The Essential Jesus Challenge

Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." (Luke 9:18-19 NIV)

One hundred passages of Scripture later, the question remains the same: Who is Jesus...to you?  Jesus begins this discussion by asking his disciples about others' opinions.  Then Jesus asks them the most important question...

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "God's Messiah." Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." (Luke 9:20-22 NIV)

This moment is a turning point in Peter's life.  It's also a turning point in Jesus' ministry.  His disciples understand that Jesus is the Messiah.  Now they need to learn what prophecies about the Messiah will be fulfilled in this life and which ones will need to wait until his return.  He begins by telling them about this life, that the Messiah must suffer, die, and be raised to life.  Then he begins to tell them about their part of God's plan.

Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 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? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:23-26 NIV)

Jesus begins telling them about God's two-stage plan.  He also tells them that they have a part to play in this plan.  They will not only be his disciples (followers) but also his apostles (sent ones) and ambassadors (representatives).  They will have work to do after he dies, rises, and ascends into heaven.  Jesus starts discussing their upcoming ministry.  Belief in Jesus results in following Jesus.  Following Jesus fundamentally changes your life.

"Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:27 NIV)

Judas would not see the kingdom of God.  He would take his own life before he saw the Scriptures and Jesus' words fulfilled.  The others, though, would see Jesus alive after he died.  They would watch as he ascended and was hidden by the clouds.  They would see the tongues of fire resting on the others in the room and would begin boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God in every language needed on the day of Pentecost.  They would believe in and follow Jesus and it would change the entire course of their lives.

How about you?  Who is Jesus...to you?

Angry Young Man

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. (Acts 9:1-2 NIV)

Saul was definitely raised in the church.  He knew his Scriptures and had worked hard to memorize them and interpret them properly.  He wasn't a sell-out like those Sadducces and he wasn't running away like the Essenes.  No, Saul was proudly a Pharisee who had studied under the best of the teachers of the law: Gamaliel.  There was only one problem: Saul was wrong.

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." (Acts 9:3-6 NIV)

Saul was so wrong that he needed to be knocked off his high horse.  God intervened in Saul's plans to stop these people who believed that Jesus was the Messiah.  The followers of this "Way" needed to be stopped before things got out of hand.  Saul, however, was the one who was stopped...by God.

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. (Acts 9:7-9 NIV)

It's difficult when you are so sure of yourself only to find out you are wrong.  Saul spent three days fasting after his God-encounter.  He had a lot to rethink.  He would need a lot of humility as well.

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." (Acts 9:10-16 NIV)

Ananias was going to need a lot of humility, too.  He would also need to have a lot of trust.  Ananias was a part of the "Way."  He did believe that Jesus was the Messiah.  He was living out that truth and sharing it with others.  He was also afraid of Saul because Saul's reputation had preceded him.  Ananias needed to humble himself, trust God, and adjust his plans to match God's.  Ananias' adjustment wasn't as dramatic as Saul's, but he had to adjust to match God as well.

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. (Acts 9:17-20 NIV)

The result?  Saul becomes Paul, arguably the greatest evangelist ever.  He transformed from an angry young man, fighting for what he believed to be the truth, into an ambassador for Christ, setting people free.

How about you?  Does your theological upbringing get in the way of your following Jesus?  Does Jesus need to knock you off your high horse, or can he approach you in a still small voice to get your attention?  Do you have the humility to adjust to Jesus' plan?  Who is Jesus to you?

No More Shame

Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John-- although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. (John 4:1-6 NIV)

Jesus' next encounter is not going to be with someone who was raised in the church like the rich young ruler.  He is not going to encounter a teacher of the law who knew the Scriptures well.  His encounter today is going to be with someone who isn't really interested in walking together with God.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?" Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." (John 4:7-15 NIV)

Samaritans were people of religiously mixed marriages.  They lived in the northern kingdom of Israel and had settled in with the people who lived in that land before.  As a result, they knew about the Jewish God as well as the other gods of the land.  Rather than rejecting foreign gods in their lives, they had incorporated them - breaking the very first of the ten commandments.  This is why Jews didn't normally associate with Samaritans.  Samaritans were rejecting God right out of the gate.

He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back." "I have no husband," she replied. Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true." (John 4:16-18 NIV)

The woman speaking with Jesus wasn't very concerned with following God either.  God clearly taught the Israelites that sexual immorality was wrong and that divorce was not allowed.  This woman had gone through five marriages and was now living with a man who was not her husband.  Jesus knew it and still had this conversation with her.

"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." "Woman," Jesus replied, "believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." (John 4:19-24 NIV)

She pulls from her mixed theological background, recognizes Jesus as a prophet, then asks a good question that would have been a part of her reality: where is it ok to worship God?  Samaritans would worship in their territory up on the mountain, while the Jews worshiped at the temple in Jerusalem.  Jesus calls her out, though, on her sin.  He points out that true worship has nothing to do with the place.  It has to do with walking by the Spirit and living God's truth.  In other words, for her, as for all of us, worship will mean aligning her life with God.

The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I, the one speaking to you--I am he." (John 4:25-26 NIV)

This religiously mixed woman living a lifestyle of sin is important to Jesus.  He takes the time to listen to her, answer her questions, and point her straight to the Messiah.  He wants her to be reconciled with God.

Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?" Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?" They came out of the town and made their way toward him. Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something." But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about." Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?" "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don't you have a saying, 'It's still four months until harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." (John 4:27-38 NIV)

When his disciples returned, Jesus picked up his conversation with them and continued teaching them more about God's kingdom, the Messiah, and God's plan to reconcile us all.  Jesus was at accepting people where they were and then empowering them to grow.

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." After the two days he left for Galilee. (John 4:39-43 NIV)

Jesus' quick stop for a drink in the middle of the day turned into a two-day ministry.  It began with a woman who was far away from God, but willing to engage in conversation about God.  It continued when she was convinced that Jesus was at least a prophet and possibly even the Messiah.  It included training his disciples more while ministering to this woman and her neighbors.  Finally, it became a ministry that brought many Samaritans to the understanding that Jesus is the Messiah.

How about you?  Where are you in your path with Jesus?  Who is Jesus to you?

The Bottom Line

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him." Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." (John 3:1-3 NIV)

I hope that by now you don't read the word "Pharisee" and think "bad guy."  This misconception often gets in our way of understanding the stories of Scripture.  Pharisees were the group who had NOT given in to the political Roman occupation and become friends with the Romans like the Sadducces did.  Pharisees also had NOT run away to become monks, hiding from the problems created by the Roman occupation.  Those were the Essenes.

Pharisees were reading Scripture and trying to figure out how to best walk together with God in their current Roman occupation situation.  They were trying to call people to repentance of their sins and point them to a holy lifestyle.  They believed that God would only bless the nation of Israel again when they returned to God in this way.  They were right.

All Pharisees and teachers of the law, though, didn't agree with one another.  They learned from one another and let "iron sharpen iron" through their discussions and (often spirited) debates.  They would ask questions of one another to learn another teacher's perspective and to give themselves a chance to share their own perspective.  Nicodemus and Jesus begin a dialogue that would have been very common for Jewish teachers of their day.

"How can someone be born when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (John 3:4-8 NIV)

Nicodemus must have liked what Jesus said, because he didn't engage Jesus in debate over the topic of being "born again."  Instead, he simply asks questions that allow Jesus to continue teaching this concept.  Nicodemus almost becomes like a "plant" in the audience serving up the right questions so Jesus can knock them out of the park.

"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?  Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (John 3:9-21 NIV)

Nicodemus had studied the Scriptures, had learned about God, was anticipating the Messiah.  Because of the miraculous signs, Nicodemus recognized that Jesus was from God and, now, had the humility to ask questions and listen.  How about you?  Do you recognize?  Do you listen? Who is Jesus to you?

The Rich Do-Gooder

Who is Jesus to you?  We've been reading about Jesus through passages of Scripture for nineteen weeks now.  They've helped you see previews, psalms, and prophecies about a Savior/Messiah which were all fulfilled in Jesus.  We've traced his birth, ministry, sermons, parables, miracles, prayers, hard sayings, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus.  We've even looked at the early church and his second coming.  Each segment has helped us build a picture of Jesus, but the question still remains: who is Jesus to you?

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments." "Which ones?" he inquired. Jesus replied, "'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'" "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" (Matthew 19:16-20 NIV)

The United States has less than 5% of the world's population.  We have more than 25% of the world's wealth.  No matter how you look at the numbers, we are rich.  Perhaps you are lie this young man.  You grew up going to church.  You've learned your Bible and even your theology.  You even work to put it into practice.  You go to church services, participate in small groups, tithe (give 10% of your income) to your local church, and even support that missionary in Uganda.  You're living out what you've been asked to do.  Is there anything else?

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. (Matthew 19:21-22 NIV)

How would you react to this Jesus?  Would you walk away, too?  I know you are waiting for me to say, "Well, that was for that rich young man but Jesus doesn't expect the same from you."  Rather than say that, though, let's look at what Jesus actually said.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:23-26 NIV)

Wealth can easily get in our way of following Jesus.  When we read passages like this, we say, "See, I told you.  All churches want is my money."  Before you stop reading now, I'd like to encourage you with a couple things in this passage.

First of all, Jesus didn't ask for the young man's money.  He told the young man to sell his possessions and give them to the poor, then come follow him.  Jesus wasn't going to receive the money from the young man, just his full time and attention.  The money wasn't for Jesus, it was working against the young man.

Secondly, Jesus did say God can do the "impossible" job of bringing a rich person into the kingdom of God.  We simply need to understand how.

Money is not the root of all evil.  It is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10), but that just makes it more difficult (and dangerous) to manage.  It must be managed well.  We will talk about this more in a later series, but for now I will simply say this.  Stop saying "my money."  It's not your money.  It's God's.

The earth is the Lord's and everything in it (Psalm 24:1).  You had nothing when you came into this world and you can't take anything with you (1 Timothy 6:7).  When Jesus returns, it will all be kindling anyway (2 Peter 3:7 and others).  Anything we have has been entrusted into our care for the period of our lifetime to be used for God's purposes.  The real question we should be asking, then, is "How does God want us to use God's money?"

Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?" Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:27-29 NIV)

It's the difference between holding onto wealth with a tight fist and opening up your hand in front of God.  You don't need to worry when opening your hand before God.  God is the giver of all good gifts.  God already allowed you to have the wealth that you have.  God works all things together for the good of those who love God and are called according to God's purposes.  Opening your hands before God simply let's God know you are open to God's purposes.

But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matthew 19:30 NIV)

How about you?  How do you see Jesus...and money?