09.25.2011 How to Live Like Jesus

SermonAudio

We’re going to be going through the gospels – How to Live Like Jesus - We will be giving a broader understanding of the gospels on Sunday mornings – and then going more in-depth in the small groups. You will be given three passages (in the small groups) to be read each week. We’d like the small groups to divide up and do a more in-depth study of one of the passages.
Inductive Bible study – We will give out bookmarks next week- because next week I’ll be going through a passage inductively. We will also have some video helps that each group can decide to use or not. And we’d also like to have each small group come up with a service project.
It is not just a simple study – but we want it to go beyond that. We’d like to not just learn to live like Jesus lived, but to also LIVE the way Jesus lived.
Inductive study - becomes natural after a while.
Also – with Eric – during the month of October, Eric will be going out to raise more support. If you can support him – there are envelopes to do that. He won’t ask, so I’ll ask for him.
Lord, I thank You that You are present and that You love us. I ask You, even now, to help us as we begin this study about Jesus – help us to see You in a new way – may our eyes be opened to see You – who You are – that we might believe and trust and live as You’ve called us to live. We leave it all before You. We’d like to hear from You. There is a work You want to do – maybe it is a convicting work. We usually ask for comfort and strength – but maybe You want us to think and act differently – may our hearts be available if that is Your call this morning. Open Your word up to us now. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
If we are going to study the life of Jesus, what do you study? The gospels? Why are there four gospels? There was a guy who tried to combine them early on – and he was considered a heretic.
We have four portraits of one Jesus. The portraits come from different perspectives – looking at His life in different ways. But there is only one Jesus and only one gospel. There may be four books we call the gospels, but there is really one gospel. Luke starts off his gospel – and he tells us how they did this – it is not complex:
Luke 1:1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,
Many – and he is not just referring to Matthew, Mark and John – because John hadn’t even been written yet – there were many others…
2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word have handed them down to us,
Immediately after it happened – they didn’t have word processors, but to write things down was costly – but they had oral tradition – they told stories of Jesus and they spread throughout the church. And they would pass them on – and the apostles would make sure that the stories were remembered. And others began to write things down. And Luke said there were many who did this – and they wanted to remember and to be faithful. And Luke…
3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 so that you might know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.
These writers probably interviewed people like Mary – how did they know what the angel said? Someone asked her – and it was passed on.
They worked hard to make sure what they did was good.
Most believe that Mark wrote the first gospel – Then Matthew and Luke used things from Mark and others – Matthew was there…
Synoptic Gospels – Matthew, Mark and Luke
“They view the life and ministry of Jesus from a similar perspective, follow the same general outline, and record a great deal of common material”
Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mark wants us to understand – right off the bat – that this story he is about to tell is the gospel – the good news – the message of Christ.
If someone asks, what is the gospel? What would you say?
It is the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah, the savior of the world.
There are two pew bibles – a skinny one and a fat one. Each pew has one of each.
There is a mistake in the fat one – Turn to Matthew – It just says Matthew. In the skinny one – it says, The Gospel according to Matthew. The skinny one is correct. Every manuscript we have – “The gospel according to…” – and the reason that is important is this: a lot of times, we forget to preach Jesus. What did Paul say he preached? Jesus. It is the life of Christ that is so compelling – the message of Jesus – the stories He told are just so incredibly compelling – they draw people in – you can’t hear it – read it – or view it – Campus Crusade put The Jesus Movie into many languages – and thousands come to Christ. It is Jesus Who draws people in. And I think the early church started each gospel that way because they wanted people to focus their attention on Jesus.
1 Cor. 15: 15:1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
When you share the gospel, do you ever talk about Him being buried? I’m not saying you have to do that – but you better talk about Jesus. He preached Jesus.
Mark is trying to answer the question – Who is this?
Mark 4:41 And they became very much afraid and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"
Mark 8: 27 And Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, "Who do people say that I am?" 28 And they told Him, saying, "John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets." 29 And He continued by questioning them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, "Thou art the Christ." 30 And He warned them to tell no one about Him.
Mark is answering, “Who is Jesus?”
Peter answers it – the Christ – the Messiah – and Mark is showing us that Jesus is the Messiah, and that He is the Son of God.
He is the coming King of Israel.
Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mark 15: 39 And when the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"
From the beginning to the end, He is defined as the Son of God. Mark is revealing Who He is.
Mark shows Jesus as the Messiah (Christ)  Son of God
But then he demonstrates it as Power and Authority  Suffering Servant.
41 times Mark uses the word, immediately – demonstrating that God is acting on behalf of His people.
Authority over the spiritual realm (Confronts Satan and demons several times – and wins), authority over nature, disease, religion, sin – You can trust that He has authority over each of these things and can forgive your sins.
Nature: The wind obeys him – He curses a fig tree – and it dies
Disease – He heals EVERY KIND of disease in Mark.
Religion – the Pharisees, the religious laws – He proves He has authority over that. And the words Mark uses – Mark probably got a lot of his information from Peter while he was waiting to be executed. There is the thought that he is writing to the Roman world.
The GOSPEL – was not originally a Christian world – but it was a Greco-Roman world. “The gospel of Augustus Caesar – son of god” – but Mark is telling the audience – there is a new gospel and a new son of God – and it is not Caesar.
And today, the gospels tell us there is a new way to live – it is not money, entertainment, pleasure, sex – you can go right on down the line – Jesus eliminates all the others and calls for complete loyalty. Think of these folks – it may cost their lives to devote fully to Jesus and no longer to Caesar.
Authority over sin
Mark 2:1 And when He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 And being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying. 5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven." 6 But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8 And immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, "Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? 9 "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Arise, and take up your pallet and walk'? 10 "But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-- He said to the paralytic-- 11 "I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." 12 And he rose and immediately took up the pallet and went out in the sight of all; so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
This is a healing story – to prove Jesus is who He said – but it shows authority over disease – and authority over sin.
Do you see what He is doing? This is something that no one had ever seen.
But what Jesus does – this healing – that was the EASY part – if I can do what you think has never been done – I can do the hard part too.
Then they ask – Who is this? We have never seen anything like this.
In order to live like Jesus lived, we must first be confident that He is who He said He is. Jesus is the Messiah King – who brings His Kingdom. We need to have confidence that He is all of that, and everything else is below Him. If He has authority over a paralytic and can make him walk, He has authority over every aspect of our lives. He has authority over the economic condition of our nation –and of your checkbook. If we are to be like Jesus, we need to believe He is who He is. Sometimes we lower His power and authority – His place – when we think of a personal level of how He relates to us. He wants us to see Him in all His glory.
Second, we need to believe that He has forgiven us of our sins. If you are to follow Him – you follow Him because your sins are forgiven completely. Why would you say to a guy who can’t walk – Your sins are forgiven? – They would have thought – He is in this condition because of his sin. Over and over, healing and forgiveness are linked. Forgiveness begins the process of transformation and discipleship.

When Jesus called Peter on the boat, he says, I am a sinner – depart from me! Jesus says, Get up – from now on, you will fish for men.
When Andrew was called – “That is the one who takes away the sins of the world – they left their father.
IF we want to live like Jesus, we need to have an understanding that ALL of our sins are forgiven who have put their trust in Christ – we are forgiven, blameless in God’s eyes.
Mark 8 is a dividing point – Mark 1-8 – proves Who He is.
Mark 9-16 – the Suffering servant –
Mark 8: 29 And He continued by questioning them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, "Thou art the Christ." 30 And He warned them to tell no one about Him. 31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's.
You have 8 chapters of Jesus the Son of God healing people and calming the seas, and now he must turn to be the suffering servant.
34 And He summoned the multitude with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's shall save it
It is not enough to just recognize it – but if you want to live like Jesus – here is what you need to do – take up your cross and follow.
Mark 10: 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall 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 a ransom for many."
Jesus calls us to a selfless, sacrificial life of service for the benefit of others. We cannot be like Jesus was without the cross in our own lives – without dying to ourselves – having our selfishness crucified.
To be like Jesus is not just to be nice – it is so much deeper than that – it is taking up your cross and following Him.
Now in closing – one last thing on Mark – and to me, it is the best part.
The disciples – except when Jesus calls them to follow – every time they are mentioned – they FAILED! They fail in their faith – on the water: We’re gonna die! They fail in their understanding – May it never be! They fail in their character: I never knew Him!
And that tells us – where we are – these failures – gave their lives for Christ. Failure after failure – and they followed. For us – right now – however your life has gone to this point – you can follow and live like Jesus.
Lord, I ask You to help us – within our own failure – to follow You fully and completely. Thank You that You are worth following – help us to learn to live like Jesus because of what He has done for us.