December 22, 2010
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The Chip Off the Old Block by Caroline Ciraulo
Bible study taught Friday 11/12/10
Are you like your dad or your mom? Some people call you a chip off the old block. We learn from our parent’s actions. It is not what they say, but what they do that we imitate.
Jesus did what His Father did.
John 5:18-19 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
When we are saved, we need to clean our garments item by item. Then what? Just laundering the garment is the beginning, but we want the whole wardrobe of salvation.
Jesus’ teachings was not just what He said, but what He did by example. He teaches us how to be like the Father so we can be a chip off the old block of our Heavenly Father.
John 14:7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.
It’s like Ike and Mike – you don’t see one without the other. If we do what Jesus did, we are like our Father, God.
Caroline gave us the “Do’s” to be like the Father
The First “Do” is Passover – knowing Scripture
Luke 2:41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
At 12, Jesus went to Jerusalem with His parents to celebrate Passover. Returning home was like the wagon train to the Ponderosa (Nazareth). There were so many traveling together that it took three days before Jesus’ parents discovered he was not with the returning party. His parents found him in the Temple discussing scriptures and asking questions. Jesus spent three days and three nights debating scripture. Jesus had to learn the Scriptures in order to be able to do that.
The Second “Do” was when Jesus was 30 years old – intimacy with the Father and resisting temptation
He was baptized, and then went into the wilderness to be tempted for 40 days and 40 nights. He was alone with the Father, and strengthened Himself in prayer, warship and intimacy with the Father. Jesus thoroughly knew the Father in order to do what He did. The 40 days was 960 hours, 57,600 minutes with the Father.
After this temptation in the wilderness when Jesus defeated the devil’s temptations, Jesus was led to the Temple. Without the intimacy with the Father Jesus would not have successfully faced these temptations.
That is why it is important to spend quality time with the Father. One Bible study a week and one Sunday worship is not enough.
The Third “Do” was the wedding feast at Cana – obedience and humility
Jesus obeyed His mother. Jesus let the bridegroom get credit for that magnificent vintage of wine. Jesus did not take the credit.
Pride becomes an issue when we want to get credit. Is it He God or me god? The Son does not do it by Himself. Whatever the Father does, the Son does too.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
The Fourth “Do” was Passover – praise, worship, standing up for righteousness sake, teaching, servant-hood, compassion, setting aside pride and dignity for the Kingdom
Praise and Worship was taught to the people through the Prophet Moses. The Temple and it’s construction was presented in the books of Moses. When Jesus enters the Temple he finds a flea market. The High Priest Caiaphas and the priesthood were making a profit from the prophet. They were fleecing the faithful and taking advantage of the people. They were getting kickbacks from the sale of sacrificial animals and the exchanging of secular money for Temple currency. Jesus confronted the leadership’s corruption and stood up for what was right and righteous.
Stand up and make sure that the Name of God is not corrupted.
Jesus is a talker. He talks to everybody on every level all the time. He speaks of the Kingdom and Good News. He can talk with the hierarchy, the educated, Pharisees, the rich, the poor, those with infectious diseases, and Romans.
Jesus’ teachings were multipurpose. He mentored his disciples. He began with the first twelve, but it did not end there. He stayed with people to teach them. He stayed with the Samaritans for two more days, taught the people. He taught and stayed at peoples houses. For example, He stayed with the Chief Pharisees, Zacchaeus, Peter’s house, Simeon the Leper. He taught and mentored 6 days before the last Passover. He stayed with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus for supper.
Jesus gathered new followers wherever He went.
Jesus left a comfortable house with His Father (God) to walk the streets and had encounters with unrighteousness, unbelief. He faced rejection, ridicule and suffering. He knew that He knew God’s will and purpose. He was called and we are called. He is our example of servant-hood.
Jesus took one of the most demeaned jobs at the last Passover, that of washing feet. He took a towel and basin and washed the disciple’s feet. That was absolutely shocking. Washing feet was the job of the lowest level of servant. Jesus set aside pride and dignity to show us that no job is too low to do in the Kingdom. Whatever God or your pastor asks is a good Kingdom job. There are enough jobs in the Kingdom that we can have more than one. Look to see where you can serve.
The Last “Do.” forgiveness, sacrifice
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
Jesus was innocent, yet He forgave those who crucified Him. An offender is sinful and so is the offended. Jesus stayed perfect, sinless, and was not offended.
Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Trespass is to violate a rule, cross a line, miss the mark. Forgive is to set free, let go, release, liberate completely, forfeit any right to hold a person to previous offenses.
The offender violates God’s children. But God is the one who will deal with the injustice, we do not have to retaliate.
It is not a sin to get angry, but it is a sin to hold on to anger. If you take offense you are judging the offender and holding them hostage.
Matthew 18:18 KJV Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Matthew 18:18 NLT I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.
Forgive all offenses and know that you have the authority to bind and loose.
Caroline suggested that, to imitate Jesus, we need to know Scripture, spend time in Scripture, spend time with God, and stand firm against the dishonoring of God’s Name or God’s children. Be a conversationalist. Stay focused on the Kingdom. Be a faithful servant. Forgive.
It is hard to ask forgiveness of those I have offended and those who have offended me, but we need to do this. Be a student, learner, and disciple.
Pastor Don – WWJD, self examination, reaching out to others
Pastor Don added that we need to mirror what Jesus does in our walk. Pastor likes the bracelet idea of WWJD. What do we do to look like Daddy? What didn’t I do? What am I accusing you of not doing that I feel you should have done for me, but really I should be doing myself? So often people will make complaints like she didn’t call me or she didn’t hug me. Well, did you call her or hug her? Give out love.
Praying your day is blessed.
Heather
