The Life of Christ: Leading By Example

After many years of silence from God, John the Baptist comes as a messenger to announce the coming of the Messiah, a fulfillment of prophecy in Isaiah 40 and Malachi 3. His message was a need for repentance and forgiveness of sins, and many people came to be baptized by him. He tells the people that though he baptizes with water, the One coming after him will baptize with the Holy Spirit. While water baptism is only a symbolic cleansing done in recognition for the need for forgiveness, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of forgiveness provided by Christ's death.

After Jesus' baptism, he went into the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan for 40 days. Satan offered him food, tried to force him into testing God, and promised him all the kingdoms of the world if only Jesus would worship him. Jesus denied Satan every time, creating a model for his disciples to follow. There will always be things that tempt us away from God, and Satan makes them sound legitimate, but God's provision and timing are always best. The decision we face is whether to trust in God and follow Him or be pulled away from doing so.

Though Mark's description of Jesus calling his first four disciples is brief, a look into the gospels of Luke and John proves that each of the four men had history with Jesus. By the time Jesus called them, they had come to their own convictions about who he was and were able to make an informed decision to follow him. To this day, the focus of Jesus' call to discipleship isn't based on the adequacy of those he calls, but on Christ's adequacy. The focus is on how he is able to work in us; we need only be available. Discipleship is a purpose-driven life, and we are often called upon to give some things up for the sake of following Christ.

Throughout his ministry, Jesus makes bold claims about who he is. To back up these claims, he performs many miracles, often in the presence of hostile religious leaders or in the midst of large crowds. From these miracles, we see that Jesus has unique authority. He is able to meet not only the physical needs of people, but our deeper spiritual needs as well.

When Jesus calls Levi (a tax collector and therefore social outcast) to follow him, he demonstrates a level of true acceptance and reconciliation. The Pharisees question Jesus' association with "tax gatherers and sinners," giving way to a conversation regarding the differences between the grace of God and the legalism practiced and preached by the religious. These two ideas are incompatible, and Jesus uses parables to point out that the religious approach is displeasing to and misrepresentative of God.

Jesus frequently caused controversy over the practice of the Sabbath, and his decisions to violate its many rules demonstrated the higher purpose and principles of God's law. There are three key principles about the law that Jesus teaches: 1) the law is an expression of God's character which shapes its meaning and application; 2) God's true desire is for His people to have inner faithfulness and love rather than mechanical rule-following behavior; and 3) God's moral will is for the good of His people. When these three principles are ignored in favor of legalism, people become deceived about God's priorities, and relationships are damaged overall.

Throughout Jesus' ministry, Jesus used miracles to demonstrate his mission and authority, and he often used these signs to challenge his audience to decide who he was for themselves. The scribes believed that Jesus did his miracles by Satan's power, an argument that he subsequently dismantled through logic, and Jesus' family believed that Jesus was taking his claims too far. Jesus taught that believers should be committed to their family but that all human commitments are subordinate to God's Will, and these commitments are best practiced in the context of fellowship with other Christians.

Jesus performed miracles to verify his claims about himself and to demonstrate his teaching in action. These miracles included interactions with the supernatural, and it is clear from the Gospels that Jesus' exorcisms of demonically possessed people foretell his future victory over Satan. Furthermore, modern Christians do not live in a spiritually neutral world, and Satan is still active in modern times through waging war against Christians and promoting his system of values. Christians should seek to live in a way that is cognizant of the spiritual war around them and to follow God's eternal priorities.

The miraculous healing of Jairus' son and the unclean woman demonstrate that Jesus has the power to overcome death, and his resurrection gives purpose to our lives as Christians. Both Jairus and the woman approached Jesus from a position of weakness and trusted that he would be faithful to his promises to them, and since they acted in faith before seeing God's provision, they both grew in their trust and intimacy with Him.

When Jesus asks his disciples to feed the five thousand, he intends to teach them about God's priorities in serving. There are four lessons for Jesus' disciples in this miracle: 1) Jesus will sensitize us to others' needs as we follow him; 2) whatever we have is inadequate to meet others' needs; 3) Christ makes our meager resources adequate; and 4) serving Christ is God's way to meet our needs and effect change in our lives. A life of service is the only way to true fulfillment, purpose, and stability, and God can use people who make themselves available to Him. A video testimony from Joanne Rhodes is included.

The Pharisees question Jesus about why his followers are not following rituals as they eat. Jesus explains it is not external things that make someone impure. This comes from the inner life-the heart. Jesus exposes three problems about the Pharisees' misguided zeal: 1) hypocrites; 2) vain worship; and 3) illegitimate authority. He explains that God desires our hearts and not our external obedience. Only Jesus can fix our hearts and make us right with God. The way God's followers live impacts how others view who God is and what He wants from us.\r\n

Through Jesus' interaction with a Gentile woman from Tyre it is clear the issue with humanity is a matter of the heart. Although the woman is non-Jewish and from a nation that is hostile to Jews she approaches Jesus with humility and faith. The Pharisees and disciples respond with judgment rather than love. Having the heart of God requires having God's perspective that He sent Jesus to save all humanity and no one is better than anyone else.\r\n

Jesus asks his disciples, "Who do people say I am?" In the ensuing discussion, Jesus teaches the implications for following him and why doing so is worth it. This involves a personal choice to let him lead our lives and to go through suffering. The investment of having a relationship with God and living for Him is worthy of our soul. This is what gives us satisfaction and the abundant life.\r\n

What is the significance of the Jesus' transfiguration on the mountaintop? Peter, James, and John experienced a spiritually significant event: a meeting between Elijah, Moses, and Jesus. Jesus made clear that He was the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. How does this mountaintop experience compare to the role of spiritually significant events in our lives today? While we may seek out spiritual experiences, we should not: 1) seek them above Christ, 2) seek them at the cost of neglecting the Word, or 3) allow the benefits to end with us instead of propelling us toward greater love and service for others.\r\n

What is the nature of true belief? This story about a doubting father is examined comparing his statement about his faith and doubt against responses he could have given to Jesus. The father didn't say, ?I can't believe because I have my doubts.? Doubt is not a sin, and true faith is possible even in the midst of doubt. God values the willingness to engage with Him regardless of how confident we feel in our faith. Prayer is a means to access God's power in times of doubt.\r\n

Desiring greatness is not wrong, and God desires for us to live great lives. However, the mind of man and the mind of God define greatness differently. Jim Leffel explains the truth in what seems to be a paradox: greatness through servanthood. Jesus embodied this, and Leffel provides practical ways we can adopt Jesus' attitude to sacrificially serve others.

Whether it's a failed marriage or a failing marriage, times of crises in our marriages reveal spiritual needs. Marital problems have the ability to cut deeper than most anything else and provides direction for pressing on with a focus on grace. Jesus answered the Pharisees' question about the legalities of divorce by addressing the heart of the issue and by stating God's design of marriage. Marriage reflects the image of God in humanity despite the ways our selfishness and culture attempt to twist it into something self-serving.

When a rich man asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus gave him a different response than usual. Jim Leffel teaches on why Jesus' response to this man was focused on the Law and how their interaction exposed the rich man's need for grace. Leffel expounds on the relationship between materialism and spiritual health then closes with the costs and rewards of choosing to follow God.

As humans, we aspire to be great; this is an aspiration God has given us. So, it is God who defines the terms of what greatness is. When we pursue greatness as the world defines it, we pursue disappointment. Mark records Jesus' definition of greatness as those who strive to serve others. When we pursue God and greatness through sacrificial service, that is when we find true fulfillment.

Jesus performs two public acts during the beginning of the Passover celebration: his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and his cleaning out of the temple courts. With these acts he finally announces that he is the Messiah. Through these two demonstrations we can learn about what our real needs are.

As Jesus' ministry comes to a close, his public acts call people to respond to his deceleration that he is the Messiah. Many respond negatively, offended by his words and actions. The religious authorities question the basis, scope, and credibility of his authority. Jesus responds to three separate challenges, revealing that those testing him are not honest seekers while also continuing to declare the truth about himself.

As Jesus speaks to the religious authorities, one scribe asks an honest question: what is actually most important to God? Jesus' response is that we must be able to love God and love other people perfectly. It's not about completing religious rituals - a relationship with God is about love. And yet, loving perfectly is an impossible task. That is why God sent Jesus.

How can we trust that prophesies that have not yet been fulfilled will come to pass? By looking at the prophesies God has already fulfilled. Jesus begins to speak of the end times, and warns that we must be wary of those who would try to deceive us by pretending to be Christ returned. Jesus speaks about signs and events that will tell us the second coming is really near.

Jesus speaks to his disciples on the Mountain of Olives about the end times. He now begins to speak about specific details that will announce his second coming. The purpose of this prophetic teaching is to give the disciples confidence in God's ability to fulfill prophecies, and to warn them about that which is to come.

What is a life lived out for Christ supposed to look like? An encounter with a woman and her perfume reveals what true fanaticism, and true fakery look like in light of dedicated faith. What should we pursue in this life? This event tells us that the answer is Christ.

During Jesus' last days he teaches his disciples during the Passover dinner - a significant ritual celebrating God's judgment passing over the Israelites due to an innocent lamb's sacrifice. Looking deep into the Passover we see the reminder of man's failure and God's solution. The Passover was a picture of Christ's ultimate sacrifice and payment for sin.

Peter and Judas give us two profound examples of how to deal with failure. In Peter's life, we see a beautiful picture of repentance that leads to restoration. While in Judas' life, we see a picture of remorse leading to destruction. Audio testimony by Vicky Mascarello included.

Jesus on trial gives us a window into the heart of man and the heart of God. Through the Sanhedrin, Pilate, and the multitudes, who placed Jesus on the cross, we see humanity's desire to be their own god through false hopes. While God reveals His unrelenting love by using their rejection of Him to forgive the sins of the world.

Throughout the Bible we see that Jesus going to the cross was God's ultimate plan for salvation. In the details of Jesus' crucifixion we see the lengths that God went to, to forgive humanity's sin. Jesus experienced scourging, mocking, humiliation, and ultimately death on a cross. Through His death God demonstrated His perfect love and forgiveness.

The claim the Bible makes for the resurrection of Christ has an abundant amount of evidence that can lead a person to the reasonable conclusion of truth. Exploring three areas of historical forensics can help bring us to the conclusion that Christ did raise from the dead. In the claim for the resurrection it is important to investigate the credible sources involved, unpack a comprehensive explanation, and compare this claim with any competing explanations. The reality of Christ's resurrection brings those who believe in Him a real hope.