“I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked!”
1 John 2:3-6 &1 Peter 2;19-24
David P. Nolte
A little girl was going outside with her father to build a snowman. As they walked, the little girl said, “Look, Daddy! I can step in your footprints and not get snow on my boots!”
She walked where Daddy walked. That made the father consider how important it was to watch his step since she would be following. He wanted to lead her in the right way of life.
Norm sang, “I walked today where Jesus walked,” He referenced some of the places Jesus visited. That walk brought a sense of the Presence of Jesus.
We all need to walk where Jesus walked. Not just in a geographical sense but in a spiritual sense. That’s not to suggest that going to the Holy Land and seeing the places He saw is a bad thing – but it is to say that everyday, wherever we are, we can walk where He walked. More importantly, we should walk where, and how, Jesus is walking today.
The Bible says, “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” 1 John 2:3-6 (NASB).
We also read, “For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, Who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” 1 Peter 2:19-24 (NASB).
So, where did He walk that we should also walk? Where did Jesus walk, leaving us footprints to follow?
I. HE WALKED IN OBEDIENCE:
A. He suffered because He was obedient to the will of God. In Gethsemane He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” Matthew 26:39 (NASB);
B. We cannot truly claim to faith without obedience. “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.”
1. Obedience evidences love for Him because He said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15 (NASB).
2. Obedience opens the door to salvation because it makes Him Lord. “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered. In this way, God qualified Him as a perfect High Priest, and He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him.” Hebrews 5:8-9 (NLT).
3. Obedience is essential to receiving the Holy Spirit: “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him." Acts 5:30-32 (NASB).
4. Obedience glorifies God: “Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey Him, bringing glory to His name.” Romans 1:5 (NLT).
C. Obedience comes from a humble heart — it is an inner decision with observable behavior. It goes beyond verbal promises to visible performance.
D. It’s like this: A man owned a warehouse. He had two sons, both of whom worked at the warehouse. He called the older boy and said, “Mark, I know it’s your day off, but I need you to work at the warehouse today.” Mark agreed to do so – but changed his mind and didn’t show up. Calls to his phone went unanswered. So dad called the younger boy, “Matthew, I know it’s your day off, but I really need you to help at the warehouse today.” Matthew begged off saying he had commitments. But he was conscience smitten and changed plans. He showed up at the warehouse much to dad’s delight. WHICH SON WAS PLEASING TO THE FATHER? DUH!
E. Jesus is looking for obedience without hesitation, or condition, or reservation. We will obey if we walk where Jesus walked. HE WALKED IN OBEDIENCE, AND SECOND:
II. HE WALKED IN TRUST:
A. We see that “while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.” He had confidence that God would deal with His enemies in due time and manner.
B. There are some implications or lessons to observe about trusting God, particularly in times when we are mistreated:
1. Jesus said, “Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also.” Luke 6:29 (NASB).
2. Paul reminds us, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” Romans 12:19 (NASB).
3. And Peter says, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.” 1 Peter 4:12-16 (NASB).
C. We can trust God to more than even the score. So with the Psalmist we can have this confidence: “Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass And fade like the green herb. Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.” Psalm 37:1-8 (NASB).
D. The point is two pronged,
1. Number 1: Don’t let anger and wrath further the strife; let it die out; even be aggressive in making peace and “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men,” Romans 12:18 (NASB) and trust God to take care of the rest.
2. Number 2: Don’t let the bad guys of the world shake you up and rob you of joy and peace! Trust and rest in God.
E. Trusting God means letting God be our hope and confidence. Let me illustrate: a man raised pigs. Once a little pig came up and began to chew on his foot, so he picked him up and began to pet him. Soon he wanted down but the man decided to keep holding him.
At that moment, the little pig let out a hog sized squeal and immediately thirty mama pigs weighing five to six hundred pounds each were headed in his direction. He put the little pig down and headed for the fence. He barely made it over, and all the mama pigs were snorting and walking back and forth, daring him to come back over and bother one of their kids.
The little rascal wasn’t intimidated. Why? Because he trusted his Mama ane he knew that one squeal away he had help.
Instead of fretting and getting angry – cry out to God because you know you are one prayer away from help!
Jesus trusted God even though it meant being subjected to suffering at the hand of men. When life is tough and everyone and everything seems against you, and your life is a wreck, don’t fret – call out for help – walk in trust; walk where Jesus walked. AND THAT MEANT THAT ULTIMATELY:
III. HE WALKED IN THE WAY TO THE CROSS:
A. “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”
B. Walking where Jesus walked includes bearing our cross. “He said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.’” Luke 9:23 (NLT).
1. Taking up a cross means denying selfish ambitions and attitudes.
2. Taking up a cross means sacrifice.
3. Taking up a cross means willingness to be mocked.
4. Taking up a cross means dying to the world.
C. Jesus put His life on the line to reconcile us to God – and it cost His life to do that. He made Himself totally vulnerable and subject to the worst earth or hell could do to Him to make peace with God for us.
D. Let me illustrate risk taking for the sake of reconciliation and peace: At St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. Is a unique door, known as the "Door of Reconciliation." There’s a hole hacked out of its center.
In 1492, two prominent Irish families, the Ormonds and Kildares, were in the midst of a bitter feud. The feud grew and turned into an all out fight, and the Earl of Ormand was getting the worst of it so he and his family and followers took refuge in St. Patrick’s cathedral and bolted themselves in.
However, as the feud wore on, the Earl of Kildare decided that the feuding was foolish. Here were two families worshiping the same God, in the same church, living in the same country, trying to kill each other.
So Kildare called out to the Earl of Ormand and pledged that he would not seek revenge or indulge in villainy — he wanted the Ormands to come out and the feud to be over. But the Earl of Ormand was convinced that it was a scheme full of treachery and refused to come out of the cathedral.
So Kildare grabbed his spear, chopped a hole in the door with it, and thrust his hand through. There was a tense moment until his hand was grasped by another hand inside the church. The door was opened and the two men embraced, thus ending the family feud. He risked losing his arm to show good faith.
E. Jesus “stuck His WHOLE LIFE through the door” so to speak, and it was cut off. He risked His life and forfeited it. But when He rose again, we were reconciled to God and at peace.
When we walk where Jesus walked we will obey and trust and bear a cross. And that being true, we will make our way in His steps to where He is and for all eternity we can walk where Jesus walks! PRAY
We are all somewhere along the line to the finish. The writer of Hebrews said, fittingly, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3 (NASB).
Will you walk with Jesus today? Will you trust Him, obey Him, and serve Him?
The course ahead of you may be long or short – but if it bears the footprints of Jesus, you are headed in the right direction so don’t grow weary or. lose heart because you are heading toward home! TRUST AND OBEY
