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The Magnetic Master
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John 12:12-19                                     

Oct 4, 1997, I, along with about a dozen men from our church in Illinois, joined with 1.5 million other men gathered on the Mall in Washington D.C. to "Stand in the Gap." We did so because a man named Jesus walked this earth nearly 2000 years ago. After 200 centuries Jesus Christ always makes the list of the most admired.

Former NBA Star, Michael Jordan's face is known around the world, his is said to be the most recognizable face in the world.  When we were in Russia in a few years back, the guys we played basketball with all knew about him. Vladimir Putin was recently recognized by Time Magazine as their Person of the Year for 2007. Athletes and Rock Stars have their fans, politicians have their followings, but for most, fame is fleeting.  Very few men are remembered after they are out of the spotlight. But there is one person on whom the spotlight has never left. Rather than having his popularity dim, more fans than ever are lined up to get his autograph some 2000 years after he walked this earth.

  In John 6 we read that the crowds were so impressed with Jesus' ability and teaching, they attempted to take him by force and make him their king. Wow! Talk about a magnetic personality! In our text he enters Jerusalem at the pinnacle of his popularity. His enemies said, "the world has gone after Him."  (Note the text – John 12:12-19)

 

  Over the next 8 Sundays we will learn some of the secrets of Jesus' magnetism. What made him the people's choice? Our spotlight will be on the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords so we can learn from him how to effectively communicate his love to the FRANS we know.

I.         JESUS IS A PEOPLE MAGNET

A.      People are drawn to Him.

1.          Luke's description of one episode is characteristic of Jesus' incredible renown. …the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and crushing each other. Luke 12:1 NLT

2.          After a time away to the mountains, Jesus came home, and the crowds gathered once again so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat . Mark 3:20 NASV 

3.          In Mark 5, a woman that had been ill for over 12 years noticed Jesus' attractiveness. She had suffered from a most distressing, incurable illness. This story shows that Jesus gave all his attention to one poor woman.

4.          All kinds of people sought Jesus, from his birth, to his Palm Sunday ride into Jerusalem.  He was truly the people's choice.

B.      His attractiveness wasn't a surface issue.

1.          Isaiah described the Messiah this way: He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. Isaiah 53:2 NASV   

2.          Jesus was probably not a physically attractive person. He was not your average‑ looking individual.

3.          In fact, this scripture tells us that he was less than average. More like most of us when we get up in the morning, before we wash our face, brush our teeth, comb our hair, put on our glasses, and use other enhancement items.

·           We also could be described as one who "had no beauty or majesty."

4.          Jesus was desired by many, and it was not his physical appearance that attracted people to him.

5.          We learn through his life that true beauty or attractiveness comes from the inside.

 

6.          If we let the master take control of our lives, confess our sins to him, accept his love and forgiveness and become one of his disciples, we, too, can become an attractive individual.

II.       LEARN HIS SECRETS

A.       He is our example.

1.          People were drawn to him because of the things he was doing, because of what he taught and how he dealt with them in social settings.

2.          He was attractive because His inner spirit and His outward actions were congruent. He was genuine, authentic.

B.       We want to learn eight secrets.

1.          Jesus stayed spiritually connected and directed.

2.          Jesus shattered the stereotypes of "us" and "them."

3.          Jesus liked people and drew out the best in them.

4.          Jesus knew his identity yet served with humility.

5.          Jesus spoke God's truth in everyday language.

6.          Jesus cast a vision of a better kingdom, now and future.

7.          Jesus courageously completed his assigned mission.

8.          Jesus broke the power of darkness so all can live in the light.

C.     He translated the secrets it into life.

1.          He was compassionate.

·           He was angry and distressed over people being mistreated.

·           He made himself available

·           He met the needs of people.

2.          He came to seek and save lost people and give his life to save them.

III.   THE GOOD NEWS IS WE CAN BE CONNECTORS FOR HIM.

A.      We want Pleasant View to be "The Connecting Place."

1.          Our first calling is to help people connect to God.  Jesus is that connection and so our task is to show Jesus to them.

2.           As moths are drawn to light, so Jesus draws others to himself. He said, "I if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me." John 12:32 NASV

3.           So we are to lift him up. How are we to do it?  There are some action steps to take.

B.      Take the action steps.

1.          We'll work together on five action steps.

2.          Action Step 1 is called "Pray with a pencil." Each week I'll encourage you to listen for God's direction in solitude and in prayer, and then jot down your thoughts            throughout the week.

3.          Action Step 2 also relates to prayer; it's called "Light your street." We want you to take a step toward making your home a lighthouse of prayer.

·           Make a list of FRANS (Friends, Relatives, Associates Neighbors) whom you know either aren't connected to the Lord of to a local church. 

·           The object is to pray for opportunities to care for those FRANs and eventually share the love of Christ with them.

·           In praying for others, we'll also discover a wonderful release in our own spirit from the tensions of the day.

A sign posted next to a church's main door read, "Would the last person to leave the building please turn the lights off."  As Christians we ought to be more concerned to "Remember to Leave the Lights on." We want to encourage each PV family to turn on their lights for Jesus by being a lighthouse for Jesus.

4.          Jesus loved people and gave them hope whenever he could. Action Step 3 calls us to "Celebrate people," to draw out the best in others by saying something affirming to someone each day.  Learn how to encourage and show love.

5.          Jesus was also very kind to many people and, in his own words, came "to serve" (Mark 10:45).  Action Step 4 is "Dare to care."    

·           It's about doing an act of service for someone needing Jesus.

·           Begin now to think and pray about something kind you could do to help people who are apart from Christ.

6.          The last action step is "Screen your message." It encourages us to talk as Jesus talked-in everyday language to those without Christ.

C.     Live out your faith on a daily basis.

A teacher asked her students what they wanted to become when they grew up. There were responses all over the room. "A football player." "A Dr." "An astronaut." "The President." "A fireman." "A teacher." "A nurse." - Everyone except Tommy. She noticed he was sitting quiet and still. "Tommy, what do you want to be when you grow up?" "Possible," Tommy replied. "Possible?" she asked. "Yes. My mom is always telling me I'm impossible. So when I get to be big, I want to be possible."

1.          If you focus on what we suggest there is great potential for accelerated spiritual growth but it is reserved for those who are involved – it is possible! 

·           Your participation in worship each week will help.

·           Your follow through in making a daily record is important.

2.          Following through the action steps makes the application to your life.

3.          Jesus wants to bless and use you for His glory and the building of the kingdom. 

·           Have you ever struggled with being a positive witnessing to your faith?  We all      have, including yours truly.

·           We will discover some of the secrets we can incorporate into our lives to help us be better representations of Jesus.

·           We will seek to increase our "compassion quotient."

CONCLUSION: Dennis, from Katy, TX, needed some same-day dry cleaning before he left on a trip. He remembered a store with a huge sign, "One-Hour Dry Cleaners," on the other side of town. He drove out of his way to drop off a suit. After filling out the tag, he told the clerk, "I need this in an hour." She said, "I can't get this back to you until Thursday." "I thought you did dry cleaning in an hour?" "No," she replied, "That's just the name of the store." - If you call yourself a Christian, but fail to act like the One Whose name you wear, you create disillusionment and confusion for any who are searching. - Jesus said, "By this, all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another."

 

Who was president in 1899?   He was a well-loved chief executive killed by an assassin's bullet. Since it was more than 100 years ago, who remembers? Is it possible that in the year 2063 the memory of JFK will also have faded like that of President William McKinley? 2000 years after being killed in the line of duty, another leader remains unforgettably etched on the minds of people around the world. Because Jesus Christ is no longer dead, but lives, another 2000 years from now countless individuals will still be singing his praises.

Determine to be a Jesus lifter so those who don't know Him will be drawn to Him.  It starts with us being the kind of person through whom Jesus lives.  This is what it means to be a Christian, we allow Jesus to live out His life through us.

Your assignment: Determine to make the next 8 weeks a time of spiritual growth.  Begin by going over today's message and starting to write down your thoughts.

May this be your desire:

  My desire, to be like Jesus

  My desire, to be like him.

  His spirit fills me, His love or-whelms me

  In deed and word to be like Him.

 

Memory Verse: Once you were "darkness" but now you are "light": live then as children of the light.  Ephesians 5:8            Phillips

 

The following material is provided to assist you in application of the sermon. You may go over this individually, share it with a small group or your family.

 

OPEN: share your "story" with some others.

Have you ever met a "famous" person?  What was the situation? Why do you think you remember it? What was your impression?

 

DIG: Look into the Bible's "story" to discover insights that will help your understanding. If sharing in a group, take turns answering the following.

1. Read John 12:12-19.  To what type of current event(s) would you compare this scene?

 

2. If you were to set this opening scene for a movie what "flashbacks" would you use as the producer to show the crowd so whipped up? (Note John 11:38-43)

 

3. According to your script, what would the crowds, the disciples, and Jewish leaders be feeling about now? One week later? Had you been there, what would you be feeling: Fanaticism, fickleness, faith, or fear? Why?

 

4. Read John 9:5 and Matthew 5:14-16.  What is significant about who Jesus is in regard to what John 1:5 says?  What is significant about who Christians are due to the fact the world is in darkness?

 

5. People followed Jesus for many different reasons. Read the following and list some of the reasons.  Mark 3:8;10-11; Matthew 14:13-14; Luke 12:1; 18:18; John 3:1,2.  Can you think of other reasons people followed or sought him?

 

REFLECT: Here you apply the "story" of the scripture to your own life; to take personal inventory and share with others what you will do about it.

1. What convinced you that Jesus is your King? What is the best thing you've seen about the type of king he is?

 

2. Is your worship life like a hero's victory or a funeral dirge? Why?

 

3. Based on what Matthew 5:14-16 says, is your life shining like a 300 watt bulb? A 100 watt? A night light? Why?  How can Jesus enable you to "shine brighter?"

 

4. People followed Jesus for many different reasons. Why do you follow him?

 

5. Someone once said that Ghandi rejected Christianity, not because of what it taught about Jesus, but because of the lives of Christians that He witnessed.  What does this say to you?  What insights have you gained from today's study that would help you be a better witness of Jesus?

 

6. Do you have any spiritual growth goals for this year? What are they? If you do not have any goals take some time to set some.

 

SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT: Take a personal inventory, a look in the mirror, if you will. Ask yourself, "How do people see me? Does the way I live my life before them attract them to Jesus?"  If your answer is in the negative, ask the Lord's forgiveness and determine to allow Him to change you into His likeness.  Then, after you've allowed Him to right the ship of your life, pray for an opportunity to be ready to answer when someone close to you says, "I've noticed a change in your life, what's happened?"

 

Additional insight:                   WILL THE REAL JESUS STAND UP?

As we look into the scriptures we see a picture of Jesus. At the same time we look for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Who is this Jesus that will return?  Many view Him in different ways.

 

Jesus asked a vital question in Matthew 16, "Who do you say that I am?"  Each of us must eventually come to terms with this question. Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  Jesus acknowledged the accuracy of his answer.

 

Who do you say Jesus is?  There are many false faiths who try to sell a false Jesus. (II Corinthians 11:4) It is important to understand how the cults and world religions view Jesus.

 

The Biblical Answer as to Who Jesus is

Peter told us who the real Jesus is. He is the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the Living God. As the "only begotten" Son of God, He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present. He is jointly knit together in the personage of the one true Godhead along with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Colossians 2:9 tells us that in the Lord Jesus Christ "dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily."

 

In the light of these scriptures, those who view Jesus as a mere man are not seeing His Biblical portrait. The Bible presents Him as fully man but also fully God. "God...manifested in the flesh." (I Timothy 3:16)

 

When you can answer the question about who Jesus is the way Peter did, you have discovered the key to salvation and becoming a Christ-follower. This the only question you will be asked in relation to your standing before God. Upon your answer depends your eternal future.

 

Who do you say Jesus is?  Your answer is critical because you can't be saved by putting your faith in a false Jesus, only in the one who said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me".