This is the season
of basketball play-offs. Fall is the season of baseball’s world series.
How do we judge which team to cheer for if they are not our home-town
team? One of the greatest influences of our choice of teams is the
character displayed by players, managers, and owners of the team. What
does it take to have such a reputation? It takes players and coaches with
good Christian ethics; players and coaches who make good role models to
millions of fans who follow them. Who needs role models? Many people.
Young people, in particular, often have role models. They may be sports
figures, teachers, parents, military leaders...whoever the person can look
up to as being successful and worthy of admiration.
1 Pet 2:21 To
this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an
example, [a role model] that you should follow in his steps.
(Heb 13:7 NASB)
Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and
considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.
Today, I would
like to provide you with 10 traits of Christ that you can and should adopt
to follow in his steps, not just in suffering, which is what Peter is
exemplifying here, but in the overall way that He lived.
1. Christ put God
the Father first in his life and expects us to do the same.
John 5:30 By
myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is
just, for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me.
Mat 16:24 Then
Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must
deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
This is further
exemplified in Mat 10:
Mat 10:37-38
"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me;
anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
{38} and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy
of me.
It needs to be
pointed out, that up to this point, Christ had made no mention of his
fate, especially by this non-Jewish mode of capital punishment.
What do we put
before Christ and His lifestyle? A job, a reputation, our independence,
our vanity, our pride, pleasures? Do we allow our family or job or
associates to force us to disobey God's commandments? Are any of us
ashamed to let others know we are a Christian? Real role models put ethics
above self, every time.
2. Christ did not
put on a front. He was completely genuine.
Luke 20:45-47
While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, {46}
"Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing
robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most
important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.
{47} They devour widows' houses (to gain possession of their property
through wills, etc.) and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will
be punished most severely."
Does this
scripture remind you of any religious leaders you've seen? Does it remind
you of any ball players you know? How about judges and political figures?
John 7:22-24 Yet
, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not
originate with Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a child
on the Sabbath. {23} Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so
that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for
healing the whole man on the Sabbath? {24} Stop judging by mere
appearances, and make a right judgment."
Verse 24 can be
better understood by its Old Testament source:
Isa 11:2-4 The
Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the Spirit of wisdom and of
understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of
knowledge and of the fear of the LORD-- {3} and he will delight in the
fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or
decide by what he hears with his ears; {4} but with righteousness he
will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for
the poor of the earth......
Do we jump to
conclusions, especially negative conclusions, about others? That's the
easiest thing in the world to do.
Do we put on a
front? And if we do, what is our motivation? To hide our true selves while
we struggle to overcome...or to hide from others just to make a good
impression? How many of us are whitened sepulchers ... or do we just want
to look important? That's called vanity.
Mat 23:27 "Woe
to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like
[whitewashed] tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the
inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean."
Kind of sounds
like He's referring to a politician’s speech, doesn't it, especially in
these days of the Presidential campaigns? Make it sound good to make a
good impression, while all the time knowing they're intentionally
deceiving or fooling the public.
3. Christ had
humility in spite of who he was.
Mat 19:16-17 Now
a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Good Master, what good thing must I
do to get eternal life?" {17} "Why do you call me good?" Jesus replied.
"There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the
commandments."
Although he was
perfect, Christ passed the praise on to our Father. How do we accept
praise ... by bragging further - like you hear from athletic events and
locker rooms?
(Isa 66:2 NASB)
"For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into
being," declares the LORD. "But to this one I will look, To him who is
humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.
Christ had
humility...How humble are we?
4. Christ was
bold, courageous and uncompromising.
Mark 1:21-22
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the
synagogue and began to teach. {22} The people were amazed at his
teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the
teachers of the law.
Teachers of the
law were like lawyers today. They preach confusion to win their cases. Too
few base their arguments on ethical or moral standards, especially if it
might risk losing their case.
Mark 3:1-5
Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand
was there. {2} Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus,
so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.
{3} Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of
everyone." {4} Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath:
to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained
silent. (Do you remember the Arabs in the Madrid Peace Conference with
Israel? They wouldn't answer questions, either.) {5} He looked around at
them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to
the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was
completely restored.
As Matthew
describes it in Mat 12:11 & 12, it was OK to save a sheep on the Sabbath
but not heal a man...And he rubbed their noses in it by having the
handicapped man stand up in front of them so they couldn't miss the
healing.
John 8:37-59 I
know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me,
because you have no room for my word. {38} I am telling you what I have
seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your
father. " {39} "Abraham is our father," they answered. "If you were
Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would do the things Abraham
did. {40} As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told
you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.
{41} You are doing the things your own father does." "We are not
illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God
himself." {42} Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would
love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own;
but he sent me. {43} Why is my language not clear to you? Because you
are unable to hear what I say. {44} You belong to your father, the
devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer
from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in
him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and
the father of lies. {45} Yet because I tell the truth, you do not
believe me! {46} Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling
the truth, why don't you believe me? {47} He who belongs to God hears
what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong
to God." {48} The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that
you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?" {49} "I am not possessed by a
demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. {50} I
am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he
is the judge. {51} I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he
will never see death." {52} At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know
that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet
you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. {53}
Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the
prophets. Who do you think you are?" {54} Jesus replied, "If I glorify
myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God,
is the one who glorifies me. {55} Though you do not know him, I know
him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him
and keep his word. {56} Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of
seeing my day; he saw it and was glad." {57} "You are not yet fifty
years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!" {58} "I
tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"
{59} At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself,
slipping away from the temple grounds.
The words of our
Savior were blasphemy to them.
John 11:53 So
from that day on they plotted to take his life.
Our next Holyday
is Pentecost. We also seem to be entering the seventh millennium...How
courageous and uncompromising are you about God's truth?
5. Christ was
concerned about all kinds of people.
Mat 5:43-47 You
have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
What is an enemy?
What characteristics does an enemy have? Will an enemy try to destroy you
by simply injuring or killing you? Or does an enemy try to hurt or damage
you in any way he or she can? Can you tolerate character assassination;
threats to your family; slander; threats to your livelihood, property or
treasure?
{44} But I tell
you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, {45} that
you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on
the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the
unrighteous. {46} If you love those who love you, what reward will you
get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? {47} And if you greet
only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even
pagans do that?
How many of you
are aware of the fact that the Arab leaders in the Madrid Peace Conference
refused to even shake hands with the Jews....just like they have been
refusing to do for decades in the United Nations? The Arabs only started
shaking hands when Israel gave away its land while overlooking the
terrorist past of the Palestinians. How big of them! Now they have
discovered it is good to shake hands with Israelis because it causes
division among Israelis to do so.
How many of us
have the same problem with someone else, possibly one of another race or
social position?
Mat 9:10-13
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors
and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. {11} When the
Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat
with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" {12} On hearing this, Jesus said,
"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. {13} But go and
learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not
come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Are you a sinner
or are you righteous? We have all known people whose actions and even
words proved they thought themselves to be of the righteous group.
Luke 15:1-7 Now
the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him.
{2} But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man
welcomes sinners and eats with them." {3} Then Jesus told them this
parable: {4} "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of
them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after
the lost sheep until he finds it? {5} And when he finds it, he joyfully
puts it on his shoulders {6} and goes home. Then he calls his friends
and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost
sheep.' {7} I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing
in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous
persons who do not need to repent.
Do we go out of
our way to befriend worldly people?
6. Christ
perceived human nature.
John 6:64 Yet
there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from
the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray
him.
We too should
perceive who is out to get us. We must not be willingly blind to those who
would harm us. But still we must be decent to them. In saying this, I
think of and we must pray for those Christians in Africa, particularly in
Sudan and Nigeria, who are at risk of having their children stolen by
Muslims.
(Luke 21:12 NASB)
"But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will
persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing
you before kings and governors for My name's sake.
(John 15:20-27
NASB) "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater
than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you;
if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. {21} "But all these
things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not
know the One who sent Me. {22} "If I had not come and spoken to
them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their
sin. {23} "He who hates Me hates My Father also. {24} "If I had
not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have
sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.
{25} "But they have done this in order that the word may be fulfilled
that is written in their Law, 'THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.' {26}
"When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is
the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, it will bear witness
of Me, {27} and you will bear witness also, because you have been with
Me from the beginning.
(Heb 11:35-38
NASB) Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were
tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a
better resurrection; {36} and others experienced mockings and scourgings,
yes, also chains and imprisonment. {37} They were stoned, they were sawn
in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they
went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted,
ill-treated {38} (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in
deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
7. Christ strove
to please His employer, His and our Father.
John 8:29 The
one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do
what pleases Him."
(John 5:30 NASB)
"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My
judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him
who sent Me.
(John 6:37-38
NASB) "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who
comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. {38} "For I have come down
from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
Do we strive to
please our Father?
John 4:34 "My
food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish
his work.
Many people in the
world around us want to please themselves first. Then, if they get around
to it, they may do good to others. My friend Eddie Qualls' last sermon
showed he cared enough to try and help out at flood relief centers. That
is doing the will of Him who sent Christ.
8. Christ was
concerned about productivity.
John 15:8 This
is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing
yourselves to be my disciples.
(Psa 92:12-15
NASB) The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow
like a cedar in Lebanon. {13} Planted in the house of the LORD, They
will flourish in the courts of our God. {14} They will still yield fruit
in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green, {15} To declare
that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness
in Him.
Are we spiritually
fruitful? If not, are we Christ's disciples?
Mark 6:30 The
apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and
taught.
How is our
productivity?...on the job, around the house, in Bible study, praying for
others, being an example to others? Are you known as a producer or are you
known as dead wood? Remember:
John 15:2 "He
cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that
does bear fruit he [prunes] so that it will be even more fruitful."
We must be
spiritually productive.
9. Christ
maintained his composure.
(Mark 4:37-40
NKJV) And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so
that it was already filling. {38} But He was in the stern, asleep on a
pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care
that we are perishing?" {39} Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and
said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a
great calm. {40} But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is
it that you have no faith?"
Christ was not
worried about perishing. We must have faith that He will protect us.
Luke 9:49-50
"Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and
we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us." {50} "Do not stop
him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."
Christ did not get
upset because he feared a competitor or unknown follower. What is our
attitude about other Churches of God? Acts 7:59-60 is not about Christ but
it describes an event which is the epitome of composure.
Acts 7:59-60
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit." {60} Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not
hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Do we fly into a
rage when things do not go our way or we feel threatened? Do we fly into a
rage over the misdeeds of our government leaders which threaten our social
or economic or physical security?
10. Christ served
others.
(Mat 10:24 NASB)
"A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.
(Mat 24:42-46
NASB) "Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your
Lord is coming. {43} "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house
had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have
been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken
into. {44} "For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is
coming at an hour when you do not think He will. {45} "Who then is the
faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his
household to give them their food at the proper time? {46} "Blessed is
that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.
(Luke 22:24-27)
Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be
greatest. [Sounds like certain professional athletes we've seen.] {25}
Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and
those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. {26}
But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should
be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.
{27} For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who
serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one
who serves.
I covered this
scripture in a previous sermon while discussing the proper role of the
ministry. Christ was the greatest servant of all time. Mark 10:42-45 is a
parallel account.
Mark 10:42-45
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are
regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high
officials exercise authority over them. {43} Not so with you. Instead,
whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, {44} and
whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. {45} For even the Son of
Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a
ransom for many."
We should all be
especially appreciative for the service of those who teach us. Paul states
in 1 Tim 5:17:
1 Tim 5:17 The
elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double
honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
We should not
elevate any minister to some superior status, but we should show our
appreciation for what he does for us and respect him for his leadership.
What is the
conclusion? Follow in Christ's steps. He is the greatest role model in
history!