Jesus and Moses went golfing one day. Jesus was about to hit a shot and said, “Hey Moses, watch this! Just like Arnold Palmer!” Moses said, “Jesus, you can do anything but don’t try to be like Arnold Palmer.” Jesus said, “No, watch this — just like Arnold Palmer!”
Jesus hit the ball in the water so Jesus asked Moses to get the ball. Moses parted the water and got the ball. This continued for about fifteen minutes. Finally, Jesus hit the ball in the water for the seventh time. “Please get my ball for me,” Jesus asked Moses. Moses said, “No, I told you to quit trying to be like Arnold Palmer so I’m not getting it this time.”
Jesus walked across the water, reached down, and got his ball. While he was doing this, a couple rode by in a cart and said, “Who does he think he is, Jesus?” Moses said, “No! He thinks he’s Arnold Palmer!”
All of us can’t be like Arnold Palmer, but all of us can be like Jesus! In fact, we have been called to be like Jesus — to love like Jesus — to make a difference like Jesus — to change the world like Jesus. The Bible says we have been empowered to be like Jesus.
I think this is what compelled Philip and the rest of the disciples to drop everything and follow him. Jesus simply said to Philip, “Follow me” and he did, right on the spot (John 1:43). There was a great call of adventure and meaning in those two simple words of Jesus. Philip and the disciples couldn’t resist.
Jesus’ irresistible call is also seen later in the gospel of John: “You will do greater works than me because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12 paraphrased). How is it possible that we can do greater works than Jesus? Jesus has always been. In the first chapter of John we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” But when Jesus was on earth in human form his influence was limited. He could only heal one person at a time and teach to groups at a time but when Jesus went back to the Father, his Holy Spirit came to live in each of his followers. In this way, Jesus’ influence is multiplied through us and we can reach the whole world together! This is what Jesus means by doing greater works than him. We have been given power through the Holy Spirit to be like Jesus in this world. This is why our mission to make disciples is possible!
Jesus not only spoke about the power to be like him in John. It is also mentioned in the synoptic gospels — Matthew, Mark, and Luke. We give a lot of credence to his last words. We believe what people say is important before they leave the earth. Have you ever paid attention to Jesus’ last words to his disciples before he left the earth? In Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus’ last words to his disciples were “Go and make disciples…” In Mark 16:15, Jesus’ last words were “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” In Luke 24:47, 49, Jesus’ last words were “repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all the nations… stay here… until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
We have been given the power of the Holy Spirit to trans-form the world for Jesus. We have the same power the early church had. But here is the key: We must do something with this power! When Jesus said, “Go and make disciples…” he was giving the Great Commission. It was not the great reflection. It was not the great suggestion or the great option. It was the Great Commission. It is a mandate from Jesus Christ. Jesus made no distinction between his followers and his witnesses. Discipleship and evangelism cannot be separated. A faith worth having is a faith worth sharing.
This is the rub of the faith, isn’t it? It is easy to come to worship and Bible study. It is even easy to serve the church in some way. But sharing our faith? That is another matter. Many want to leave that job to someone else.
A while back my wife and I were having dinner with some friends at a new restaurant. The food and service were fantastic, but there were not many people at the restaurant. A friend of mine spoke up and said, “We have to tell more people about this place. It is great and nobody is here. It would be a shame if they went out of business.”
I am a preacher and I am always thinking. How quick we are to share something good. We will tell everyone about a good restaurant or a good book. When we see a good movie we will tell the whole world to go see it. When we find a good deal somewhere we will sky write it. Yet when it comes to sharing the greatest news in the universe, mum is the word for many Christians.
I love the story found in the first chapter of Acts. Jesus is ascending into heaven and Jesus’ followers are looking up in awe. As Jesus is ascending he is telling his followers to “go and be witnesses…” And his followers just keep looking up. When Jesus disappears, two men appear and basically say, “Stop looking up into heaven. Did you hear what Jesus said? Go and be witnesses!”
I know many Christians who are looking up instead of looking out. Jesus is telling us today, “Stop looking up; look out! I’m out there, waiting on you to help me change people with my love. Be my witnesses. Stop looking up! Look out! I am out here in the world with those who are suffering and I need for you to be my hands and feet! Will you help me?”
Perhaps you are thinking, “Yeah, but sharing faith is so personal.” You bet it is. The consequences of sin are personal.
Living with no hope is personal. Living life with no meaning or purpose is personal. It is a personal tragedy. We have been given the power to transform people with God’s love. We have the source of hope and strength. Will we share it? If we had the cure to cancer we would tell everyone. We have the cure for a meaningless life and spiritual death. What’s keeping us from sharing it?
I know that the word “witness” conjures up many negative images. I know that many people have given the word “witness” a bad name. We think of people passing out tracts, holding up signs, grabbing people by the lapels, and screaming about Jesus with judgment in their eyes. Quite often those who loudly profess to follow Christ don’t behave like Christ.
Shane Claiborne, a wonderful new Christian writer and thinker, talks about walking into downtown Philadelphia with some friends and watching the magicians, performers, and artists perform on the streets. They came across this preacher who was standing on a box screaming into a microphone. Beside him was a coffin with a fake dead body inside. He talked about how everyone was going to die and go to hell if they didn’t know Jesus. All Shane could think about doing was jumping on a box beside him and yelling at the top of his lungs, “God is not a monster!”
We are fond of quoting John 3:16, “For God so loved the world…” But the Bible also says in John 3:17 that God did not send Jesus to condemn the world but to save it! It is high time Christians start believing it and, more importantly, living like it!
The more I read the Bible and the teachings of Jesus the more I see Claiborne’s assertion: “Christianity spreads not through coercion or force, but through fascination.” People are fascinated by the love of Jesus. When we are reflecting that love, people want to know about it. First Peter 3:15-16 says it well: “Always be ready to make your defense to any-one who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” It is so simple. When we are filled with the hope and love of Christ, people will want to know about it. We live in a world filled with people who have no hope and so when others see our hope, they are drawn to us. When we are living out the love of Christ, we will not need to seek out people and tell them about Jesus. They will seek us out!
A few years ago something fascinating happened at a high school in Unionville, Tennessee. Three nominees for homecoming king decided that if one of them was awarded the crown they would give it to a junior named Scotty Maloney, who has Williams syndrome, a neurological disorder that affects learning and speech. When Jesse Cooper’s name was called as the winner at a ceremony, the principal announced what the nominees decided to do. “I’ve been blessed with so many things,” Cooper told ABC News’ Nashville affiliate WKRN-TV. “I just wanted Scotty to experience something great in his high school days.” “When they called Scotty’s name, his eyes got really big and I don’t know that he registered exactly what was happening. He knew something was,” Maloney’s teacher Liz Hestle Gassaway told ABCNews. com. “It was very, very emotional.” The crowd erupted with cheers and Maloney got a long-standing ovation, WKRN reported, as he was awarded his “king” medal. Everyone loves Maloney at that school. He wears that medal wherever he goes.
That’s the kingdom folks. That fascinating love made headline news! When we embody the love of Jesus it will get people’s attention. When every Christian embodies the fascinating love of Christ, the world will want to know about it and they will want it too!
If you are looking for more motivation read the last chapter of John. In that final chapter we read that Jesus was eating breakfast with Peter and Jesus asked him, “Peter, do you love me?” Peter, somewhat surprised by the question, replied, “Of course, I love you, Lord.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.” Jesus asked Peter this question a second and a third time and after Peter affirmed his love, Jesus’ response was always the same, “Feed my sheep.” If we love Jesus, then we will feed his sheep. Do you love Jesus? For goodness sake, don’t keep it to yourself. Share that love. The world needs it desperately. Can I get a witness? Amen.