Special Guest: Dr. Tim Kubacki

In Jesus’ day…

A rabbi was a teacher and a model

The whole idea behind rabbi and disciple was for the disciple to become like their rabbi and for the rabbi to reproduce himself in his disciples

Disciples heard often, repeated, memorized, wrote what Rabbi said and imitated what he did

Mt 11.28
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” 

Mt 9.35 
Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless (harassed, distressed and dispirited ), like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” 

What does it mean to follow Jesus? 

Is compassion a feeling? No more than love is a feeling. Love and compassion have been inappropriately defined, within the church and outside the church, as “feelings”.  They are NOT feelings, though feelings  pleasant and unpleasant can accompany both.  They are, rather, the prioritization of another and motivation to act on their behalf

Lk 19 Jesus wept in a similar situation.  

The key is what did Jesus do with His compassion?

Jesus emphasized what in His words and life? 

What was His message? 

How did he spend his time? 

What did Jesus do?

Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master. 25 Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master 

“Come to me”, Follow me, Abide in me, Seek me, listen to me…

Is following Jesus about sin management?  Success?  Happiness?

Following Jesus is doing what He did.

Followers will follow Jesus - study Jesus, ask Jesus, hear Jesus, do what Jesus tells him/her to do

What did Jesus do?

He walked with His Father.

He sought those who were in need.

The church has missed the main emphasis of Jesus!

Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” 

Life-changing prayer – “What would you have ME do?”

Mt 25.31
“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ 41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ 44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ 45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ 46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

When we see a need, how do we pray?

“Father, what would you have me do?”    “Not my will…”

After Jesus said “pray for laborers, He SENT his disciples to do what He did every day

“Go and proclaim to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!”

You!!  

“I am sending YOU out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves 

“Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town 

See the one!!!!

Don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. 20 For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 

Masks (hypocrisy) vs genuine  - He is sending you!  Flawed but lover of Jesus!

The Father will speak through an honest vessel, not through a mask!

“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. 

**Our goal is to acknowledge Jesus and to love… not to persuade…  Jesus never spent much time persuading…

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.  If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

Abandon our life… 

not… pursue personal happiness, fulfillment, success…

to…

Seek out the naked, confused, lonely addicted, hurting…

And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”

Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”

“Wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”  Mt 11.19

Credibility… whom do you follow?  Follow no one you don’t know!

Faith is trust in whom we follow! 

How do we apply this? 

Seek out, find, and serve the confused and hurting.

O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! 

Mt 11: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” 

GOOD NEWS!!!! We get to walk with Jesus!!! Salvation is not the goal. Walking with our King is the goal and “forever” is a part of the deal…