Weekly Reflection 6/11/24

Chair 1: “Come and see.” (part 1)

• This chair represents a seeker, someone who is curious, has questions, they’re looking. 
• Not all unbelievers are in chair 1. Part of disciple making is inviting them into chair 1 so that they can see Jesus, get to know Him, begin to see who He is, what He did, and what He is doing. And decide whether or not they want to follow Him.

Jesus was a missionary.

Have you ever thought of Jesus as a missionary? That God sent His Son to be a missionary to us?

• 1 John 4:14 – And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
• Galatians 4:4-5 – But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, [5] to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

As that perfect missionary, living a perfect life on mission, Jesus demonstrated disciple making perfectly. So, let’s look at the process Jesus modeled in relation to finding and inviting lost people to get to know Him.

He left comfort to enter our world.

John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. God the Son, Jesus, left the comforts of His heavenly home and, by adding humanity to His deity, came into our broken world. Philippians 2:6-7 – who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Jesus became like us.  Don’t miss the magnitude of this. Let the magnitude of that love compel you.

He prepared Himself for the mission.

Jesus learned obedience, studied the Scriptures, and prepared Himself through what He learned as He went about His everyday life. Most of His life was spent in obscurity, the “silent years”.  Jesus lived as a child, a son, a friend, a provider, and a businessman much longer than He lived in the spotlight as the controversial Messiah.

Luke 2:46 – After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Luke 2:51-52 – And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. [52] And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. What does it mean that Jesus increased in favor with God? Its not that God started loving Him more. It’s the idea that as Jesus grew in wisdom, in obedience, as He learned the scriptures, spent time in prayer, as He prepared Himself, the grace or favor of God in and through His life increased. I’ll add this thought, if Jesus increased in favor with God, does that not teach us that we can increase in favor with God? When we are obedient to God the grace of God increases in and through our lives. This is not an earning, of more grace, but an allowing of more grace, our obedience and growth and preparation is how we receive more grace and favor of God in our lives.

We also see that He grew in favor with man. What does someone have to do for your favor to grow toward them? That must have something to do with the way He was living and acting and talking with the people around Him. He was able to relate to them, understand them, encourage them.

He made Himself available and intentionally developed relationships.

A day came in Jesus’ life when He was called by His Heavenly father to go and be baptized by His cousin John. Did Jesus know His life was about to dramatically change? I kind of think He did. When He was twelve, they found Him in the synagogue learning.  Luke 2:49 – And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Maybe He understood at that point that He was the Messiah, maybe He always knew? What we do know for sure is that Jesus made Himself available. When His Father said, “Go.” Jesus responded in obedience. At His baptism, the Holy Spirit came upon Him, and then the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness and after 40 days of fasting and prayer, Jesus returned in the power of the Holy Spirit to where His cousin John was baptizing and made Himself available to be used by His Father.

He went to a wedding, He went to parties, He spent time in their homes, He went fishing. It would be very hard to read the gospels and not see that Jesus made Himself available and intentionally developed relationships.

He responded to those who showed interest.

Jesus kept His eyes open for those who showed signs of being curious, those who were seeking. Here are several examples of this: John 1:35-39, John 3:1-10, John 4:27-42, Luke 19:1-10. When Jesus saw interest, He made Himself available. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and He did this by partnering with the Holy Spirit and responding to those who showed interest.

Jesus shared the Gospel.

Jesus preached a simple message: Matthew 4:17 – From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Mark 1:14-15 – Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, [15] and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Jesus boldly proclaimed that message of repentance and belief.

Practical

• Are we willing to live on mission? 
• Are you willing to leave the comfort of your home, your career, your church to enter into the world of those without Jesus? (If not it’s unlikely you will know anyone who is curious about Jesus, seeking. And you will not have opportunities to invite anyone to “come and see”.)

• Are you prepared? 
• What questions are people asking in our community?
• What are the needs and issues in our community?
• Are you prepared to give an answer for the hope that is in you?
• God has helped each of us endure challenges in our lives. I believe God wants to use you to help others who face similar problems. Are you prepared to do that?
• Will you make yourself available and intentionally develop relationships with those who don’t yet know Jesus?
• Who has God placed around you? Are you entering into their world?
• Are you intentional about developing relationships, motivated by love, with unbelievers?
• Are you looking for those who are curious, who are seeking, who are asking questions?

• Those who are curious about Jesus need Christ followers in their lives who are willing to enter into their world relationally.
• Are you ready and able to share the Gospel?
• Seekers need someone to present the gospel clearly to them.
• All around us people are searching for this good news.