Like Jesus 1 (In the Temple)

Introduction

So, this summer as zoomed by! Then again it always does. Anyone do anything amazing this summer?

Im gonna let you in on a little secret. It pays to have the same name as your dad? Stories like that.

It's not an urban myth. It's a fact. People look like their dogs. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego explored this question and confirmed it. Scientists had a panel of students attempt to match the pictures of twenty-five purebred dogs with pictures of their owners. They did it two out of three times. If you need any more proof, look at these pictures. Some are cute. Some are down right strange! The scientists don't have a clear explanation. They suspect that owners tend to choose a pet bearing their resemblance in some way. (Psychological Science, May 2004)

Look at these pictures

Now for the scary news. Research also indicates that husbands and wives tend to look more and more like one another over time. Parents and children we can understand, but spouses? The Center for Group Dynamics at the University of Michigan studied this phenomenon they compared photographs of couples when first married with pictures twenty-five years later. The results showed an increase in apparent similarity of facial features. The good news: the increase in resemblance was also associated with greater reported marital happiness.

Now for the scary news. Research also indicates that husbands and wives tend to look more and more like one another over time. Parents and children we can understand, but spouses? The Center for Group Dynamics at the University of Michigan studied this phenomenon they compared photographs of couples when first married with pictures twenty-five years later. The results showed an increase in apparent similarity of facial features. The good news: the increase in resemblance was also associated with greater reported marital happiness.

I think you can see where I am going with this.

The amount you look like Jesus is directly related to the amount of time you spend with Jesus.

So many of us have the great desire to look like Jesus and it is a God given desire. But when we honestly think about it do we really want to look like him? If we want to look like Him that means we have to act like him and to do what he has asked us to do. This is all of a sudden getting very difficult. It would be unfair of me to start this series off without giving a great warning.

If you want to look like Jesus, it will cost you your life.

Jesus wasnt the greatest car salesman preacher. He often said difficult things and things that didnt always make the most sense. One of the hardest things he ever said was this though.

(NIV)

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

This was a hard thing to say. The implication of the cross was harsh.

They would have understood how hard that was.

Your saying “Im not literally getting crucified.” Your probably right. but just because you are blessed with living in america doesnt mean this doesnt still happen or that you might not be called to it. Around 215 million Christians face significant levels of persecution in the world today, according to the latest World Watch List from Open Doors.

Researchers for the organization estimate 1 in 12 Christians live where their faith is “illegal, forbidden, or punished.”

During reporting for the 2018 World Watch List, 3,066 Christians were killed, 1,252 were abducted, 1,020 were raped or sexually harassed, and 793 churches were attacked.

But what about you? How do you pick up your cross? Your cross is holiness. Doing whats right. Choosing Jesus over sin even in the face of desire ridicule. Getting over self.

But there is also good news. Jesus did not die on that cross and stay dead and neither will you!

If you look like Jesus you will gain life.

Luke 9:24–25 NIV

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

Now that I have harped on the bad, looking like Jesus is worth it. As a matter of fact Jesus says it as if it shouldnt even be a competition.

The last thing I want to discuss is the goal. Why do we want to look like Jesus whats the point of being more like Him?

We should look like Jesus so that others see Him rather than ourselves.

Galatians 2:19–20 NIV

“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

This is not a part way thing. This has to be all or nothing.

The goal is that others see Jesus, not that others see you being like Jesus. He is all encumpassing and He alone can save.

He will act for you when you cant act

He will speak for you when you cant speak.

He will fight for you when you cant fight.

Looking like him is a partnership and one that will push to an eternal life with him.

Story of a war vet death

Will people say that about us?