Jesus- Who He Is

Following Jesus' Example- John chapter 14.

How do we follow Jesus' example? We certainly can't do what he did! We can't stretch out our arms and die for those we love (well, we could in some situations, I suppose). Today I want to briefly touch on a couple of examples that Jesus gave us on how to be more like him.

First of all, Jesus was a wonderful teacher. He followed his own teachings, and to be more like him, we need to obey his teachings. Fortunately, he can help by giving us the power to follow his teachings. We cannot simply live the Christian life, we need to have Christ's help to do so in the way that he wants us to. We simply cannot be neutral about Jesus. John 14:6 says "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." He also said that he and the Father were actually one. And as humans, we cannot follow his teachings without believing what he tells us in the first place. There is truth in every word he said, and we have to take that to heart and believe it is so in order to follow his teachings. Thankfully, we were sent the Holy Spirit to aid us in that belief and to help us sort fact from fiction. Tomorrow we will begin to learn about the Holy Spirit and who he is, and how he ca help us.

Secondly, Jesus live to please the Father. He didn't live for himself or even for other people. He lived specifically to please God. When people attack us, we must in turn, bless them and show them God's love. We need to always focus on our Heavenly Father. Our lives are not meant for our pleasure or for our needs. Our lives are for him! We need to seek him daily to see how he would have us use the life that he has given us. Jesus did this- even while dying on the cross- he followed the will of God right to the end of his time here on Earth.

And thirdly, Jesus depended on God. He depended on God to provide him with the power to heal and the power to mend. Jesus even depended on God to raise a man from the dead! And if God can provide that power- imagine what he can provide us, if only we ask him. John 14:12 is our key verse today. It says "Anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works." Let's think on that. If we believe in Jesus, we will believe that God is our provider for everything, and through Jesus, we will be able to do great works. Just imagine what great works are in store for us! I think that one of the problems confronting Christians today is that we don't ask. If we are facing a problem, all we need do is ask the Lord for help, and believe that he will provide the help we seek. Just as Jesus lived his life here on earth by the power of the Father, so can we.

I'll end today with John 6:57. "I live by the power of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, those who partake of me will live because of me." Can there be a better example for us to follow than that of Christ himself?