and understand scripture. While this was also important to the Jews of the day which was unusual, Jesus taught his disciples and the gathered crowds about God and the relationship that he offered.
So while he did not establish a series of rabbinical schools over time his followers stepped into a similar focus. The church took on the role of educating more people instead of just the high families.
It took centuries but eventually the church took on the job of educating children. The classes we call Sunday school started in England in the 17 hundreds. They were started to offer basic literacy and religious education to the children in the slums that worked 6 days a week. By 1831 it is recorded that 1.2 million children were in Sunday schools.
From the time of the pilgrims in our nation the first 200 years education was private and Christian. Christians labored for literacy and translations of scripture into readable formats for the majority of people. The first 120 schools of higher learning were founded by Christians to train ministers.
-- Our world is different today because of Christians understanding of the Scripture’s document Jesus ministry of healing. Which has lead Christians through our history to establish hospitals which would offer care to all people and not just to those that could afford to pay. That is the basis for the hospitals founded by Catholics, and Baptist, Methodist and 7th day Adventist and so on.
-- Jesus is known for compassion to the poor and the feeding to the hungry. And Christians remain involved, especially in these times in ministries to the poor. The compassion of the earliest Christians saved countless children (mostly female), from the trash heaps and the wilderness. They took them in and raised them. Infanticide which was a common practice event in Jesus Day was reduced with the spread of Christianity.
- Another area of influence comes from the fact that Jesus lived under the Law. Both as a Jew and as a roman subject. Jesus followed the laws of God and man.
Our nations’ framework and acceptance of right and wrong is built under the understanding that every one is equal under a legal system. Our country believes that there are certain rights which all humans are entitled to. This understanding allows us to own personal property and also establishes that people are not property.
Jesus interaction with the poor and with women sets a standard as to how people art to be valued. That love is the foundation that peoples lives and choices should all be based on.
-- It is often pointed out that Christianity has been the source of all kinds of atrocities in the name of Christ. In fact in every positive point I have just made as being positive directions or events, all have negative examples both historically and even in modern times.
We are not going to take time to address the many failings of Christians. Let’s just say that all too often people have twisted scripture to support slavery, to subvert women, or to oppress people and to justify hate. There have been uncomfortable numbers of events on the church and individual levels where people took actions in the name of Jesus Christ which we understand today as being wrong…as being sinful.
It seems easy to say a few “rotten Christians” give us all a bad name.
Unfortunately, I am not sure that there are any Good Christians. Perhaps that kind of “holier than though” thinking is what has misled too many people to view us in such a bad light in the first place.
It is not the influence of Jesus that leads Christians to do the wrong things.
The influence of Jesus still leads millions of Christians to life the very best they can in a world that wants to judge our every move and statement.
A world that takes for granted the differences that the influence of Jesus has provided Christians and non-Christians alike for the better part of 2000 years.
The influence of Christ has arguably empowered more good than bad.
I will venture to say that in any place where there is a significant Christian population the quality of life for the poor and marginalized is probably in some small ways better. In places where Christians allow the influence of Christ to make a difference; children are cared for. Women are honored, the hungry are fed, and justice is worked for.
I guess I need to connect our scripture to our lesson this morning.
The scripture is called the great commission. It is Jesus’ instruction to believers to make disciples.
In the past Christians were influenced to be involved and to make a difference. Perhaps because of the limitations of the times they were limited in their responses. Most lived under monarchies and could only have so much power. There response was limited to what they could do.
Feed and clothe a person. Bandage a wound. Teach people to read.
Churches established schools, orphanages, and resources for poor and elderly and hospitals.
How is Christ influencing us today? What do we do in the name of Christ?
Apportionments – reach our world wide – missions – new churches, education, homeless, disabled – That is good. It is a bit anonymous but It is no less good.
How about as a local church?
Rome Urban Ministries – feeding people
Helping individual families with food and occasional funds.
Intersession…
There are countless opportunities around us. Which ones should we support? Which ones also fill the great commission to make disciples?
Are we helping to build a new literacy (skills – technology – self care) mixed with faith?
Are we against abortion? What are we doing to help people to make a choice for Life?
Are we supportive of marginalized people? Immigrants, single parents,
My basic question, Is Christ having a real influence on us or are we just going through the motions? Just doing the minimum?
Are we willing to let the government continue to control education, healthcare, compassion and morality?
Or are we committed to being the living and active body of Christ? Living as his hands, his feet, his voice his love to the ever changing world around us?
All Glory be to God?
