The Commitment Of Jesus

I give you both of these examples to say that they took some time and energy out of my life. I sacrificed some of my life to help these people. But what I did was nothing. And what any of us do for others is nothing in comparison to what Jesus did for this lost world!

Jesus didn’t just sacrifice His time and energy! He gave His life’s blood! He gave His whole being for the sake of mankind! He gave up His spirit to save the world!

II Cor. 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Jesus became sin on the cross for us and for the world! He suffered the penalty of sin for the whole world. He suffered separation from the Father and the torment of that separation for all mankind. THAT’S HOW COMMITTED JESUS WAS TO THIS WORLD!

III. JESUS’ COMMITMENT TO THE CHURCH

ILL.- When I was either 19 or 20 years old I wrecked my 1955 Chevy while going to work at Safeway at 10 p.m. I worked nights from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. I was traveling a back road to Joplin from Webb City that I was not too familiar with. I was driving about 50 mph (truthfully) when suddenly the road made a 90 degree turn to the left and it could only be made at about 15 mph. And there is a big difference in 50 mph and 15 mph!

I didn’t make that turn. I saw a telephone in front of my car and immediately lay down in the front seat. I remember being bounced all over the place.

When my car finally stopped I discovered that it had actually went between the telephone pole and guy wire, fortunately for me. But I had sped on to knock down a farmer’s wooden fence. I was not hurt other than some bruises. I went to that farmer’s house and asked to use his phone. I called dad and he was not too happy with me. Of course, he also had to come and take me to work and then pick me up the next morning. My car was totaled and I was shook up.

The very next morning after dad picked me up from work a highway patrolman knocked on our door. Dad had called the patrol about the accident. Dad and I went with him to the scene of the accident. And can you believe it? That patrolman wrote me a ticket for speeding and careless and reckless driving! I was astounded, not completely but somewhat.

Dad said, “We need to go see a lawyer.” And we did. I told the lawyer my story and hoped he could help me. That is, I hoped he could get me off without being found guilty of speeding or careless and reckless driving. THE KEY WORDS WERE: I hoped he could get me off without paying a fine, etc., etc.

Do you realize that YOU ARE GUILTY? You are guilty of worse than speeding and careless and reckless driving? You are guilty of sinning and perhaps gross in many ways. You are guilty and I am guilty. BUT WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO GOT US OFF THE HOOK!

I John 2:1 “1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”

I Tim. 2:5 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”