He Changed The World

Memory Verse: John 14:12 "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

Jesus changed the world. No other man who ever lived has had as much impact on the world as a whole as did Jesus Christ. Over 2,000 years after He died, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, He is still impacting the lives of those who love Him and those He is calling.

How was Jesus different from the Jewish religious leaders, priests and teachers? What kinds of examples did He set for his followers? What was the reaction of the religious leaders, priests and teachers? Why did they want to destroy Him?

Prior to His coming, the Jews were very exclusive. They didn't associate with Samaritans, lepers, tax collectors, sinners or anyone not of the Jewish faith. They considered all those people as less than human. Jesus changed all that with the way He lived His life and the way He treated others.

We read in our Bibles many stories of Jesus healing the blind, the lame, lepers and even raising individuals from the dead. These were people with whom most Jews wouldn't associate.

He recognized that many of the religious leaders, priests and teachers were hypocrites. They were not leading and teaching the people. In fact Jesus' most forceful accusations were against those that should have been leading and taking care of the people. ( Matthew 23:1-36)

Jesus not only taught about being humble, He lived a humble life. His life taught His followers to put the needs of others ahead of their own needs. He lived a giving life. He gave His life for us.

Jesus taught His followers how to love others by the way He lived His life. He taught us how to love others by the way He treated all people - but most especially by how He treated those considered as outcasts of society.

Luke 19:6-10
6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. "He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner," they grumbled. 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, "I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!" 9 Jesus responded, "Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost."

Matthew 9:11-13
11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners." 12 When Jesus heard this, he said, "Healthy people don't need a doctor-sick people do." 13 Then he added, "Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."

He taught love of God AND love of our neighbor - anyone else other than ourselves. He didn't die for a specific few. He died once for all men and women for all time.

John13:35
"Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples."

Romans 13:8-10
8 "Owe nothing to anyone-except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law. 9 For the commandments say, "You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet." These-and other such commandments-are summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God's law."

1John 2:7-8
7 "Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment-to love one another-is the same message you heard before. 8 Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining"

1Peter 3:18
18 "Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit."

Jesus brought to the people a message of the gift of forgiveness of sin, salvation and eternal life. He gives us that work to continue. We are to teach all people everywhere that same message of the gift of forgiveness of sin, salvation and eternal life. This is available to all people everywhere, not to a specific few or to a specific group. All people are special to God. He wants all of them to hear that message - to have the opportunity to choose to be His children too. No one is left out.

2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent."

Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father and He goes before the Father interceding for us as our High Priest.

Hebrews 7:23-25
23 There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. 24 But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. 25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

Jesus changed the world. Before His resurrection His disciples were afraid and hiding from the Jewish authorities. After receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, His disciples went out and preached the message of the gift of forgiveness of sins, salvation and eternal life boldly and fearlessly. Some of them died gruesome, horrible deaths. None denied Him. Christianity spread across the face of the earth. Over the course of 2,000 years since Jesus' birth, death, resurrection from the dead and ascension into heaven, no one has been able to stamp it out.

Jesus will continue to change the world through the work that we do. Our job is to continue the work that He started. We are to tell others about Jesus and show others by the way we live, the words we speak, and the way we treat others in love and respect, that there is a better way - Jesus' way - God's way.

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