On Representing Jesus

This is not just the pastor’s job. This is the call of each Christian. This is the reality of each Christian. Each of us represents Jesus. The issue is how well we represent him.

Focus on Love.

Jesus taught his disciples, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”    (John 13:35) As representatives of Jesus we should strive for love. Love is characterized by thinking more of another and less of self. Love is characterized by servanthood and sacrifice. Love is characterized by grace and mercy. NOTE: “Grace” and “mercy” are not synonyms, but not quite antonyms either.

We are called to love our family. We are called to love members of our congregation and other fellow Christians. We are called to love our neighbors. We are called to love our enemies.

For further reading see I Corinthians 13.

Focus on Truth.

Amen. It gets translated, “I tell you the truth.” It is an old Hebrew word that is about the same in Greek and English. Jesus used it a lot. Jesus identified himself as the truth. He told the truth about sin, death and the devil. He told the truth about life, salvation and heaven. His words may have been difficult to understand, but they never had to be doubted.

His followers must be truth tellers. We tell the truth. We tell his truth. We, as Paul instructs, tell the truth in love.

For further reading see John 8:31-59.

Focus on forgiveness of sin.

It does no one good to ignore sin or sinfulness. Jesus certainly did not. Forgiveness of sin is not the same as ignoring or explaining away a situation. It connects people with Jesus’ death on the cross and his payment for our guilt. His death was a guilt offering. It was a peace offering. He took away our guilt and provided us peace.

Many have refashioned sin as a revamping of culture. They posit a new morality. Make no mistake any new morality is simply the old immorality dressed up in the fashion of the day. For Christians to give into such thinking enervates the work of the Church.

We rightly must identify sin for what it is. But at the same time we should show people the way out of its danger and condemnation. We do not explain it away; we show people a better way.

Forgiveness of sin was priority one for Jesus. Yes, he healed, instructed and fed many. But his mission was to provide rebellious creatures a way back to their Creator. His mission was forgiveness. Jesus attained the way back to the Creator by his substitutionary death on the cross which paid the penalty for the world’s sin.  His death provides the means of reconciliation with the Creator which leads to life, abundant and eternal.

As representatives of Jesus we have no greater mission that to proclaim the cross and lead people to its forgiveness.

For further reading see II Corinthians 5:11-21

Focus on not being a bugger.

Jesus was not vulgar. Jesus was not a gossip. Jesus was not a slacker. Jesus was not rude. Jesus was not a bugger. People liked to be around Jesus.

Part of representing Jesus is as simple… which is not to say easy… as not being a bugger.

For further reading see Galatians 5:16-26.

Focus on Christopher.

Christopher continues to be a popular name. It is a purposeful name; it means “Christ bearer.” That’s each Christian’s purpose. To represent Jesus is to make him present again. Like the donkey on Palm Sunday we Christians bear, offer, carry or deliver Jesus to those around us. You are a re-present-er of Jesus. Embrace your name and calling: Christopher.

For further reading see Mark 11:1-10.