Jesus, Our Chief Example
As we talk about what it means to
be a true disciple, we can look at the life our precious Savior as our Chief
Example.
1. Jesus Our Example, He left us a pattern to be followed.
1. Jesus Our Example, He left us a pattern to be followed.
1Pe 2:21 For
even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us
an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in
his mouth .Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he
threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own
body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:
by whose stripes ye were healed.
·
An
example (ὑπογραμμὸν) Only here in the New Testament. A graphic word,
meaning a copy set by writing-masters for their pupils. Some explain it as a
copy of characters over which the student is to trace the lines. here only in
N.T. Clement of Alex. (Strom. V. 8. 49) uses it of the copy-head at the top of
a child’s exercise book for the child to imitate, including all the letters of
the alphabet. The papyri give many examples of hupographē and
hupographō in the sense of copying a letter.
·
Follow
(ἐπακολουθήσητε )Lit., follow upon. The compound verb implies close
following. From writers and painters, the metaphor changes now to a guide. In
His footsteps!
o
Joh_12:26
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also
my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
2. Jesus is our example of perfection
1Pe 2:21 For even
hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that ye should follow his steps:
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth
.Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened
not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own
body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:
by whose stripes ye were healed.
o
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for
us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
o
Mat_5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect.
o
Mat_19:21
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou
hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come
and follow me.
o
Luk_6:40
The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect
shall be as his master.
o
Joh_17:23
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and
that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou
hast loved me.
3. Jesus is our
example of Humility
1Pe 2:21 For even
hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that ye should follow his steps:
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth .Who,
when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not;
but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own
body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:
by whose stripes ye were healed.
·
Mat 11:29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in
heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
·
Isa 53:7
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he
is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is
dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Jesus shows us the way and left us a pattern through His
selfless passion for humanity. Love poured out. What a selfless Savior.
o
Heb 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a
little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory
and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things,
and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the
captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
o
Php 2:5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not
robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men: And
being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,
and given him a name which is above every name:
o
Joh 13:11
For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all
clean.
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was
set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well;
for so I am. If I then, your Lord and
Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye
should do as I have done to you. Verily,
verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he
that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are
ye if ye do them.
I
speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen:
4. Jesus our example
of the Father’s Son
1Pe 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his
steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile
found in his mouth .Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he
suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth
righteously: Who his own self
bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should
live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
·
Luk 23:46
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy
hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Jesus’ relationship with His
Father is by far one my favorite aspects of the example Jesus left for us. I
find it very interesting that we find insight into the relationship between
Jesus and His Father in the book of John.
John always seemed to have insight into the revelation of Jesus.
Intimacy brings revelation!
o
Jesus
showed us His relationship of intimacy with the Father
Luk_11:2 And he said unto them,
When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy
kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Joh_5:19 Then answered Jesus and
said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of
himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth,
these also doeth the Son likewise.
Joh_12:49 For I have not spoken
of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I
should say, and what I should speak.
Joh_16:32 Behold, the hour
cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and
shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
Joh_17:11 And now I am no more
in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep
through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as
we are.
Joh_8:29 And he that sent me is
with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that
please him.
Joh_8:38 I speak that which I
have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
Joh_5:20 For the Father loveth
the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him
greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
Being a Christian is not just wearing a cross or attending a church service. If we truly are little Christs we are follow in His footsteps or in the pattern of our Master. A life of sacrifice and selflessness and humility, He loved first. Have a I really left all to follow Him or am I still holding on to my Plan B, my nets, my possessions, are there areas of my life that I hold on to. Am I selfless? Am I humble? This makes me hungry to change, hungry to become more like that Master.
There is so much to be said about Jesus as the pattern son
o
Rom 8:29: For whom he did foreknow, he also
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might
be the firstborn among many brethren.
Jesus is the firstborn among many! It is my heart’s desire
to be just like Him. I desire to be a son of God, this is a genderless pursuit
just as we say that the Bride is not just a female identity, this is a
spiritual truth.
Joh_15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear
much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
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