01 Jesus Style: Intro/Servant
If you asked anyone, especially non-believers, who Jesus Christ was what would they say about Him?
1. born of a virgin,
2. was the son of God,
3. he worked miracles like turning water to wine or walking on water,
4. he died on the cross for our sins,
5. rose three days later
6. and all so we could go to heaven.
So why is it important for Christians to understand who Jesus Christ was beyond this common knowledge?
So who was he beyond the "fact sheet"? Who was he as a human being and a man?
Why is this information valuable?
1. It is having an example for how to live a day to day life
2. More than that who we should be within ourselves, not just in the outside.
3. There isn’t always an easy answer to life's everyday problems:
a. New or young Christian and just learning what bible says
b. Bad at memorizing scripture but good at understanding concepts
c. Being taught one way growing up and differentiating between what you are taught and the bible actually says.
1. Mormons believe in pre-existence
2. Questioned if that was biblical
3. Researched it and found contradicting scripture
4. But wasn’t totally convinced
5. Compared to what you know about the nature of Jesus Christ
a. He is a loving God
b. He desires us to be with him more than anything
c. Then would such a God send us away from heaven
d. To live on earth where the is pain, suffering and death
e. And risk us not returning to him
f. Like a parent throwing their child into the middle of the ocean in hopes that they will swim to shore safely?
g. That is not a loving God.
h. Scripture + Nature of Christ = Pre-existence is not biblical.
Jesus had a style all his own. What some people refer to as the "nature of Christ". This is going to be our topic over the next few weeks.
Scripture 1
Mark 10:42-45 - Jesus Speaking to the disciples as they argued about who was going to be greatest in the kingdom
You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give up his life as a ransom for many.
Observe/Interpret
1. Rulers were lording their status over the Gentiles.
a. The rulers had racial prejudice against the Gentiles and were treating them unfairly and taking advantage of them.
b. History shows that the Jewish teachers would often use the Gentiles as negative examples.
2. Jesus states that the disciples should not be treating the Gentiles that way
a. As a Christian you should be different and not do what everyone else is doing even if they are in power.
3. Instead they should be servants
a. When the rulers were about their power, Christians should be about empowering others
b. Jesus' teaching challenged the social hierarchy and violated expectations for honor in ancient society.
4. Calls himself the Son of Man
a. While he was the Son of God he was also human, he was one of us
b. Luke 22:27 - For who is greater he who sits at the table or he who serves, is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as one who serves.
5. He came to serve
a. The Son of Man was expected to reign as an earthly king would reign instead he came as a servant for the glory of his heavenly kingdom and people didn't understand that. Daniel 7:13-14
i. Side note: They did not understand the nature of Christ, which is what we are studying. If they did they would not have been confused. Another example of why knowing who Christ was is important.
b. If our magnificent God came to earth as a servant what do our socials positions, wealth, accomplishments matter compared to being a servant. In comparison who are we to expect recognition?
6. And died for all of us.
a. Speaking about his own death.
b. The greatest type of service, giving one's life for another and he did it not just for his family or closest friends but for people who would deny him and hate him.
Scripture 2
Galatians 5:13 Paul one Jesus' disciples writes a letter to the Galatians
For you brethren have been called to liberty only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh but through love, serve one another.
Observe/Interpret
1. Speaking to them as brothers
a. Christ makes us family
b. The church is the body of Christ and we are one in Him
2. They have been given freedom and free will
a. God has given us the choice to follow him
b. If we were compelled to love Him it wouldn't be real love
c. The down side is that people would not choose him
3. Even though you have freedom it shouldn't be used to indulge in sinful things
a. Freedom and free will is a gift from the Lord
b. We shouldn't squander it but do his will with that gift
4. Service is facilitated by love
a. Love is a catalyst that makes true service possible
b. Without love any form of service is a lie, it's not really service if you don’t mean it
Scripture 3
John 13: 5-8 Jesus Christ and his apostles gather for what would be their last meal together before Jesus' crucifixion. Jesus gets up from the meal and gathers a towel around his waist and begins to wash their feet…
He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?". Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
Observe/Interpret:
1. Washing feet
a. A little service compared to sacrificing His is life but also not a little service in His eyes. All true service is equally great.
b. It also shows that there is nothing too small for his attention.
2. Simon Peter is not just asking but he is exclaiming in surprise.
a. This would have been a servants job to wash their dirty, sweaty, stinky feet.
b. Again Jesus challenged social hierarchy and violated expectations for honor in ancient society.
3. Jesus understands that Peter is confused but he assures him that it is for a reason that he will understand but Peter doesn’t accept that.
a. This points to Christ's Godly omnipotence or all knowingness when he assures Peter that he will understand in the future.
b. Peters response is one of doubt and stubbornness.
c. We are Peter
4. Jesus insists that it is vital for Peter to allow him to wash his feet or there will be consequences.
a. Jesus knew that he was about to die and that his death would cleans our sins.
b. His insistence on "washing" Peter was a representation of his dying for our salvation and that if Peter did not allow him to "wash" him with his blood that Peter would not receive salvation.
c. Allowing God to wash us is accepting his Gift of salvation and eternal live with Him.
Apply:
1. Look to Christ as an example for not just how to act on the outside, but who to be on the inside and how to be a true servant.
2. Do not act like you are better than others instead be there to help others
3. Be willing to do both great service for others as well as little service which can sometimes be harder.
4. We should not be picky about what kind of service we are willing to do.
5. We should not do service to bring attention to ourselves.
6. Recognize that your free will is a gift from God that we should be thankful for and should be used to glorify Him.
7. Do all service with love otherwise it is empty and instead of Him blessing your service he will despise it.
8. Nothing was beneath Jesus Christ so nothing should be beneath us
9. When Jesus assures us that something is going to happen like he did with Peter, we should trust him and not doubt or be stubborn.
a. When God tells us that he has it all under control we should say OK!
10. Accept the gifts that Christ gives us and let him wash us clean!