Walking like Jesus walked

[stovebolts]

Great post ezrider all good stuff.
Would you consider participating in our current focus? Its based on the model of Jesus wth an emphasis on the passages provided. I eould enjoy reading your thoughts on them.

Thanks"

 

[reba]

A - H
He is the Manna the Bread of life the Living water.... While we are in this dessert He will sustain us. As we need wheat bread and h2o water we need Him even more...All these passages bring this site to mind and the internet in general... We have been sent to spread the Gospel to share the Good News. A kids Sunday School song from the 50s.....

Good news good news, Christ died for me ... Good news good news, if i believe... Good news good news, i'll live eternally ... Thats wonderful extra good News.
We dont put on our sandals and walk to the next village...We can sit at a computer and see the Gospel go literally around the world ! How blessed we are.
He tell us to love John 13:34 to share this Manna and we use this wonderful to to glorify our selfs to make OUR point to let the world know I AM RIGHT. We are to love. To wash the others guys feet ... Washing feet back then was getting the daily grime of camel ,horse etc. droppings off their feet a nasty job not like getting a pedicure. We have daily grime of a different manure .... O to be at a time /place were only serving Him via His own matters...

My prayer to be His servant to care for His sheep to be counted as a good and faithful servant. I pray another is praying the same for me, i need care as much as the next guy...

 

[ezrider]

Great post ezrider all good stuff.
Would you consider participating in our current focus? Its based on the model of Jesus wth an emphasis on the passages provided. I eould enjoy reading your thoughts on them.

Thanks"

Thank you for your kind words. I do wish to participate in this discussion, but I must apologize if it does not stay focused on a specific model in reference to the given scriptures. I am following along and reading the passages in context, but I can not do so with presupposition. The very question begs for an answer, but I have found more often than not, that when I seek my own answers to these questions, I fail to listen to what the spirit would teach me. That is not to say the questions are wrong or irrelevant, but I can not answer them in such fashion.

To me there are a few things that are evident in the passages that were given. The first are the examples of a being a servant, not just in the washing of the feat. Jesus walked in all humility to the service of man, in healing the sick, making the blind to see, and he made himself subject to rulers and authorities, even to his death. The second thing that stands evident is his commandment to love one another, and that love is made evident through the image of the servant. Many Christians have this image of one day sitting before the throne of God in Heaven where they will serve and worship the Lord, but this is not the example Jesus gave us. Jesus said as you have done unto the least of these, so have you done unto me; for he has declared that he has made his abode in the hearts of men. To serve your fellow man is to serve Christ. But Jesus gave warning that because of iniquity, the love of many shall wax cold; Under the authority and ordinances of man, if the legality of, or the act of abortion causes you to despise certain of mankind, can you say the love of Christ is in you? I often wonder how some would respond when asked a probing question, that being: If Jesus were to appear unto you as a gay man, would you receive him, or cast him forth?

I fear I may be rambling a bit, but if there was one thing about Jesus in these passages that stands out far and above anything else, that would be the example he sets in his relationship to the Father: for I and the Father are one.

 

[Danus]

Excellent replies and posts from everyone! Thanks for all the great replies!
I'm on vacation for the next few weeks and our internet is intermediate from home due to the storm that rocked through here last week. All the towers are out of alignment and the owner of the internet company has parts on order... I took me about 5 minutes just to get to this page..

So here it goes! We are going to focus on the Methods of Jesus now! Previously we looked at the message of Jesus, now we are going to look at his methods, so when you read the passages I put up, try to look at the Method's Jesus used.

1. John 1:14 (hint: What was Jesus' method of choosing to interact with us?)
2. John 1:37-39 (hint: How did Jesus relate to his first followers?)
3. John 2:1-3 (hint: Where did Jesus choose to do hsi first Miracle? Why do you think He made this choice?)
4. John 2:13-19 (hint: What was Jesus act during His first public Passover?)
5. John 3:22 (hint: What was Jesus' main priority?)
6. John 4:1-4 (hint: What did Jesus avoid? What didn't He avoid?)
7. John 7:1 (hint: What was Jesus intentional about at this stage of His ministry?)
8. John 8:49-59 (hint: How subtle was Jesus in His dealings with Jewish leaders?)
9. John 13:4-5 (hint: How did Jesus deal with His disciples?)
10. Matthew 11:29-30 verses / contrasted with Matthew 23:13-17 (hint: How does Jesus' tone differ between needy sinners and arrogant Pharisees?)

For deeper reflection:
1. What method(s) of Jesus do you feel were the most radical?
2. Which method(s) do you feel are missing in some ministries today?
3. Which method(s) of Jesus do you need ot develop in your own life? Why?

A. John 6:57 - 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.

B. John 13:15 - 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. (Serve others)

C. John 13:34 - 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

D. John 14:12 - 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

E. John 15:10 - 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

F. John 17:18 - 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. and 20:21 - 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

G. 1 Peter 2:21 - 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

H. 1 John 2:6 - 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

How do these verse challenge us to imitate Christ beyond the message and methods of Christ? I don't see that they can, or do, beyond the message of Christ, but I think that depends on who the "US" is, and how we see the message of Christ. So for me to answer the question, I have to rely on who Christ is to me, and what His message and method is to me, as the gospel is revealed to me.

For the sake of argument, in the final analysis, the ultimate "method" of Christ was shown on the cross. The atoning work for our sins and salvation culminates there at the cross, and for me our relationship starts there.

There are two people; those in Christ and those not in Christ. If we are speaking of those in Christ, then the verse presented are not really a challenge at all, but rather the very new nature of anyone in Christ. Anyone in Christ will love others, will serve others, will live a life in Christ, for Christ, by Christ and so on.

For those not in Christ, these verses are a challenge, and the challenge is not just to be like Christ in their own effort to be Christ like, but to be in Christ. When we are in Christ Jesus we are like Christ, which is part of the message of Christ.

Are we to say that this means those looking to imitate Christ are not in Christ? Absolutely not, but in the attempt to imitate Christ we are faced with having to be in Christ to do so. It's the only way. So, a better question might be; How are we in Christ?

For me the answer is this, know we are not Christ. Christ is Christ. The method of Christ was ultimately the cross, and nothing we can do, even trying to be more Christ like, adds anything to what Christ has already done. It's not just about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and so forth. Those are great things and very Christ like in action, However those are not things we do out of obligation as much as privilege, and doping those things does not add to anything Christ has already done. Those in Christ see imitating Christ as a great privilege to do so, and they do it because they are in Christ. It's what they do, in fact it's all they can do.

Jesus makes it clear that if we are in Him, we are like Him. The burden of our sin is not lifted by anything we do but by what Christ has already done. When we are lifted of our burden of sin, we are free to be like Christ, otherwise we are just going through the motions.


For deeper reflection:
1. Which of the above statments do you find the most challenging? Why?
None. I would say because of Christ.

2. Do you find it hard to believe that you could think and act like Jesus? Explain your answer. Not any more. Not since understanding that the burden of my sin has been lifted by the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and that I have been bought and paid for by Jesus, long before I was ever aware of it.

3. If you study only the message of Jesus, is it possible to miss the true meaning of his life? How?
Yes, but I think it depends on what message we are talking about. If you only study how Christ lived, then Yes. You can miss the meaning of Jesus Life. Jesus lived a righteous life, no doubt, but the meaning of Jesus life was not so much in how He lived, as much as it is how and why He died. He died for the sins of mankind. We can not accept it, or add to it. All we can really do is reject it.

The message of Christ is that all of mankind are sinners and that the atonement for mans sinfulness is archived by Christ onto man through the cross.

This is offensive to man. We either reject it by believing we can atone for our own sins ourselves in how we live, or we can reject it by simply walking away from it, but anyone drawn to Christ is drawn by God alone. Drawn is an interesting word. It could mean encouraged, or called, or it could mean fetched, grabbed, snatched up, like water "drawn" from a well. John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.

Walking like Jesus walked is not a challenge God gives us at all. We are more challenged when we walk in our own way. Who lived a good life? Jesus. Who feeds the hungry, clothes the poor, comforts the lonely, heals the sick, and loves others? JESUS. and when we do any of these things, it is not us doing them, but Christ. Do we gain points with God in doing any of these things? Are we any less sinful doing these things? No. The Pharisees did these things. Non believers do these things also. But when we do these things in Jesus name, for his cause we are letting Jesus do what Jesus does, and He lives through us because we simply don't reject Him. That is not a challenge. It is a great privilege.

I don't want to walk like Jesus walked as a challenge from God for me to do so, because I can't do that. But, I do want Jesus to walk like Jesus walks, through me. That I can do. I can give up myself and let Jesus take over. That I can do.

 

[Deborah13]

The model of Jesus:

1. As was noted before, Philippians 2:5 (NCV) says that we are to "think and act like Jesus." How does this verse challenge us to look beyond the message and method of Jesus?
I can't seem to see how to separate Jesus' walk from His message. To me He lived what He taught. He said we are His friends. He laid down His life so that we could have life with Him, right now and eternally.

2. Read the following passages. How do they challenge us to look beyond Jesus' message and method, and call us to imitate the very example of His life?
He asks us to do for others what He did for us and that is everything. Nope, I give up, I cannot do what He did but maybe He will use me to do things for others that He wants done.
Mostly, loving others not just in words but in actions.

For deeper reflection:
1. Which of the above statements do you find the most challenging? Why?
When I think about this, that by the way we treat each other as brothers/sisters in Christ, is how others will know we are followers of Christ, it's pretty overwhelming. It is a witness to all men, that can be good or bad.
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
2. Do you find it hard to believe that you could think and act like Jesus? Explain your answer.

3. If you study only the message of Jesus, is it possible to miss the true meaning of his life? How?[/quote]
Tomorrow

 

[Eugene]

The model of Jesus: Nope, I give up, I cannot do what He did but maybe He will use me to do things for others that He wants done.
Mostly, loving others not just in words but in actions.

Dear Sister Deborah. Regardless of our walk with Jesus as the model we cannot become the sacrifice for all mankind He did, but we can follow Him in the manner He put before us as an example.

Our goal.
1 Corinthians 11:1 "Be ye followers of me (Paul), even as I also am of Christ."
Our reward.
2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

 

[Deborah13]

Dear Sister Deborah. Regardless of our walk with Jesus as the model we cannot become the sacrifice for all mankind He did, but we can follow Him in the manner He put before us as an example.

Our goal.
1 Corinthians 11:1 "Be ye followers of me (Paul), even as I also am of Christ."
Our reward.
2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Thank you Eugene, for your uplifting post. Blessings to you.

 

[Vaccine]

We can not accept it, or add to it. All we can really do is reject it.

Danus I didn't want to quote the entire thing but that part just stood out to me. I thought your entire post was great and very encouraging. I needed that, thanks.

 

[Deborah13]

The model of Jesus:

1. As was noted before, Philippians 2:5 (NCV) says that we are to "think and act like Jesus." How does this verse challenge us to look beyond the message and method of Jesus?
I can't seem to see how to separate Jesus' walk from His message. To me He lived what He taught. He said we are His friends. He laid down His life so that we could have life with Him, right now and eternally.

2. Read the following passages. How do they challenge us to look beyond Jesus' message and method, and call us to imitate the very example of His life?
He asks us to do for others what He did for us and that is everything. Nope, I give up, I cannot do what He did but maybe He will use me to do things for others that He wants done.
Mostly, loving others not just in words but in actions.

For deeper reflection:
1. Which of the above statements do you find the most challenging? Why?
When I think about this, that by the way we treat each other as brothers/sisters in Christ, is how others will know we are followers of Christ, it's pretty overwhelming. It is a witness to all men, that can be good or bad.
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
2. Do you find it hard to believe that you could think and act like Jesus? Explain your answer.

3. If you study only the message of Jesus, is it possible to miss the true meaning of his life? How?

Tomorrow[/quote]

2. Do you find it hard to believe that you could think and act like Jesus? Explain your answer.
No, if I always keep my eyes and ears on Him.
Yes, because I know I don't.

3. I don't think so. Jesus said that if we saw Him, then we've seen the Father. Everything that He did as a man glorified God.
He said He was one with the Father and that we were one with Him and each other. He testifies of the Father, we are to testify of Him, thereby also glorifying the Father.
So as disciples we are to do what Reba said in her post.

 

[reba]

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