## Walking in the Steps of Jesus

## I Peter 2:21

How closely do we want to follow in Christ's steps? Last week, we began a series of messages called What Would Jesus Do? We talked about what Jesus would do if His incarnation, "the days of His flesh" were today.

Hebrews 13:8 tells us that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Before we answer the question "What would Jesus do?" we have to answer the question "What did Jesus do?" Because Jesus doesn't change, the basic characteristics of His life 2,000 years ago would be the same today in spite of history, our politics, culture, or values.

In last weeks message, we looked at several characteristics of Jesus. He obeyed, lived the Word, prayed, served, forgave and loved.

I. Jesus Lived Integrity.

A. Jesus is the Perfect Model of Integrity.

1. 100's of years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah foretold of Him, (Isa 53:9) "And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth."

2. Peter echoed those same words in 1 Peter 2:22, when described Jesus as one "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:"

3. The word "guile" comes from the basic meaning of "to decoy" or "to trick or bait."

4. In other words, Jesus didn't "talk out of both sides of His mouth."

5. He was completely honest.

B. To Do What Jesus Would Do Means Living in Integrity.

1. Over the last few years, Christianity has a received several "black eyes" because Christian leaders have had their lack of integrity exposed to a suspicious media.

a. That's not only true of well-known televangelists...

b. But men and women in the local church.

2. Many have rejected Christ and the church because Christians have failed in this area of integrity.

3. As believers following "in His steps" we are called to a much higher standard... even when no one else is looking.

(NUM 32:23) "BUT IF YE WILL NOT DO SO, BEHOLD, YE HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD: AND BE SURE YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT."

II. Jesus Felt Compassion.

A. Jesus' Compassion Extended to All Men.

(MAT 9:35-38) "AND JESUS WENT ABOUT ALL THE CITIES AND VILLAGES, TEACHING IN THEIR SYNAGOGUES, AND PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM, AND HEALING EVERY SICKNESS AND EVERY DISEASE AMONG THE PEOPLE. {36} BUT WHEN HE SAW THE MULTITUDES, HE WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION ON THEM, BECAUSE THEY FAINTED, AND WERE SCATTERED ABROAD, AS SHEEP HAVING NO SHEPHERD. {37} THEN SAITH HE UNTO HIS DISCIPLES, THE HARVEST TRULY IS PLENTEOUS, BUT THE LABOURERS ARE FEW; {38} PRAY YE THEREFORE THE LORD OF THE HARVEST, THAT HE WILL SEND FORTH LABOURERS INTO HIS HARVEST."

1. In this passage, we see that Jesus went to "all the cities and villages" of Galilee, "teaching," "preaching," and "healing."

2. As He viewed the multitudes of people, He was moved with compassion.

3. Jesus' heart ached for them.

4. He saw them "like sheep having no shepherd."

5. They were at the mercy of the elements and predators.

6. Jesus still sees the people of the world in this way.

a. We see Jesus' compassion as He forgave their sin.

b. We see Jesus' compassion as He healed them.

B. To Do What Jesus Would Do Means Exhibiting Compassion.

1. Far too many Christians have a "they-deserve-what-they-get" mentality about the lost world around us.

2. In smugness, we gather together in our churches and forsake the very people we are commissioned to reach!

3. Certainly there are those who have rejected Christ completely, but most have simply never felt His love and compassion.

4. We are His hands and feet. If they don't see Jesus' "compassion" in us, where will they find it?

III. Jesus Overcame Temptation.

A. Jesus Claimed Complete Victory over Satan (Mat.4:1-11).

(1 JOHN 2:16) "FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE LUST OF THE FLESH, AND THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE, IS NOT OF THE FATHER, BUT IS OF THE WORLD."

1. First, Satan tempted Jesus with "the lust of the flesh."

a. He wanted Him to act independently from the Father.

b. So, after a 40 day fast, he told Him to turn the stones to bread.

c. Jesus responded with Scripture.

2. Second, Satan tempted Jesus with "the lust of the eyes."

a. He took Jesus "on the pinnacle of the temple" and quoted Scripture to Him.

b. Jesus wasn't in the business of performing signs to attract people.

c. He again defeated the evil one with Scripture.

3. Third, Satan tempted Jesus with "the pride of life."

a. He showed Him "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory" and promised to give them to Jesus for one act of worship.

b. Jesus owned all those kingdoms anyway.

c. He wasn't going to take His crown without facing His cross.

B. To Do What Jesus Would Do Means Defeating Temptation.

1. In each case, Satan was defeated with Scripture.

2. If you and I are going to overcome temptation, we MUST use Scripture!

3. We can defeat temptation.

(1 COR 10:13) "THERE HATH NO TEMPTATION TAKEN YOU BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN: BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE TEMPTED ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABLE; BUT WILL WITH THE TEMPTATION ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT."

IV. Jesus Gave Encouragement.

A. Jesus Continually Built-up His Followers.

1. Peter was by far the loudest, most impetuous disciple and often suffered from the "foot-in-mouth" disease.

2. As a result, Jesus often had to speak or act to bring Peter under control.

(LUKE 22:31-34) "AND THE LORD SAID, SIMON, SIMON, BEHOLD, SATAN HATH DESIRED TO HAVE YOU, THAT HE MAY SIFT YOU AS WHEAT: {32} BUT I HAVE PRAYED FOR THEE, THAT THY FAITH FAIL NOT: AND WHEN THOU ART CONVERTED, STRENGTHEN THY BRETHREN. {33} AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, LORD, I AM READY TO GO WITH THEE, BOTH INTO PRISON, AND TO DEATH. {34} AND HE SAID, I TELL THEE, PETER, THE COCK SHALL NOT CROW THIS DAY, BEFORE THAT THOU SHALT THRICE DENY THAT THOU KNOWEST ME."

3. In Lk.22:31-34, Jesus gave Peter great encouragement by telling him that He had "prayed" for him.

4. He even foretold Peter's denial and repentance.

5. In Jn.21, after the resurrection, Jesus restored and forgave Peter.

6. A few days later, Peter emerged as one of the greatest leaders of the early church.

B. To Do What Jesus Would Do Means Encouraging Others.

1. Jesus looked at a rag-tag group of men and saw apostles.

2. He looked at these men and saw their potential... these men would carry the message to the world.

3. Who in our lives need a bit of encouragement?

If Jesus Christ were here in the flesh today, what would He do? How would He act? The truth is, He would do and act just as He did. The Word of God reveals to us all we need to know about Him. He left us an example, that we might follow in His steps. He left an example of integrity, compassion, victory, and encouragement.

He loved us and gave Himself for us. He was willing to die on Calvary that we might be saved. He took our place in death, that we might have eternal life.