Putting on Christ series: Lesson 7

Putting On Christ go directly to point 13 go directly to point 14

In this series we are expanding on one simple directive from God. It is found in Romans 13 and verse 14

“Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ”

In the first 6 lessons, we discussed the first 12 elements of Christ’s character.

Today we will discuss Points 13 and 14 of Christ’s character; elements that we must have if we are to be like Him.

Point 13: He was willing to Look Foolish

What do each of these characters have in common?

1) A Deluded engineer
2) A Nudist
3) A Beggar
4) An Improper Woman
5) A Blasphemer

• The deluded engineer was Noah---built an ark in the middle of the desert.
• The nudist was Isaiah---went naked for three years.
• The beggar was Elijah---he had to ask a widow for food.
• The improper woman was Mary---conceived a child before marriage.
• The blasphemer was Jesus---claimed to be equal with God.

Jesus Christ was not concerned about what people would think. He never said, “What will the neighbors think?” He had a mission and He went about doing it.

He understood that to be an effective leader, to be an effective Christian, He had to be willing to sacrifice and take risks with His public image.

Titus 2:14
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Can you imagine a group of bankers sitting around a table when a young earnest man looks them in the eyes and says....

“I am going to build a billion-dollar empire based on a mouse, a fairy and the seven dwarfs. Will you help me?”

He would have been laughed out of the building.

Of course, the man we speak of was Walt Disney.

He had a mission and he was not afraid to look foolish before men to accomplish that task.

Thomas Edison had thousands of failures before he got the light bulb right.

Benjamin Franklin, the fool on the roof flying a kite in a rainstorm, retired as one of our country’s first millionaires.

Jesus was willing to look foolish.

He was willing to enter into town on a donkey.

He was willing to wash the feet of the disciples.

He was willing to cry in front of His friends.

God has given us a mission. We are his peculiar people. Don’t be afraid to look foolish.

Point 14: Jesus Was Constantly in a State of Celebration.

In John 6 we find Jesus with 5000 people. What does He do? He feeds them.

Luke 7:34 SAYS
34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

Despite the fact that Christ is referred to as a man of sorrows, He rarely missed an opportunity to celebrate or attend someone else’s celebration.

Notice His first miracle ---the first action of His ministry…He attends a celebration, a wedding and turns water into wine.

Whenever He was with a group of people, He took steps to make sure they were fed. He did not want people leaving on an empty stomach.

Look at what we do here every week—food service.

Christ came from a happy place and He went back to a happy place.

Luke 15:10 SAYS
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

They throw parties in heaven.

Christ was always ready to celebrate.

Reminds me of the story about the salesman.

A businessman meets with the salesman and after some discussion, closes a deal.

The salesman says, “This calls for a celebration.”

He goes to the trunk of his car and brings out champagne on ice.

“Do you always carry chilled champagne around with you in the trunk of the car?”, the business man said.

“Oh yes”, he said, lifting his glass to toast the occasion.

“Life is full of opportunities to celebrate and I don’t want to miss any of them”

There is a story about a ten year old who was asked, “What do you think was the first thing Christ said when He was resurrected”.

The little boy said, “Ta da”

Turn to John 12

John 12:1-7
1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

Notice your bulletin today, and the article about Banquets. Notice that under Occasions for Banquets they list among other things , “burials”.

Christ was at yet another celebration…one about His burial and coming resurrection.

Right up to the end, Christ was celebrating.

After the resurrection, He appears to the disciples and they have another celebration.

Finally He ascends into heaven……..think they had a party?

And we know that Christ is coming back and when He does what does He say,

Matthew 26:29
29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

We have a celebration to look forward to!!

Christ was always ready for a celebration…so should we.

So now, we have two more elements of the character and make-up of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Study them and continue to put on Christ.

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