Why Jesus?

Read: Deuteronomy 30:15-20, John 10:10

God wants to bless us with a blissful and prosperous life here on earth – all that we have to do is to follow his directions. Sounds easy, right? But we don’t manage it – we rebel instead of obey, we change his rules and make our own. So the cycle of destruction and pain continues on from one generation to the next. Finally, God sent his son Jesus to show us how it is possible to obey his commands and have life to the full (John 10:10).

Reflection

Consider where you stand in the path to life and prosperity. Where have you successes and where have you challenges? How has your faith helped or hindered you? And how would you like God to help you going forward?

Part I Jesus the Perfect Model

1. In his identity as the Son of God

Jesus has two identities: as the son of Mary and Joseph the carpenter, and as the son of God. But even as a young boy, Jesus enjoyed being God’s son and preferred to spend time at his heavenly father’s house (Luke 2:41-50). Most of us attach our identity to our earthly characteristics (birth, family, education, physical or intellectual strengths, etc.) Through Jesus, however, we can become God’s adopted children (John 1: 12) and find our identities as God's sons and daughters. What does it mean for you to take your identity as God’s child? How is this different from finding your identity in your earthly characteristics?  And why is it better? or is it better? 

Read Matthes 3: 17, John 5:19-21

2. In his connection with God

Jesus’ life on earth remains deeply connected to God in heaven. He gets up early to spend time with God, listens to God, obeys his words, and allows God to work through him. Jesus commits his life to do only God's will.  God is on a mission and he wants you to be part of it (Psalm 25:14), as Jesus is part of it. You can choose a life independent from God and live largely for your dreams and in your ways. Or you can choose to get on his team – and be connected with God’s heart, longings, and big plans for the universe.

Read Mark 1:35, John 14:10-11

3. In his valuing God's opinion over people's

Why do we tend to value people’s opinions? Why is it that we are afraid of, or worried about how others judge us, or that we overly esteem their praises? Why is it that Jesus would not attach his identity to people’s opinions of him? Reflect on your experience of how people-pleasing hinders you from the freedom to be authentic.

Read John 2:24, 5:41

4. In his humility

Conflicts in our relationships with one another are probably the biggest source of hurt, pain, stress, anger, strives, social unrest, and ultimately war. Jesus the Prince of Peace shows us how to avoid all that and find love and harmony instead. Jesus choose humility – though he was a Son of God, he lived as if he was the servant. How is this possible? How does his relationship with God help him to humble himself toward his fellow humans?

How’s your humility? Do you find it hard to consider other people’s interests above yours? How can your identity as God's son or daughter and your commitment to be part of his bigger plan make it easier to be humble?  Take a cue from Jesus!

Read Philippians 2: 5-8

5. In his willingness to suffer (in obeidence to God's will)

A life of submission is not a walk in the park! Doing God’s will can be a struggle because we don’t always want to do it and because it can be hard and scary. If Jesus, being the Son of God, struggles to do God’s will, how much more would we! Like Jesus, we can be honest with God about how we feel, our struggles,  and our weaknesses. (e.g. Psalms 39, Matthew 26) and wrestle with him until we can fully surrender to God.

Read Hebrews 5: 7 - 10

Part I Reflection

Jesus had a big, heavenly mission he wanted to accomplish, against a lot of opposition! He models for us how he successfully lived his life on Earth without sin. Do you feel inspired and hopeful that you, too, can have the free and fulfilling life God promises you, by following Jesus’ example? If not, identify your doubts and put them before God in prayers.

1. Discipleship defined

The early Christians were called disciples of Jesus because they actively obeyed Jesus’s teaching and imitated Jesus’s way of life as he had modeled for us. Today there are many ‘versions’ of Christians but few actively pursue discipleship. What role do you think discipleship has in the life of a Christian and what does mean to you?

Read Acts 11:26b

Part II How to Be a Disciple of Jesus

2. Jesus calls his disciples

We see here how Jesus called his first disciples. What did Jesus promise them when he called? And what do you notice about how the would-be-disciples responded to Jesus’ calling? Jesus promises us the same things today when we choose to follow him: life with a purpose and reward greater than our career can offer us. Why is it important to respond to Jesus immediately when he calls? What happens when we delay?

Read Mark 1:14-18

3. The choices disciples make

Discipleship is a daily decision

v23. – to die to our sinful desires, and to do what Jesus would do instead. For example, you can choose to read the Bible instead of watching another youtube video, you can choose to be honest instead of lying, to be patient instead of lashing out, to forgive instead of harboring resentment, and so on. Reflect on this past week – where / when do you choose to follow Jesus and where / when did you not?

Discipleship is a lifetime choice

v24-28 – a ‘whole world’ is one where you have everything you want, the way you want them. Describe an ideal life for you – perhaps where you are esteemed for your expert knowledge in your profession, where you enjoy the comfort your wealth brings you, or a life surrounded by loved ones. Sometimes gaining our whole world has a price – in saving our lives on earth we can lose our very self – our true identity and purpose in God – for eternity. Jesus cautions us to choose carefully what we value and prioritize in life.

Discipleship does not fit in the world

v26. practicing discipleship can make your life stand out – sometimes in ways that invite others to mock you (think Noah building an ark!). The world will try to make you feel foolish and even ashamed of Jesus. Would you still choose discipleship when your faith humiliates you before friends, neighbors, and colleagues?

Read Luke 9:23-26

4. Loving Jesus above all

Our families are usually the ones who are closest to us and whose love, support, and opinions mean the most to us. God wants us to care so much more about his love and opinions of us – so much more that we would hate even what we love the most – incomparably more. Whose opinions or voices do you listen to and value the most? Are you ready and willing to choose loving God over the people you love and respect most?

Read Luke 14:25-27

5. Fighting the right war

First Jesus tells us the cost of becoming his disciple. Now he tells us the cost of not being his disciple.

Keeping God out

A tower, including the fortress, is built to defend a city. If you think the price of being a disciple is too high to pay, and that and that you’d prefer to go your own way – you can build a fortress to keep God out. But think first if you can truly accomplish this all the way to the end of your life. Reflect on your life so far, in what ways have you kept God out? (e.g, you go to church on Sundays but the rest of the week you hardly think about God. Or perhaps there are areas of your life you want God to be handed off (girl- boyfriends, money, career, hobby, etc.)

Surrender now or later

In this parable. the first king is those of us who are confronted with going to battle against a far more powerful king: God. (Hint, he will win in the end). We can 1. fight him now, suffer a casualty, lose everything, and in the end, surrender. or 2. surrender now and make peace with God – and enjoy a life of true love, peace, and prosperity in this life, plus rule the world with him in the next life. Look at the areas of your life where you rebel against God or the authority of the Bible, his word. For example: harboring bitterness, flirting with sexual sins, being dishonest in your finance, substance abuse, and so on.  What is Jesus advising you to do?

Read Luke 14:28-33

6. Doing greater things

For those who choose to follow Jesus as his disciples, Jesus promises to empower them to do great things. What can you imagine as ‘greater things’ Jesus could do through your life?

Read John 14: 12

7. Making disciples

As disciples of Jesus, we are commissioned by him to make disciples. We saw earlier in Mark 1:17 that Jesus promised to send us out to ‘fish for people’ when we become his disciples. Here he gives us the blueprint of what that means. Are you ready to accept this great commission from Jesus to go and teach others about him? And even model for them how you follow Jesus? When you are on God’s mission, you no longer live for yourself, but you walk with God daily to be used by Him. And Jesus promises to be with you always – you never have to do discipleship alone.

Read Matthew 28: 18-20

What does it mean for you to be a disciple of Jesus? And how is this different from being a Christian, or a believer? If you find the topic very challenging, you are not alone. (Jesus did, too!) God is looking for hearts that are willing to trust him and faith that is daring to obey. He wants you to live the life of discipleship (although it is always a choice you have) because this is how we can experience the ultimate fullness of his love. He also knows that our sinful or earthly nature is constantly opposing us. Jesus can relate and promises to support, guide, and empower us through the Holy Spirit. Are you ready to say ‘yes’ to discipleship?

Part III Reflection

Next Study

Study #3 The Cross

• Walking with Jesus to the cross

• The impact of the Cross

• What does the cross mean to me?

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