“Who Is Jesus? And Why It Matters” Part 5
Who is Jesus and Why it Matters – Jesus Management
5 5 10 HT PM
Mark 8:27-29 NKJV
Mark 8:27
Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?”
Mark 8:28
So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”
Mark 8:29
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” NKJV
Tonight we take a quick look at how Jesus managed people- was He the ideal boss?
How Jesus Managed People - a brief look at His organization of the 12 as well as those He called to follow Him give us a pretty sound look at Jesus and how He managed people.
1. He taught them to live forward
Luke 9:57
Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”
Luke 9:58
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Luke 9:59
Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
Luke 9:60
Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:61
And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”
Luke 9:62
But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” NKJV
Lots wife – her heart resided in the city of destruction over the God of hope. Commanded to not look back, she did anyway, given hope and salvation from destruction she chose the past.
Israel -
Exodus 14:11
Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?
Exodus 14:12
Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” NKJV
Do you have any bridges that you keep open just in case you want to return?
No man can serve two masters, double minded is unstable in ALL his ways.
Envision the farmer trying to cut a straight row while looking back – the dreams you desire can only happen as you seize what is in front of you!
What can be gleaned from the past?
• Learn from it, do not lean on it!
• Live from it, do not long for it!
• Build on it, do not bring it!
2. He taught community
John 17:9
“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.
John 17:10
And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.
John 17:11
Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep ◙ through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. NKJV
The creation of community is the goal for every believer.
Ecclesiastes 4:12
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. NKJV
3. He calmed their storms and fears
Matthew 8:23
Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.
Matthew 8:24
And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.
Matthew 8:25
Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
Matthew 8:26
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Matthew 8:27
So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” NKJV
4. He prepared them for adversity
Matthew 10:5
These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.
Matthew 10:6
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 10:7
And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Matthew 10:8
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, ◙ raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Matthew 10:9
Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,
Matthew 10:10
nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food.
Matthew 10:11
“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.
Matthew 10:12
And when you go into a household, greet it.
Matthew 10:13
If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Matthew 10:14
And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.
Matthew 10:15
Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
(Pause – here, Jesus transitions their reality)
Matthew 10:16
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Matthew 10:17
But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
Matthew 10:18
You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
Matthew 10:19
But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
Matthew 10:20
for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. NKJV
Ecclesiastes 7:7-10
7:7 Surely oppression can turn a wise person into a fool;
likewise, a bribe corrupts the heart.
7:8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning;
likewise, patience is better than pride.
7:9 Do not let yourself be quickly provoked,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.
7:10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these days?” for it is not wise to ask that. NET
Adversity