As I Follow Christ | Me & My Community
As I Follow Christ: (Part IV)
Me & My Community
Mark 6:6-12
6Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
Mark 6:30-34
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
INTRODUCTION
We now come to the conclusion of the series “As I Follow Christ”. The key verse for which is I Cor 11:1
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ
Or in the New International Version
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ
The emphasis of the verse is two-fold, that
1) I am to be a faithful disciple of Christ – following His example, and
2) that by doing so, be able to lead others to follow Him.
Pastor Jerry opened the series with a look at what it means to be a disciple of Christ, the costs and the rewards. Then we learned about how discipleship could make a difference in the lives of those around us, first on our immediate family, and then our close friends. Today, we look at other areas of our influence – our wider community – our church family, our acquanitances, our neighbors, co-workers, distant relatives, even strangers we meet on the street.
Since our theme is to imitate Christ, I would like us to look closely on how Christ dealt with the people from different walks of life, individuals or the multitudes He encountered in the community.
There are several lessons that can learn as we examine the ways Christ dealt with the community, the people around him or the masses that followed him. I submit to you 3 guiding principles. But these are not meant to be treated as a particular sequence or a progression. but rather that each one is implied in the other.
I Engage the Community
In all the years of Jesus earthly ministry, Jesus was preaching and healing in the villages that He visited. It had been foretold that this would have been what the promised Messiah would be doing. So when John the Baptist asked through his disciples if Jesus was the promised one, He replied...
Matt 11:4
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. ”
Ministering to the masses, was indispensable in His mission.
One could observe that even while Jesus was ministering to others, the disciples were always there with Him. Whether He addressed the multitudes that pressed on him, conversed with the scribes and Pharisees who sought to ensnare Him or spoke to some beggar along the road, the disciples were close at hand to observe and listen.
In the entire chapter 6 we see Christ and disciples actively engaged in the towns and villages
• In Mark 6:1-4. Jesus went to Nazareth and preached in the Synagogue. But people responded in unbelief. He was He was rejected in His own hometown
• In Mark 6:6-12. The disciples were sent to the other villages to preach repentance and to heal.
He teamed them up in pairs. It seems this plan was intended to provide for his disciples’ needed companionship along the way. Together they could help one another, and when adverse circumstances greeted them, they could find comfort and encouragement among themselves. They then departed, and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. The little group of disciples were finally started in the active ministry of Christ by themselves.
Several things that we can note as the disciples went to the villages and engaged the people. They could go with confidence having had months even a year or so in training to be what they were first called to be and that is “to follow Christ and become fishers of men”. And as they went, they did so
• under God’s authority,
“Jesus sent them...”
• for God’s purpose
“To preach repentance and to heal”
• with God’s power,
“Gave them authority over impure spirits”
• with God’s direction,
They were to go in pairs so they could help one another and encourage one another. In addition, God gave specific instructions on what to take, where to stay, when to leave
• with God’s provision
They were to rely solely on the provision of God through the people. “Take nothing with you, no bread, no bag, no money, no extra shirt.” They were to trust God to provide through kindness of strangers.
• with God’s protection
There were to expect some opposition, but regardless, there was an assurance of their safety.
In this instance, for the disciples, engaging the Community for Christ was a short-term mission endeavor. Maybe, you and I are also being sent to reach out to places where we can be God’s hands and feet. It could be for a few hours, or days or months and years. We could go even without the comforts that we are used to. And it is not limited to Christian outreach either. We could be an influence when we serve or volunteer in the local community.
Engaging the community could involve simply opening spiritual conversations with your neighbor.
Story of Zaccheus the Tax Collector
Luke 19:1-7
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
Engaging the community could mean opening bridges and relationships where there once was none. and breaking social or cultural barriers regardless of inherent risks. This Christ did when He purposefully setup a “chance encounter” with the Samaritan woman at the well. He sent the disciples away on an errand, and making the atmosphere ideal for what was about to take place. Then He defied what were acceptable norms by humbly asking the woman for a drink.
There are countless ways we can engage our community. We just need to be conscious of the opportunities that God brings before us.
At times, engaging the community would require some sacrifice on our part. It may mean getting out of your comfort zone, going out of your way, and giving up our ME time.
We all have and need our ME-times – those personal times which value and guard for various reasons – for Physical or Spiritual needs or for our Emotional well-being.
Mark 6:30-34;
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Physical
The disciples needed this time for physical rest and nourishment. It was after they had gone back to report all that they have done, that Jesus told them to go to a quiet place to be away from the crowds for a much-deserved rest.
Spiritual Health
If Christ had what we might consider as a “me time” it would have been the times He would withdraw to a quiet place and spend alone in prayer.
Emotional Well-being
In the preceding verses in Mark 6:13-29 and the parallel account by Matthew 14, we find the narrative of the events surrounding the gruesome death of John the Baptist. In Matt 14:13a
Matt: 14:13a
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.
It seems that Christ Himself needed this alone time to mourn the loss of this man of God whom He held in high esteem.
But that rest, that “Me-Time”, was not to be, because the crowd had gone ahead of them. And they were eagerly waiting.
Mark 6:34
34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Rest had to wait. Christ saw the great need of the community.
II Embrace the Community
At this time of COVID-19, I realize that “embrace” is no longer a good thing. What I really mean is that we are to show compassion.
It may not be a literal hug or embrace. But maybe it is. From six feet away or maybe up-close. With a mask, face-shield, gloves, PPE or perhaps even without.
It could be hand on the shoulder or standing alongside someone, sharing a word of encouragement or a message of hope.
He had compassion, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
Sheep are not the brightest animals in the world. They are dumb, prone to wander, and fairly defenseless.
Without a shepherd sheep are in trouble. In fact, sheep are hopeless without a shepherd. Put in another way... a shepherd is ALL that the sheep needs.
Psalm 23:1-6
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (Contentment, Provision)
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; (Rest and Refreshment)
He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul (Comfort, Well-Being)
He guides me in the paths of righteousness (Purpose & Direction)
for the sake of His name. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, (Peace & Security)
I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Security & Protection)
You prepare a table before me (Vindication)
in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; (Pleasure)
my cup overflows. 6Surely your goodness and love will follow me (Fulfillment)
all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (In Perpetuity).
And that is what Jesus is saying here about the people. Without a shepherd, they were lost; they were hopeless, they had none of these. This was true of the crowd that Jesus interacted with and this is true of everyone today who is not a believer. Actually, even some people who label themselves as Christian may also be in some form of lostness.
It is not difficult knowing and understanding that people are lost and hopeless without Christ. But does it move us to compassion? Or is compassion something that we reserve, if at all, for those who are just like us, or think like us?
We are to show compassion because the people are lost. Without Christ, people are lost whether they are white or black or brown or any other color. Without Christ, people are
lost whether they are far left, far right, center, whatever sign they put on their lawns, whether they vote straight Red or straight Blue. Without Christ, people are lost whether they stand for the flag or choose to kneel. Without Christ, people are lost whether they stand with Black Lives or Blue Lives or All Lives.
There are so much that we can differ on, and many of us have drawn lines that we will not cross, based on our beliefs and our convictions.
It is sad that we hostility and disrespect is now common-place when people disagree. Sometimes, it is even encouraged and inflamed. It seems that battle lines have been drawn, there are no compromises, no middle grounds.
We are to show compassion. Embrace the Community, not the Culture. We are to hate the sin but love the sinner.
When we see people as Jesus saw them, then we would realize the urgency of the tasks that Christ has given us.
III Evangelize the Community
Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Christ’s earthly ministry was for this purpose, to seek and to save the lost. By His life and death, He would draw men to Himself. Each interaction He had with His closest disciples and followers and the people He ministered to was toward this end.
That brief encounter with Zaccheus turned his life around.
Luke 19:8-10
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
And that encounter at the well with the woman from Samaria?
Some scholars had said that Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan is a great lesson or pattern on soul winning that Christ Himself demonstrated and that we could follow.
Jesus answered lovingly and patiently each argument that the woman raised. He declared the superiority of what God offers and what was to come and in terms that she could understand. She was made to face-up to her moral failure or sin. She never felt put down, but rather her attitude towards Him changed from “You, a Jew” to Sir to Prophet, and finally as Messiah”. Not only was she saved, but many in her town as well because of her testimony.
Practically everything that Jesus said and did had some relevance to His work of seeking and saving the lost. He called the twelve and let them follow him as disciples. As he ministered to the multitudes, the disciples were always there, and He was also preparing them for their eventual work of evangelism, either by explaining a spiritual truth or revealing to them how they should deal with people. For the
most part, the disciples were absorbing it without even knowing that they were being trained to win people for God.
CONCLUSION
“Christian disciples are sent men and women – sent out in the same work of world evangelism to which the Lord was sent and for which He gave His life. Evangelism is not an optional accessory in our life. It is the heartbeat of all we are called to be or do. It is the commission of the church that gives meaning to all else that is undertaken in the name of Christ. “ - Robert Coleman Master Plan of Evangelism
Mark 16:15
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Winning souls was the aim. But reaching all the world would not be done by one Man. Or even by a bunch of men that Christ, the Master Teacher Himself trained for 3 years. Not in just one or even several lifetimes. That was why He also commanded that they were to GO and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations.
Discipleship is essential so that the work of evangelism will continue. Not just for this generation but those to come. That is why we build disciples because otherwise, how else would future generations be reached?
Sometimes we feel the task is overwhelming. Perhaps we have been hindered by fear of failure or challenges or sidetracked by misplaced priorities. We settle for the convenient or are simply contented with the status quo. Sometimes, we are more passionate about our vocation or recreation, the pursuit of our dreams and ambitions, more so than taking seriously God's commission.
But if we see people as Christ saw them, with compassion, and likewise be moved by it. I believe that engaging the people around us in spiritual conversations, or pouring into their lives would make evangelistic and discipleship efforts in our community more fruitful and God honoring.
-Bro. Roy Villarta