the lord jesus christ our model of good works “thou art good, and doest good” psalm 119:68
TRANSCRIPT
Goals/Approach
• Meditate on the Lord Jesus– What did He do?– How did He do it?
• Approach– As we meditate on the Lord Jesus, let’s keep asking ourselves, “can
this be true of me?”
•
Why did He go about doing good?
• “He went about doing good” Acts 10:38
• Because God is good!– He is God, that is His nature– He is God’s son– He is God’s man (Christ)
Is it realistic to think of the Lord Jesus as a model?
• Yes!
• Obviously, we are not God, but…
• We are sons of God (Romans 8:16)– We have God’s Spirit living in us (a Spirit of power and love and a
sound mind) (2 Tim 1:7)– “Be ye therefore imitators of God as beloved children” (Ephesians
5:1)
• We are God’s men “created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Ephesians 2:10)– We have God’s Word, which can make us “complete, fully fitted to
every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17)
•
He did good because He is God’s son
• As the Son of God, being one with His Father, he did the works of His Father to represent and honor Him.
• “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for what things soever he does, these also does the Son likewise. “ - John 10:32
• “Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father...” – John 10:37-38
He did good because He is God’s son
• “Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father...” – John 10:37-38
• “If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.” – John 14:9-10
• “…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father…”
He did good because He is God’s son
• “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” – John 10:25
• “the works that I do in my Father's name…” – John 10:30
He did good because He is God’s Man
• “But his delight is in Jehovah’s law, and in His law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2
• “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power”
• As a “good man”—God’s man (Christ)—He was full of “good treasure” and brought forth “good things”– Matthew 12:33-35
What did He do?
• “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” - Acts 10:38
•
What did He do?
• He ministered to those in need – Touched the leper (Mark 1:41)
• (he healed him too)
• He didn’t make assumptions – “What will ye that I shall do unto you?” Matthew 20:32
• He freely gave of His time– “Who touched me?” – Mark 5:31– “Go, call thy husband” – John 4:16– “This man receives sinners, and eats with them.” – Luke 15:2
•
What did He do?
• He stood up for those who were oppressed– “Let her alone; why trouble ye her?” Mark 14:6– “Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan
hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day? – Luke 13:16
• He empathized with those in pain– “Jesus wept” John 11:35
• He ministered to people’s basic needs– “I have compassion on the crowd … and would not send them away
fasting lest they should faint on the way.” Matthew 15:32
•
What did He do?
• Comforted those who were suffering. – “He saith unto his mother, Woman behold thy son!” Then saith he to
the disciple, Behold thy mother!” John 19:26
• Taught God’s word
• He spoke soothing words– “that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.” -
Isaiah 50:4– “Thy sins are forgiven” – Luke 7:48– “Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more” – John 8:11
•
What did He do?
• Prayed for others– “but I have prayed for thee” (Luke )– John 17
• Resisted Satan’s assaults against Himself and others– Matthew 4 / Luke 4– “come out of him, and enter no more into him.” Mark 9:25
• Treated God’s people equally– Pharisee: “we know that … you do not court anyone’s favor because
you show no partiality.” Matthew 22:16
•