OceanSide church of Christ

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Part of the series: LIVE LIKE JESUS
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I WANT TO LIVE LIKE JESUS

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   The Scriptures exhort us to follow the example of Jesus Christ (I Pet. 2:21).

 

For even hereunto were ye called:  because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps.

 

1.     This example is perfect.

2.    Following it will never lead one into sin.

3.     Following it will never lead one into destruction.

4.    Following it will always make one well-pleasing to the heavenly Father.

 

B.   Last week, we began a series of lessons entitled:  “I Want to Live Like Jesus.”  We looked at three areas of Jesus’ life that we should mimic.

1.     We should seek to be about the Father’s business.

2.    We should desire to obey the heavenly Father in all things.

3.     We should apply the Word of God in our efforts to overcome temptations.

 

C.   Let’s look at some of the other areas of Jesus’ life that we should apply to our lives in order to make us like Him.

 

I.          JESUS WAS A TEACHER OF OTHERS

 

A.   Numerous passages reveal to us that Jesus was a teacher.

1.     Matthew 5:1-2

 

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:  and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying…

 

2.    Matthew 11:1

 

And it came to pass when Jesus made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

 

3.     Matthew 13:3

 

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying…

 

B.   If we are going to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, we are going to have to become teachers of others.

1.     The Great Commission demands that we teach others (Matt. 28:19).

 

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

 

2.    The writer of Hebrews rebuked the Jewish Christians of his day for not having become teachers (Heb. 5:12).

 

For when for the time that ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracle of God; and are become such as need of milk, and not of strong meat.

 

3.     Teaching requires only a few things:

a.    Desire

b.    Knowledge

c.    A format for teaching

d.    Humility

e.    Endurance

f.    Prayer

 

II.        JESUS HAD COMPASSION ON OTHERS

 

A.   There are several occasions in the Lord’s ministry wherein He was moved with compassion on others.

1.     The first time we read of it is in Matthew 9:36.

 

But when Jesus saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

 

2.    A man with leprosy (Mark 1:41)

 

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

 

3.     The hungry (Mark 8:2)

 

I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat.

 

4.    A mother who was grieving over the death of her son (Luke 7:12-13)

 

Now when he was come nigh to the gate of the city, behold, There was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow:  and much people of the city was with her.  And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

 

B.   Some elements associate with compassion:

1.     Someone who is afflicted

2.    The hurt of another breaks our heart.

3.     Compassion is what springs one into action on behalf of another person.

 

C.   We must become people of compassion if we are to be followers of Jesus.

1.     I Peter 3:8

 

Finally, be ye all of the same mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.

 

2.    I John 3:7

 

But whoso hath this world’s goods, and seeth his bother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

 

III.      JESUS WAS A WILLING SERVANT TO OTHERS

 

A.   The most common example of Jesus’ servanthood is found in John 13 (John 13:4-5).

 

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.  After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

 

B.   There is another example of Jesus as a servant that occupies an entire book of the Bible.  That book is the Gospel of Mark. 

1.     The action of the book is fast-paced.  The word “and” is found in many, many verses.  Jesus is constantly doing in this book

2.    The miracles of Jesus outweigh His parables.

a.    Parables – 8

b.    Miracles – 19  Miracles were used to serve others.

3.     The key verse of the book also emphasizes the ministry of the Son of God (Mark 10:45).

 

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

 

C.   There are many “ugly” aspects of servanthood.

1.     A servant prizes the interest of his master.

2.    The servant often sacrifices his own personal interests.

3.     The servant does the tasks that others will not do.  Often, these are the dirty tasks.

4.    The servant labors with no thought of thanksgiving being given to him.  He is merely doing his duty.

5.    His service is never done to bring glory to himself.

6.    Good servants continually labor.  They labored yesterday.  They labored today.  They will labor tomorrow.

 

D.   To live like Jesus we must find our place within the body of Christ to be servants.

1.     After washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus spoke these words (John 13:13-15).

 

Ye call me Master and Lord:  and ye say well; for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

2.    In the context of the key verse of Marks’ gospel, Jesus discussed servant-hood with his disciples (Mark 10:43-44).

 

But it shall not be so among you:  but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:  and whosoever of you will be chiefest, shall be servant of all.

 

3.     In the Philippians epistle, Paul exhorts us to have the mind of Christ.  Part of this development involves our being servants (Phil. 2:5-7).

 

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  but made himself of no reputation, and took upon the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man.

 

4.    NOTE:  This service does not involve service to God exclusively.  It involves a diligent service to others as well (Gal. 5:13).

 

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not your liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   To be like Jesus, you and I must relate to others in numerous ways.

1.     We must be willing to teach them the truth of God’s Word.

2.    We must develop hearts of compassion that hurt on another’s behalf.

3.     We must be willing to take upon us the form of a servant.

 

B.   Lives lived like this before others

1.     Will be seen to be different from the world.

2.    Will make a difference in the world.

3.     Will have a positive impact upon some in regard to their relationship with God (Matt. 5:16).

 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.