Jesus of Nazareth who walked the streets of Israel 2000 years ago is no longer confined to the limitations of a body like ours. Ephesians 4:10 says He “ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.” Before He ascended, He promised His disciples, “I am with you always even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). We still have yet to see the end of the age He was referring to. And so if Jesus keeps His promises then He is here with us right now, in our midst. Romans 8 describes how His Spirit actually lives inside our bodies. If we’ve given our lives to Him and been baptized in His name, He lives in us. I know the Jesus of this book is still alive and He is here, not just because of His promises. But there’s been times in prayer when I have felt His presence. I have received responses from Him that have made me very aware that He is truly my constant companion.

He is not just present, but He’s been actively interacting with you and me, working on us, more than we realize. The apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 12:3 that “no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.” If you simply recognize that the Jesus of Nazareth is truly alive and King today, then His Spirit has been at work in your heart and life to reveal that reality to you. You probably didn’t even detect that He was working on you. If you’ve been convicted of sin and righteousness and judgment, that’s a work of His Spirit, says John 16:8. In John 14:26, Jesus told His disciples that the Spirit would bring to their remembrance the things He taught them. I suspect He’s done some of that in your life and mine; when we have remembered things we’ve learned from Jesus at the right time when we needed it, and assumed it was just our own memory working.

He works on us through the circumstances of our lives. “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives” (Hebrews 12:6). He gives, He takes away. He humbles and exalts. There are many examples in Scripture where He arranged appointments between one person and another – Ruth and Boaz; Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. He is at work in our lives to teach and train and connect and influence.

And each of us are responding to His work in our lives. We’re either responding well or not well. We’re either listening and learning and being changed by Him, or we’re stubbornly continuing to think we know best and doing our own thing. Conscious of it or not, we are interacting with our Maker and with the King to whom one day we will give an account for our lives.

How is the interaction going? Are we responding well?

This morning we’re going to briefly look at some interactions Jesus had with three different men. We’ll look first at Jesus’ interaction with a good man, at least good in the opinion of people. Then an interaction with a fake man, and then with a humbled man. We’re going to look at these because they inform us on what to expect in our interaction with Jesus, because His personality has not changed from what it was like in these stories. Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

So first…

Jesus’ interaction with a “Good” Man (Mark 10:17-22)

He was a financially successful young man. In the conversation with Jesus here he says he had kept many of the commandments of God since his youth. He claims that he never murdered anybody or committed adultery or stole anything. He never bore false witness or defrauded anyone. He has always honored his father and mother. He seems to think of himself as a good man, and probably those who knew him would agree. He probably saw his wealth as evidence that he had God’s favor.

Maybe you see yourself like that, as a pretty good person. You don’t hurt anybody. You earn an honest living, pay your taxes, take care of your family, and attend church.

In Mark 10, we’re going to pick up the dialogue with Jesus at verse 21. He is discussing with Jesus what God requires of us if we’re to inherit eternal life. After claiming that he has been obedient to many of God’s commands, Mark 10:21 says, “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’” It’s interesting, because Jesus did not make this specific requirement of everyone. You don’t find Jesus telling many people that in order to have eternal life they must sell everything they have and give it all away. But He makes that demand of this man. And it was not because Jesus didn’t like this man and was being hard on him. You notice in the text it says Jesus “loved him.” Jesus wanted to help this man. He wanted to help him realize his sinfulness. This man was an idolater, he just didn’t know it. You see he had put something else in God’s rightful place in his heart and life. What was really most important to Him was not his relationship with God; it was having wealth. He valued the gifts more than the Giver. That’s idolatry says Colossians 3:5 and Ephesians 5:5. And idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9-10). So Jesus made it a requirement of this man that he give away all he had as a test to reveal to him what’s first in his heart. The fact that he was unwilling to do it made clear that money and material possessions was his god.

And it says he went away sad.  It is a very unhappy place to be in when you want God’s favor, but you’re too attached to something in the world. That’s a miserable and scary condition to be in.

What’s first in your heart? Is there something you would be unwilling to let go of if Jesus told you to? Would it be your wealth? Or maybe certain habits or hobbies? Or maybe a career? Or a relationship with someone? Or maybe a leisurely comfortable lifestyle you don’t want to give up? What’s most important to you?

If God is not first in our lives, we may be good according to society’s standards, but we’re not fit for the kingdom of God. When Jesus calls us to repent, He doesn’t mean just be what people judge is good. He means give God the place He deserves as our maker and provider and savior. He means what we think about most, needs to be God and His Word and His will. And the number one question we ask in making decisions is not what will make me the most money or what would be fun, but what would God have me to do.

If Jesus’ requirement sounds difficult then we’re understanding Him correctly. Because in verse 23 Jesus turned to His disciples and said, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” [Lord, you’re making it sound like it’s too difficult for us. It’s so hard for us to not be in love with money and pleasure and ourselves and actually live for God. Who can do that? Who can be saved?] Then Jesus made this wonderful statement, verse 27, “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” God can fit camels through the eyes of needles. God can take greedy, idolatrous, impure, addicted, selfish hearts and transform them into hearts that put Him first and live for Him.

The grace and power to live like that, Jesus offers to all of us. But we have to want it and we have to surrender.

Now let’s look at…

Jesus’ Interaction with a Fake Man (John 13)

There can be significant earthly benefits to looking like a follower of Christ. There can be social benefits. It may please your family to see you in church. It may enable you to be friends with people you want to be friends with. If you’re a single guy you may know a lot of single ladies are looking for a nice Christian guy. There may be financial benefits. A church may be full of potential customers. Or there could be an employment position supported by the church. And if you get close with Christian folk, it can be a safety net. If you come in need, they’re going help you. There’s recognition and pats on the back and respect when you do good deeds and help out. And it may ease your conscience to do a few good things. Because of all the perks, churches and Bible camps and ministry organizations often have fake people, let’s be honest, people who are putting on an outward show of love for the Lord.

Judas Iscariot was such a person. He was called by Jesus to be a part of His twelve closest disciples who go with Him everywhere and who He would train to minister like Him. Judas joined the group and stayed with the group. When Jesus sent them out to villages to heal the sick and cast out demons and proclaim “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand,” Judas did that. Judas was an evangelist. Judas got recognition and friends and he was benefiting financially. John 12:6 says Judas was in charge of the group’s money bag and he would frequently treat himself with some extra salary. Judas had all the other disciples fooled into thinking he was genuinely in it to serve God, because at the last supper table, Jesus said, “one of you will betray me,” they didn’t know which one of them would do that (John 13:21).

But Jesus knew (John 6:70-71). At the last supper table Judas had already made a deal with Jesus’ enemies for 30 pieces of silver to lead them to Jesus in a secret place away from the crowds where they could arrest Him. The Lord knew what he was planning to do, yet at the table that night Jesus exhibited amazing love and willingness to forgive and accept Judas if he would repent. There were at least three things He did for Judas at the table.

First, at that table Jesus washed his dirty feet. Can you imagine, knowing he was planning to betray Him, He washed his feet. Jesus served him.

A second, Jesus warned Judas about the path he was headed down. Matthew 26:24, He said with Judas listening, “Woe to that man by whom I am betrayed. It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

A third, according John 13:26, Jesus took a piece of bread and dipped it in wine or oil, and He held it out to Judas. In that culture, from what I read, for a host to hold out a sop to someone at the table was an honor to that person and was an offer of friendship. Jesus was still offering His friendship to Judas.

He’s the same Jesus today. If you’ve just been acting the part, not really in it to serve God, but just for the earthly perks, Jesus knows, He knows your thoughts and motives. But He loves you anyway. He wants you to repent and not continue on the path to destruction. He’s offering you His friendship.

Now, lastly…

Jesus’ Interaction with a Humbled Man (John 21)

We’ll pick up the story just before he was humbled. At the last supper table Jesus told His disciples He was leaving them and they couldn’t come with Him. They didn’t understand yet that He literally meant He was going to die. John 13:36, “Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” It’s easy, isn’t it, in warmth and comfort with your Christian friends around you, to sing all kinds of devotional songs and make great promises to be faithful no matter what comes. But Satan and the world can blindside you with situations you were not ever expecting or prepared for. Peter didn’t know the truth about himself. He didn’t realize how weak he was; “38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.”

I assume you know the story of how Peter did, three times that very night, what he thought he was strong enough to never do. We’re told that early in the morning Peter was in the courtyard where Jesus was being falsely accused and abused, and the rooster’s crow reminded him of Jesus’ prediction that he would deny Him three times, which he just did. And it says he looked over at Jesus all beaten and suffering, and he saw the Lord looking right at him. Oh, it must have crushed him! He knew he had hurt and disappointed the Lord who had been so good to him. It says he went out and wept bitterly.

Have you failed like that? Have you hurt and disappointed the Lord who has been so good to you? Did you deny your love for Him with your words or your actions? There’s been times when I did. Did you fall away for a time?

John 21 records an interaction between Jesus and Peter a couple weeks later. The disciples knew Jesus was alive by now, it had been a few days since the last time Jesus had appeared to them. But they weren’t sure what to do. So Peter said, “Well guys, I’m going fishing,” which was his old occupation. Six others said, “Yeah, why not? We’ll come with you.” The best fishing by net was at night when the fish were up closer to the surface to feed. They went out in a boat and fished all night and strangely caught nothing. As the sun was beginning to rise there was this man standing on the shoreline about a hundred yards away, too far to really make out who he was. The man called out, “Hey boys, have you caught anything?” They said, “No! We haven’t caught a thing all night!” He said, “Well, cast your net on the right-side of the boat, there’s fish over there.” Of course that makes no sense at all. How does this guy know there’s fish over there? But they decide to play along. Why not give it one more cast before they head in? Immediately they have so many fish they can’t pull the net up! John states the obvious, “It’s the Lord!” Now, you may recall Jesus had done a similar miracle for them before when He first called Peter, James and John to follow Him, and now He’s doing it again. Peter jumps out of the boat and swims to shore. The others row the boat to shore, dragging the net full of fish along. At the shore Jesus is cooking some breakfast over a charcoal fire.

And Jesus did not tell Peter to get lost. Jesus did not give him a look of distain. Jesus said, “Bring some of those fish over here and come eat with me.” Peter ran over to the net and drug it up on the beach and brought some fish over. They all ate fish and bread together. The disciples, I’m sure, were just in awe, they were eating breakfast with Jesus whom they saw die.

John 21:15, “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” People debate about what Jesus meant by “these.” Who are “these”? Some think He means, “Do you love me more than these other disciples like you claimed to before?” That may be what He means. Or He may mean “Simon, do you love me more than these fish, like when I first called you to follow me? You loved me enough to leave all the fish behind to follow Me. Do you still love me more than these fish?” Whatever he meant by that, Peter said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” That doesn’t mean literally lambs. Jesus is saying I still want you to shepherd my sheep. Jesus was telling him, “It isn’t over between us, Peter.” And, “Don’t think that just because you failed for a time, that you’re not cut out for the work I called you to do; that you should leave it to others and go back to your fishing. I still want you to be a shepherd of My people.”

Interestingly, verse 16, Jesus said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”  17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

I think I know why He asked him three times. It’s because Peter had denied Him three times. It was Jesus’ way of allowing Peter to retract each of his three denials. This is Jesus’ gracious invitation to restore their relationship to what it was before.

And Jesus is doing the same with you if you feel like you failed Him. He is asking you, “Do you love me?” And if you say, “Yes Lord you know I love you.” Then He says, “Then we’re good. I forgive you. Let’s get back to working together.” He’s telling you right now, “It’s not over between us.” He’s inviting you to reaffirm your love and commitment to Him, and pick back up where you left off with Him

The Lord forgave Peter, helped him to develop the strength to never deny Him ever again, and did amazing things with him in the world.

Conclusion

The same Jesus is right here. If we’re a good man or woman according to people’s standards, but the Lord is not the priority in our life, or if we’ve been fake, pretending to love Him, or if we’ve failed Him, if we’ve disappointed Him, if we were weaker than we thought, He knows. But He still offers complete forgiveness, friendship and eternal life. He requires that we repent wholeheartedly, that we mean it when we say, “Lord, I love you. I love you more than anything or anyone. I will give up all that I have if you want me to. I am yours Lord, I am yours.”

Will you tell Him that from your heart today? He is here. He’s listening.

-James Williams