Ten Ways Jesus is Like a Firefighter

1. Jesus is good at Taking Orders.

For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. (John 6:38) – Read John 6:38-40

– Okay, so maybe He’s not like some firefighters!

But we do have to give/take orders
Going beyond our orders can be dangerous
Jesus only does what His Father tells Him.

2. Jesus is Ready to help when we Call.

He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” . . . Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. (Luke 18:38, 40-41) – read Luke 18:35-43

– Even when others were in the way!

Firefighters need to be ready for anything/one
Last week I slept thru a call! (Jesus doesn’t!)
Jesus is always being interrupted to help people
He never gets too tired/sleepy to respond!

3. He treats all people with Compassion.

Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32) – Read Luke 5:27-31

– Jesus never asks who deserves help, He just helps

Hurt drunk driver, or a pepper-sprayed suspect
Addicts, fools, angry, bitter, spiteful
If they caused the accident, or are a victim
Jesus helps prostitutes, collaborators, outcasts

4. He comes to Serve (not be served).

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45) – Read Mark 10:42-45

– Jesus doesn’t come to be pampered

Firefighters are only interested in helping/serving
Sometimes this gets very difficult. We get hurt.
Jesus too, helps till it hurts, and then some.

5. He enters the Scariest, most Disgusting places.

. . . a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. . . . Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. (Mark 5:2, 5) - read Mark 5:1-5; Mark 5:18-20

– Jesus befriended the ugliest, & entered their homes

I have felt like taking 2 showers after some calls!
Training & equipment make this possible.
We go because we care
Jesus still goes because He still cares.

6. He comes to Rescue the Trapped.

When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. “ . . . should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” (Luke 13:16) – read Luke 13:10-16

– Jesus frees people from sickness, handicaps, sin

We rescue people trapped in cars, houses, on sides of mountains, in collapsed trenches.
We can’t rescue some (addicts, abuse victims).
Jesus can rescue anyone!

7. He sees past the Wounds & sees the Person.

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” (Mark 1:40-41)

– Jesus sees past the leprosy to the heart

We learn to see past blood & gore, smells, even attitudes to see the hurting person.
Especially when folks are weak & hurting
Jesus sees past our wounds, attitudes & sees us.

8. He Weeps with those who Weep.

Jesus wept. (John 11:35) – read John 11:32-36

– Jesus is deeply affected by what he sees/hears

It is no mark of strength to be unaffected
There is a time to weep and a time to laugh
Sometimes we just need a shoulder to cry on
Jesus always offers a shoulder to cry on.

9. He Pats his buddies on the Back.

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”. . . At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” (Luke 10:17,21) – Luke 10:17-21

– Jesus shares His work & loves it when we succeed!

No firefighter is alone. We’re in this together.
We help each other & celebrate successes.
Jealousy has no place on an emergency scene.
Jesus still encourages/empowers us in our work!

10. He lays down his Life to save his Friends.

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) – Read John 15:12-17

– When called on to do so, He died for us.

Thankfully, I don’t know any personally who died in the line of duty.
Many did on Sept. 11, 2001 & throughout history.
Jesus looked for another way, but didn’t find one. He died for His friends, for us.
We will always honor Him for that!

– Jesus is my Chief and my Supreme Incident Commander.

More than once He has rescued me from problems of my own making, and at many other times has kept me safe.
He embodies all the values and experience required to let me trust Him completely with running the scene of my life.
I hope and pray you can see Him that way too.