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01/20/2002 Vol. 3, No. 01 from Diversity Press

IF JESUS LIVED TODAY!

INTRODUCTION

If Jesus is to become real to us, we must get him out of white
robes, take him off the donkey and let him live in the context
of our modern culture. Obsolete terms and conditions blunt the
impact of the gospel. If our lives are to be affected, we must
bring the message of Jesus into the 21st century.

We must discover what Jesus would say and do if he lived in
America today, instead of in Palestine 2000 years ago. After
all, the Scriptures say, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and
today and forever" (Heb. 13:8).

As time passes, basic human needs and feelings remain the same.
It's only the language and technology that change. So, let's
use our Spiritual imagination to recreate the events and
teachings of the gospel as they might occur if Jesus lived today.

This is the basis of our 2002 Sermon Series.

1. COMMITMENT
(Matthew 3:13-17)

When Lindbergh flew from New York to Paris, France in 1927, a
secretary burst into her boss's office and cried, "Mr. Smith! A
man has just flown across the Atlantic all by himself!" Smith,
engrossed in reports, didn't respond. Again she tried, "Mr.
Smith, you don't understand- a man has just flown across the
Atlantic ocean all by himself!"

This time he looked up and made a wise observation: "Of
course, my dear, all by himself a man can do anything. When a
committee flies the Atlantic, let me know."

Yes, one man can really make a difference and Jesus was such a
man. Most figures, considered to be divine, have fanciful
legends describing their earthly entrance. But Jesus came into
this world the same way we all do-through a physical birth. The
Scripture says, "The time came for the baby to be born, and she
gave birth to her firstborn, a son . . ." (Luke 2:6-7a).

He was raised in the home of ordinary working parents. "When
Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the
Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom,
and the grace of God was upon him" (Luke 2:39-40).

As a young boy, Jesus even did things that upset his family.
"When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast,
according to the custom . . . while his parents were returning
home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were
unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled
on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their
relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went
back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found
him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening
to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was
amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents
saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why
have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been
anxiously searching for you." (Luke 2:42-48).

His growth was normal in every way. "Then he went down to
Nazareth with them and was obedient to them . . ." And Jesus
grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke
2:51-52).

Jesus made his first independent Spiritual decision when he
went to hear John the Baptist. The Scripture says, "And so John
came . . . preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness
of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of
Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were
baptized by him in the Jordan River" (Mark 1:4-5).

We don't know exactly what attracted Jesus to John's crusade.
He might have responded because of the evangelist's powerful
personality. He had charisma. The Scriptures record his
strange behavior. "John wore clothing made of camel's hair,
with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and
wild honey" (Mark 1:6).

Jesus might have responded because of John's tough language and
straight talk. He pulled no punches. "John said to the crowds
coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! . . .
Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to
say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell
you that out of these stones God can raise up children for
Abraham . . . and every tree that does not produce good fruit
will be cut down and thrown into the fire." " (Luke 3:7-9).

Jesus might have responded because John presented practical
doctrines with an emphasis on human welfare. When the crowd
asked, "What should we do then?" "John answered, 'The man with
two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who
has food should do the same." When tax collectors came to be
baptized and asked, "What should we do?" John answered, "Don't
collect any more than you are required to." When soldiers asked
him, " 'What should we do?' (John) replied 'Don't extort money
and don't accuse people falsely-be content with your pay' "
(Luke 3:10-14).

Jesus would have agreed with these moral principles.

It is also possible that Jesus came because John was his
cousin. For whatever reason, Jesus did respond to John's
message. Mark says, "At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in
Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan" (Mark 1:9).

Why do you suppose Jesus felt the need to take this important
step? What lessons can we learn from this event? What point
was he making about commitment?

I. FIRST, JESUS' BAPTISM IDENTIFIED HIM WITH THE COMMON PEOPLE.

Jesus never tried to put himself above others. In fact, he
criticized those who did. He said, "Learn from me, for I am
gentle and humble in heart . . . For whoever exalts himself will
be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Woe to
you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut
the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not
enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to" (Matt.
11:29; 23:12-13).

In fact, this baptism not only identified Jesus with common
people, it placed him squarely in the company of sinners. The
Scripture says, "John came, baptizing in the desert region and
preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins"
(Mark 1:4).

II. NEXT, JESUS' BAPTISM ENABLED HIM TO MAKE A PUBLIC
COMMITMENT.

This step identified him with righteousness. It provided an
opportunity for him to take a stand on a crucial issue. John's
theology emphasized moral action rather than traditional rituals
and this became a distinguishing theme of Jesus' own message.
When John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by
you, and do you come to me?' Jesus replied, 'Let it be so now;
it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.'
Then John consented." (Matt. 3:15).

III. FINALLY, JESUS' BAPTISM GAVE HIM A SUPPORT GROUP.

We know that Jesus didn't agree with everything being preached
and indeed soon branched off from John's movement.
Nevertheless, at this point it was better than the alternative
religion. In fact, he chose many of his followers from this
group of honest seekers. The Scriptures say, "The next day John
was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus
passing by, he said, 'Look, the Lamb of God!' When the two
disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning
around, Jesus . . . asked, 'What do you want?' They said, '. . .
Teacher, where are you staying?' 'Come,' he replied, 'and you
will see.' So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent
that day with him . . . Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one
of the two . . . who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew
did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found
the Messiah' . . . And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at
him and said, 'You are Simon son of John. You will be called
Cephas' (which, when translated, is Peter)." (John 1:35-42).

Now, what if this were today? Would Jesus go to a Billy Graham
Crusade? Would Jesus join a civil rights movement? Would Jesus
visit Dr. Schuller's Crystal Cathedral?

We don't know for sure; but we do know that he would look like
everyone else. He wouldn't be walking around in robes and
sandals. Instead, he'd wear blue-jeans and tee shirts and
sneakers. He wouldn't be riding down the road on a donkey.
Instead, as a blue-collar worker, he'd probably be driving an
old Chevrolet or Ford pickup. The baptism wouldn't be in a
wilderness river. Instead, it would be in some local church
baptistry.

You know, just this description will sound shocking to some of
us because we've got Jesus firmly set in ancient times and
foreign lands. But, remember, to those relatives and
acquaintances in Palestine, he was just a familiar contemporary
figure. And if he lived here today, he would just be a familiar
contemporary figure.

To those Nazareth neighbors, he was the guy next door. He had
absolutely no physical traits that stood out-no halos; no wings,
no auras. Indeed, when some suggested he might be special,
those who grew up with him protested. "Isn't this the
carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his
brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters
with us? . . ." (Matt. 13:55-56).

Even though Jesus' speech and dress and travel would be
different if he lived in America today instead of Palestine 2000
years ago, his basic responses would still be the same.

I. FIRST, HE WOULD STILL IDENTIFY WITH COMMON PEOPLE.

He wouldn't identify himself with the country club set or the
political VIPs or even the famous religious leaders. Instead,
he would associate with farmers and mechanics and teachers and
housewives. He would even associate with some who are socially
"undesirable"-maybe playboy bunnies, or Aids victims, or
ex-convicts, or impious agnostics. He was often criticized for
such behavior. The Scripture says, "While Jesus was having
dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and 'sinners'
came and ate with him . . . - When the Pharisees saw this, they
asked his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax
collectors and `sinners'?" (Matt. 9:10-11).

In that day "eating with" someone meant socializing and
accepting as equals. These tax collectors were traitors who
worked for the enemy and stole from their fellow citizens and
these "sinners" included prostitutes and religious rebels.

II. NEXT, JESUS WOULD MAKE A PUBLIC COMMITMENT.

He would commit himself to morality and take a public stand on
social issues. We don't know what particular denomination Jesus
would join; but we do know he would be on the side of
generosity. John's sermon that day advised people to share. He
said,"The man with two tunics should share with him who has
none, and the one who has food should do the same" (Luke 3:11).

Jesus would be on the side of honesty, because John told the
tax collectors to quit padding their expense accounts. He said,
"Don't collect any more than you are required to . . ." (Luke
3:13).

Jesus would be on the side of those who oppose violence and
greed, because that's what John told the soldiers to do. He
said, "'Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely--be
content with your pay" (Luke 3:14).

III. FINALLY, JESUS WOULD STILL SEEK OUT A SUPPORT GROUP.

None of us can stand alone. Those who say they can be good
Christians without a church affiliation are claiming something
even Jesus didn't do. He had those around him who could help
with his ministry. At one crucial moment, he asked a very human
question. The Scriptures say, "From this time many of his
disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 'You do not
want to leave too, do you?' Jesus asked the Twelve" (John
6:66-67).

Now, if we're to take the gospel seriously, what does this mean
for us? Remember, the Scriptures say: "Whoever claims to live
in him must walk as Jesus did" (I John 2:6).

If Jesus lived today, he would make a commitment to
righteousness. Some lives leave no impression, like a finger
pulled from a glass of water. The liquid closes in behind and
no one would know the finger had ever been there. Other lives
are so lived that the impression left behind requires decades,
even centuries to be erased; and a few are never erased. Jesus
lived such a life and through him so can you.

Have you demonstrated your faith through Christian baptism?
Jesus did!

Have you made a public profession of your faith? Jesus did!

Have you joined with other dedicated people to spread the
gospel and make the world a better place? Jesus did!

J.R. Lowell wrote: "Once to every man and nation comes the
moment to decide, in the strife for truth and falsehood, for the
good or evil side."

Is this your moment to decide?

*****

These messages are from an unpublished manuscript © copyrighted
by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK. Please use them in
any way you think appropriate. The only thing we ask is that
you give credit for original material in published works.

EMAIL SERMON SERVICE is a free service from Diversity Press.
Material in our sermons usually present the Gospel from a
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My ministry has been blessed immeasurably by reading other
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