Setting an Example

JOHN 13:15 FOR I HAVE GIVEN YOU AN EXAMPLE, THAT YOU SHOULD DO AS I HAVE DONE TO YOU.

It was just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. The evening meal was underway. In a surprising gesture of ultimate farewell Jesus He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist, as the lowliest slave would do.  After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.

Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having emphasized the virtue of humility and meekness throughout His ministry, Jesus now decided to set a lasting example the men would never forget. Jesus washed His disciple just to get them to be nice to each other. His far greater goal was to extend His mission on earth after He was gone. These men were to move into the world serving God, serving each other and serving everyone to whom they took the message of salvation.

The disciples were spellbound, not knowing how to react. They have never seen anything as astounding as this in their life or heard about it. in  an age and culture when slavery and servility was very much part of the life, and marked the relationship between the different classes of people, an act like this – a master washing the feet of His disciples – was social dynamite. Peter was the first to react, but his puzzled protest Jesus set aside.

God expects Christians to be an example to the world. “You are the light of the world” said Jesus. Light makes everything visible. He taught “Let your light shine on others in a way that people will see your good deeds and praise God in heaven. A city that’s on top of a hill can’t be hidden”. Throughout the scripture, setting an example is stressed as an important element in discipleship.

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       Mathew 11:29 “Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls”

It is curious that Jesus would send out a clarion call “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (v 28) – and then proceed to say ‘’take my yoke”. Jesus was telling His followers to learn from His example of gentleness and humility. ‘’I am meek and lowly in heart’’. Compare this with his statement in Matthew 5:5 - ‘’blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth’’. The world is open for Christians to inherit, to inherit and evangelize, to Christians who are meek  in their hearts.

Wherever pride and anger dwell, there is nothing but mental labor and agony; but, where the meekness and humility of Christ dwell, all is smooth, even peaceable and quiet; for the work of righteousness is peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. (Isaiah 32:17).

·       Philippians 3:17 “I want you to follow my example and learn from others who closely follow the example we set for you”

Paul urged Philippians to follow His example of enthusiasm, perseverance and maturity. He never claimed he was perfect. (See 3.12:  I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me). What he means is as he has focused His life on being like Christ, so should they too. The gospels were not written at that time or were not in circulation, so Paul could not ask them to read them and find out what Christ was like. So he urged them to imitate Him. That he could tell others to follow his pattern was a testimony to his character. Can you say the same with Paul’s confidence? What kind of follower will a new Christian become if he follows you?

·       1Thess.  1:6-7 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

The new Christians at Thessalonica received training and discipline from Paul and even in suffering they expressed what they had learned. They had received the message of salvation with great joy, but soon it led to persecution by Jews and Gentiles. Satan will challenge anyone who makes a difference to God. The world is sinful and naturally, believers suffer. Jesus warned his followers: (John 15:18, 19) ‘’ If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world”. For reasons we won’t understand God allows some to become martyrs for the faith and allows others to survive persecution. God provided Stephen and James to die as martyrs for the truth but rescued Peter from Herod’s dungeon in dramatic style.  Thessalonians not only turned into model Christians but witnessed effectively to believers all over Greece and beyond.

·       1Timothy 1:16 God had mercy on me so that Christ could use me as a prime example of His great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they too can believe in Him and receive eternal life.

Paul did not hesitate to share with others his wild past because he knew his failure would let others to have hope. At times we are reluctant to let others know our past struggles because we are afraid it will tarnish  our image. Paul demonstrated that lowering our guard wil be an important steps in communicating the Good News. He  used His unworthiness to receive Christ as an example of grace so that no one would hold back from coming to Christ.  Paul’ past as contrasted with his present state was a perfect example of  encouragement of sinners in all subsequent times. It was this  to which people might look when they desired forgiveness and salvation. It furnished all the illustration and argument which they would need to understand that they will receive forgiveness freely. It settled the question forever that even the worst of sinners might be pardoned; Paul confesses he was “the chief of sinners,” as proof that no one is beyond the reach of grace.  No one is beyond salvation. God is willing to save any sinner, no matter how vile, provided he is penitent and believing.

·       1Peter 5:3 Don't be bossy to those people who are in your care, but set an example for them.

Peter taught Christian leaders to lead by Christian example, not by commands. The bishops and presbyters are to feed the flock, to guide and to defend it, not to fleece and exploit them; and they are to look for their reward in another world, and in the approbation of God in their consciences. And in humility, self-abasement, self-renunciation, and heavenly-mindedness, they are to be examples to the flock. How many among our leaders properly care for the flock? Even among those reputed evangelical teachers, are there not some who, on their first coming to a parish or a congregation, make it their first business to raise funds for this purpose or that? See Jeremiah 3:15 (Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding) . Leaders should:

1.    Realize they are caring for God’s flock, not their own

2.    Lead out of eagerness to serve, not out of obligation

3.    Be concerned about what they can give, not what they can get

4.    Lead by example not by force

All of us lead somebody in some way. Whatever our role, our leadership should be in line with these characteristics. Paul told the Corinthian believers to imitate Him (See 1Corinth 4:16; 1Corinth 11:1). He told the Galatians in Galatians  6:17 “I bear branded on my body the marks of Jesus”.  As the body of Christ, believers must show Christ to the world by being an example. Nonbelievers should be able to see Christ in believers and be so drawn to what they see that they seek Christ and salvation.

I once led a young person to Christ. She was our Hindu domestic help and mother of a teen age daughter.  She was illiterate. I had never shared the Gospel with her in the two years she worked for us, my excuse being I didn’t speak her language. She once came to me all of a sudden and reported “she wanted to join us”. I understood she wanted to become Christian. I closely questioned her as to the reason for her this change of her heart. The answer she gave was revealing. She had been observing me for the last couple of years and had come to the conclusion my God was with me. After a bit of further probing and making sure she was not doing this for any material benefit, I arranged for the two of them to be baptized. I also stopped the marriage she was planning for her daughter and sent her to a professional course. Two decades later, she is no more a maid-servant, has her own income and the matriarch of a happy Christian family of five.   

What kind of an example are you?

1Peter 2:21  Christ also suffered on our behalf, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.

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