Representing Christ
Notes
Transcript
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
As we notice this morning, Jesus switches the focus of the relationship from between the disciples and Himself to the the disciples and the world.
And this is the type of comforting verse that we all love and want to print on t-shirts…
If the world hated Jesus, it will hate us…
And, the reason that the disciples, and I could say us, would be hated by the world is not just because of some arbitrary reason..
It is not simply because we are just different than the rest of the world…that should be true, and we will talk about that…
But that’s not the reason that the world will hate us…
Not to just too far ahead, but Jesus tells us specifically why the would will hate us
21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.
So, it’s not simply because christians are weird, which is true…I happen to know a few….stares intently…
It is because of who Christ is…
It is because of the person that we represent…
It isn’t even some of the messages that Jesus taught…
*side tangent here* I don’t want to get too far out of the context in which Jesus is speaking here…
Because, He is speaking specifically to His disciples that would boldly go and proclaim His message in a very hostile world..
We think persecution is losing friends, or possibly our job, or possibly even being sued for standing up for Jesus…
But the context of who Jesus is talking to is people who would lose their careers, homes, families, be beaten, arrested and killed in horrific ways for Christ..
That is the context of persecution in which Jesus is speaking…
I don’t want to derail too far from that context this morning…
But, in some way we need to apply the principles that Jesus is teaching…
So, keep that context in mind…
Back on track now…it’s not even some of the things that Jesus taught that the world would hate…
No one is against the sick being healed…
I promise the centurion, who’s servant was healed by Jesus, was thankful…no one is against that…
They weren’t against the message of righteousness…they just didn’t understand it…
No one is against loving others….
Everyone thinks that is a good principle..
Everyone likes Jesus command that we talked about a few weeks ago, one verse prior
17 This is my command: Love each other.
What happens though, is they take this particular teaching and remove it from a whole context…
We skip things like:
19 We love because he first loved us.
and
15 “If you love me, keep my commands.
So, yeah, love others! We will preach that, but we will preach to truly love others, it’s because of the love that He has shown us…and to love Him, we obey Him…
Which is where the issue comes in…
Obeying Jesus as Lord is where the problems start…
Because Jesus came and preached a message of turning from ourselves to Him!
And, the world thinks that is a terrible message…
But, it’s the opposite…it truly is the good news!
Jesus continues…
19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
He is telling His disciples, and us, that we no longer belong to the world…we should be different…
There should be something different that distinguishes us from the world..
20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.
So, Christ was persecuted…and the disciples experienced that as well…likewise, we may face persecution as well…
But you notice, the reason that you face persecution is because you are different than the world..
If you act like the world, there is no reason for persecution…
But if you act differently…people may not like that…
And, as I said before, it is not just any kind of different…it is specifically because of Jesus!
When we stand for the truth…some people don’t like it…
The religious leaders didn’t like it…Because Jesus didn’t fit their idea of the messiah..
He wasn’t a strong military leader that would overthrow the Roman government…He was quite the opposite…
You see, sometimes, Jesus is not who we think that He is..but man, is He so much more!
He is the complete picture:
He is truth, righteousness, and judgement, but He is also love, grace, and mercy!
We are called to be representatives of Jesus…
And yeah, some won’t like it…but others will
20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
So, there is hope…that some will obey…some will turn to Christ! Some will respond to the message of hope…
And these are who we are to focus our attention…
You see, the world is a broken and hurting place
Since the time of the fall, all creation has been waiting
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
So, all of creation has been waiting, and groaning, for us, those who are in Christ to be saved, and adopted to reveal Christ to a hurting a broken world..
So, we go, and we preach Christ…
We preach righteousness and truth and justice and repentance…
And we preach love and grace and mercy!
And we live in a way that the world doesn’t like, but in a way that they need!
Peter also talks about suffering for Christ…
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
So, are we living in a way that causes others to ask about the hope that we have?
If not, maybe we need to revere Christ as Lord! Put Him back in the center of our lives!
As we live, we live for Christ! And some won’t like it, but others will respond…
13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Inside of you, you have the message that will change someone’s life!
Inside of you, you have the message that will bring people out of addiction!
Inside of you, you have the message that will heal the brokenhearted!
Inside of you, you have the message that will change a job, or even a community!
Let’s be representatives of Christ!
And how beautiful will your feet be!