WHAT MUST I DO? FOLLOW CHRIST
JOHN 12:24-26
Big Idea: If we are to follow Jesus then we must walk as he walked (1 John 2:6)
John 12:24-26
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
INTRO:
Last year while my wife and I were visiting family in Oklahoma, I watched my nephew, Kevin, whose father died while he was a young boy. Kevin is now an adult, married, and living his own life. As I watched him I was struck by how much of who he is reflects his father. Even though he was only about 8 when Kelly (his dad) died I could not help but notice he stood like his daddy and he walked like his daddy. What was true in physical mannerisms was magnified in his personality. Kevin was Kelly’s son, there was no denying it. Even though he has not seen his dad in almost two decades – his daddy could be seen in him.
Jesus said, “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”
Following Jesus means will see characteristics of Jesus (and His Heavenly Father) in our lives, behavior, perspectives, and personality. That is what it means to be Christ-like. That is one of the reasons I spent a few weeks looking at 1 Corinthians 13 with you. I wanted you to see what God looks and acts like and contrast it with the harsh and distorted images we sometimes have of God’s love.
I have been thinking … follow often assumes walking ... this would certainly have been true in Jesus world and it carries credence in ours too. That might be why one of His disciples (John) talks so much about “walking.” It was John who tells us we “must walk even as he walked.” 1 John 2:5-6 he says, “But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”
In fact, John talks about walking with or like Jesus four times in the first 2 chapters of his first epistle. Other New Testament writers speak of it too and from them we can discover what our walk will look like as we follow Jesus.
FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS:
Following Jesus means:
1. WE’LL WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4, KJV)
Following Jesus begins here. It begins with a new birth. Until a person has bowed the knee and confessed Jesus as Lord it is impossible to follow Christ. Up to that point you are following someone or something other than God. It might be a religious code or catechism, it might be the Ten Commandments or a host of other things; but only following Jesus will bring newness to you.
I love the imagery, “newness of life.” On so many occasions I have heard people who have recently experienced a new birth use similar words even though they have never read the Bible. They say things like “everything is so different now” or “I see the world so differently now.” There is a sense of freshness, life, vitality, and joy that comes with the new birth. This is a gift that God gives to those who acknowledge Jesus as Lord, turn to Him in repentance for forgiveness, and follow Him.
The flip side is that sharing the Gospel with friends and loved ones is also essential if we wish for others to experience new life. The Old and New Testament witness to this.
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7)
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:13-15)
May I encourage you to ask God to turn your radar on? Ask God to prepare you and help you look for opportunities to share Christ.
Sharing the gospel on the practice green
I had a few open hours last Saturday afternoon so I went to the putting green at the golf course to do some putting drills. Soon afterwards, another man came up to use the practice green as well.
He began to ask me some questions about the course. He was from out of town and so I told him a few things to expect as he played his round. In the process we introduced ourselves and I told him I pastored the church that he had seen on his way to the course.
He walked away and began practicing his putting but soon returned and told me a terrible religious joke. I smiled and tried not to make it too awkward for him.
We returned to our respective business.
Soon he made his way back over to me and mentioned the breeze that had emerged and how refreshing it was in the sweltering heat we were having that day. I agreed and then he said, “Where does it come from?” I told him I wasn’t sure I understood his question and then he said, “Doesn’t the Bible say something about we don’t know where the wind comes from?”
That was my opening. I sensed God open the door and tell me to walk through and I sensed God leading me as I spoke. I said something to the effect of:
“Oh yes. That can be found in John 3 when Jesus is talking to man about his need to be born again.” He was still listening so I said. “The word ‘Spirit’ and the word ‘wind’ are the same work in the original language and Jesus was making a play on the word. He was saying that just as we do not know where the wind comes from but we can sure see (and feel) its effect so we may know how God’s Spirit comes to us but we can sure see the effects as it makes us new people and gives us a new life.”
He asked me a follow-up question or two and then they called for his foursome to tee off and he left. All I did was wait upon God and walk through the door he opened. I pray that God allowed me to sow some seed and that my acquaintance will experience newness of life.
If we are following Jesus we must walk in newness of life and we can share that life with others.
Following Jesus means:
1. We’ll Walk in Newness of Life (Romans 6:4)
Following Jesus means:
2. WE’LL WALK IN HOLINESS
Remember when I sad that John uses the word “walk” four times in the first two chapters? Here are two of them; listen to this: “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:6-7)
Sin breaks fellowship with God. It short circuits intimacy. However, walking in holiness brings an unhindered communion.
If you find yourself without a sense of His presence one of the first things you should check is this. You see, the Bible says to “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)
And that begs the question: Are you walking in disobedience or in the power of the Holy Spirit?
The KJV Bible uses an interesting word for “sin” in the Gospels. On 5 occasions (Mt. 6:14, 15; 18:35; Mk. 11:25,26) the word “trespasses” is used. A trespass means we have encroached upon that which belongs to another … that we have crossed a line. That certainly describes sin and it always severs relationship.
When we are following Jesus there is no trespassing but, rather, a harmonious bond.
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
To follow Christ means are must walk in holiness and that brings an intimate sense of fellowship.
Following Jesus means:
1. We’ll Walk in Newness of Life (Romans 6:4)
2. We’ll Walk in Holiness (1 John 1:6-7)
Following Jesus means:
3. WE’LL WALK IN LOVE
“{A}nd walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2)
I think it is worth noting that the church in Ephesus was known for it hard stands and high standards of conduct but that it was also known (and judged) for its lack of compassion and love (Rev. 2:1-7). As redeemed humans who are growing in Christ we tend to move like a pendulum. We tend to either be very intolerant of sin and yet not tempered by love or very loving and forgiving and a bit too lenient on holiness. By looking at Jesus Christ we discover how both must reside in the heart of the believer. There is a danger and need for holiness to be seasoned by love, compassion and mercy.
Again, 1 Corinthians 13 shows another core characteristic of God that many neglect and some are uncomfortable with. But as you look at God in Christ you will discover that following him (walking as Jesus walked) will mean your character is marked by patience, kindness, humility, absence of rudeness, absence of anger, a quickness to forgive and a refusal to keep a record of wrongs.
To follow Christ means we must walk in love. And love is clearly defined for us.
WRAP-UP
We have a few more elements or characteristics of walking like Jesus that we will look at next week. Just remember, following Jesus means walking as he walked. It means we live and love in the same manner as He did.
Today we have seen three characteristics of Jesus’ walk that we must follow.
1. We’ll Walk in Newness of Life (Romans 6:4)
2. We’ll Walk in Holiness (1 John 1:6-7)
3. We’ll Walk in Love (Ephesians 5:2)
We do not get to define what following Jesus looks like. It is already prescribed for us in God’s Word. I like what Thomas รก Kempis says about following Jesus in his book, “The Imitation of Christ.”
Jesus has many who love his kingdom in heaven, but few who bear his cross. He has many who desire comfort, but few who desire suffering. He finds many to share his feast, but few his fasting. All desire to rejoice with him, but few are willing to suffer for his sake. Many follow Jesus to the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the cup of his passion. Many admire his miracles, but few follow him in the humiliation of the cross.
The book of Proverbs (4:26) says, “Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.”
That is advice we must take to heart today.
But remember … never forget the basic premise of this sermons series (What Must I Do?). It is …
Whatever God’s Word says we MUST do
God knows we CAN do!
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This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
