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Following Jesus’ Decision Of Self-Sacrifice In Order To Bear “Fruit”

Following Jesus’ Decision Of Self-Sacrifice In Order To Bear “Fruit”. Prior scripture: John 12.9-33 As Jesus entered Jerusalem, we see Jesus’ conscious choice of self-sacrifice Jesus understood what His self-sacrifice could bring. His blood would:

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Following Jesus’ Decision Of Self-Sacrifice In Order To Bear “Fruit”

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  1. Following Jesus’ Decision Of Self-Sacrifice In Order To Bear “Fruit”

  2. Prior scripture: John 12.9-33 • As Jesus entered Jerusalem, we see Jesus’ conscious choice of self-sacrifice • Jesus understood what His self-sacrifice could bring

  3. His blood would: • Purchase us from Satan To God (Acts 20.28, Revelations 5.9) • Secure forgiveness & release of our sins (Ephesians 1.7, 1John 1.7, Revelations 1.5) • Justify us & save us from God’s wrath (Romans 5.9) • Reconcile us to God (Colossians 1.20-21) • Enable us to come near to God (Ephesians 2.13) & receive His Spirit (John 7.39) • Cause us to have peace with God (Colossians 1.20) • Could cleanse our consciences, enabling us to serve God (Hebrews 9.14)

  4. His blood would: • Enable us to enter God’s Holy presence (Hebrews 10.19-20) • Enable us to find a meaningful life vs. an empty one (1Peter 1.18-19) • Give us white robes to stand in God’s presence (Revelations 7.14-15) • Silence the voice of our accuser the devil (Revelation 12:11) • Make us holy to God (Hebrews 13.12, Colossians 1.20-.22) • Create an eternal covenant (Hebrews 13.20)

  5. Jesus knew that His: • Completed work on the cross • His blood • Would provide a secure & stable basis for both our salvation & for our faith

  6. On the other side of His self-sacrificial decision was “fruit” 23‘And Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”’ John 12:23-24

  7. But Jesus’ continues to say that His decision was a prototype for all who would follow Him. • John 12:24-26: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. 26If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also …”

  8. Bearing “Fruit” requires a new center in our lives • The familiar center of our lives is “self” & living for “self”: doing things “our way”, pleasing ourselves, doing “what we want & when we want to” • Jesus says a self-centered, self-determined life “abides alone” & is unfruitful; John 12.24 • Jesus said in order to “bear fruit”, we need a different center in our lives

  9. In John 12, as Jesus enters Jerusalem, 3 things are at the center of Jesus’ life: • God • God’s mission • His part to play in it In John 12.25-.26, Jesus asks His followers to: • To choose as He chose & • To live as He lived

  10. Philippians 2.3-5: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5Have this attitude (lit. “mind”) in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus …” • We are called to “think like Jesus did” • We are called to have a “new center” to our lives

  11. Philippians 2.6-9: “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name …” • Jesus let go of His life, to bring God’s grace to others

  12. In Philippians 2, what separated Jesus was: • Jesus did not love His power or position • Jesus did not love either the comforts or riches of Heaven • He loved sinners & the “unlovely” - even more than even His own life. • Genuine, self-sacrificial love for others was at the center of Jesus’ life, not self interest • Jesus asks us to follow His example, in order to bear “fruit” & have an “abundant life” (John 12.24, 10.10)

  13. Romans 12:1 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” • “A living sacrifice” – is living like Jesus did, putting God’s will & purposes, over a self-determined life style • Living “self-sacrificially”, toward God, His mission & the role He has for you, is “acceptable worship to God”

  14. Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” • Living a transformed life involves both: 1) embracing the posture of self-sacrifice (“living sacrifice”, Romans 12.1) & 2) a willingness to think like Jesus thought (Romans 12.2)

  15. Romans 12:6- “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness …” • 1970’s term: “saved to serve” (Ephesians 2.10) • Each one of us has a vital part of service to play in God’s church

  16. Jesus invites us to focus our lives the same way He did - upon: • God • God’s mission • His part to play in it • This is the only kind of life that “bears fruit”, “fruit that will last” • Only this kind of life will satisfy God & only this kind of life should satisfy us

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