Bellevue Student Ministry

Pipeline Notes (11.5.08)

An Eyewitness Account:

What was Jesus like as a Person

by: Jeff Howard

Peter, a disciple of Christ - do you remember what a disciple is?

    -A student who follows, teaches and lives the message of

       their teacher or Rabbi

Peter had been with Jesus for 3 years. As a disciple, how well did Peter

    know Jesus?

    -He lived w/ Jesus

    -He ate w/ Jesus

    -Prayed w/ Jesus

    -Walked w/ Jesus

    -Peter did just about everything that Jesus did.

Open up to I Peter 2:18-22

    -(Background) Peter is emailing to the believers in Asia Minor (Turkey)

    -They were suffering persecution (being harassed for their faith in

       Christ) especially from the Roman government

    -Some of the believers are in prison, some are slaves.

    -The purpose of this letter was to teach them how to live victoriously

       in the midst of hostility while trusting in the Lord

I'm looking for the answer to these questions;

   -How does Peter want the people to act or behave?

   -What example does Peter give them?

   -How is Peter telling them to act in vs. 18? Obey your masters only

       when they are kind to you - obey all the times-no matter what

[You who are] household servants, be submissive to your masters with all [proper] respect, not only to those who are kind and considerate and reasonable, but also to those who are cruel (overbearing, unjust, and crooked).

What kind of example does Peter give them? Like Nero, the emperor

    of Rome? In vs. 21, Jesus

   -For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example and you must    follow in his steps.

Peter mentioned in vs. 21, just as Christ suffered. How did Christ suffer?

    -He was falsely accused and crucified.

If anyone had the right to be angry it was Jesus. But Peter mentions what he saw and heard from Christ in vs. 22:

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

Again, how did Peter know what Jesus did? He had been with Jesus for 3 years.

If Jesus committed no sin and never tried to trick any one in following Him.

Then, what was Jesus like as a person when He was on earth?

What did Peter see during the time he spent w/ Christ?

Peter saw:

    -COMPASSION from Jesus,

       -Matt 9:36 and not just an, "Awww, look at them," compassion, but literally

          crying over the crowds, those who had no hope in their lives or on their faces

    -Because of His compassion, He healed their diseases, He created enough food to feed them

Peter saw:

    -That Jesus was FOCUSED

       -John 3:17: He had a mission in life and never got side track

Peter saw:

    -His SERVANT attitude (Mark 10:45)

Peter saw:

    -Jesus was SUBMISSIVE - He humbly obeyed

       -Matt 26:39, "I want your will to be done, not mine."

       (I want to do my Father's will, not mine)

Peter saw:

    -That Jesus had a heart of MERCY and FORGIVNESS

      -(Luke 23:34, I Jn. 1:9)

Peter saw:

    -Jesus was LOVING in His relationships

       -(John 11:5, John 13:23)

Peter heard TRUTH.

   -In the book of Matthew alone, Jesus uses the phrase, "I tell you the Truth" 29 times (apparently Truth is important)

Peter saw:

    -Jesus was INTIMATE w/ His followers

       -He spent quality and quantity time w/ them, Mark 8:10

Peter knew that Jesus was PATIENT:

    -He spoke of this in his second letter, II Peter 3:9

       COMPASSION, FOCUS, SERVANT's attitude, SUBMISSIVNESS, MERCY,

       FORGIVENESS, LOVE, TRUTH, INTIMACY, PATIENT w/ others.

These are just some of the traits that believers should desire to have as a part of their personality and character.

The things that drew people to Jesus should be the very things that drawpeople to us.

Just like Peter spent 3 years with Jesus, what if Drew and I were to move up with you to the 7th and then on to 8th grade (that would be 3 years)?

What would we say about you?

Could we say that we saw character trait's that look a lot like Christ in you or would we see something other than Christ?

Would we see COMPASSION for the lost in ____ or hatred for the lost?

Would ____ have a life that is FOCUSED on Christ OR a life that is

focused on stuff and events?

Does ____ have a SERVANT'S attitude or does ____ want to be served?

Is ____ SUBMISSIVE to those in authority or argues w/ those in

authority?

Would we see MERCY & FORGIVENESS in ____ life or is their

meanness & blame?

Does TRUTH come out of the mouth of ____ or is their deception (lies)?

 

Prayer - maybe right now you need to pray John 3:30

"He must become greater; I must become less."