Our text is taken from Luke 19:10 which is speaking of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Let us look at a few tidbits about the life of the one they called Jesus the Christ. He was born in a town called Bethlehem, which was not even the home of the peasant woman, or should I say young girl who birthed him, named Mary. He grew up in an obscure village called Nazareth, where his earthly stepfather and mother were from. Luke 2:52 says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” He traveled to Jerusalem with his family yearly as the custom of the day was. His was not a life filled with glitz or glamour, but not a boring existence either. He was well-traveled, well-educated, and well-read. He worked in the carpenter shop learning the trade of his stepfather until the age of thirty. He began to travel as an itinerant minister, teaching and preaching from place to place for the next three years. He never authored a book, never went to college, or held an office of any earthly importance. In all his travels, he never went more than two hundred miles from his place of birth. He did none of the things we would associate with greatness today and held no special credentials.
It was at the early age of thirty-three when public opinion began to turn against him. The friends that he had gained ran away, and he was turned over to his enemies that sent him through a mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves and while he was hanging there dying, the executioners gambled for his clothing, the only property and earthly possession he had. After he died, he was laid in a borrowed grave, through the charity and pity of a secret follower, Joseph of Arimathea. Twenty centuries have come and gone and today he is the central and pivotal figure of humanity, and the leading entity of all progress. All of the Army men who have ever marched, all the Navy men who have ever sailed, all those who have ever sat in parliament, all the kings who have ever reigned, and all the teachers who have ever taught, put together, have not affected the life of mankind on earth as much as this one solitary life.
What was it about Jesus that he could take a band of poor, unschooled Galilean provincials and use them to light a revolution of love that continues to burn in the hearts of men and women throughout the world today? How was Jesus able to approach Matthew the tax collector with a simple “Follow me,” to which he responded by leaving his occupation to be a follower of the Master? What about Zaccheaus response to Jesus? Jesus saw the little man high up in a sycamore tree trying to get a better look at what was going on. Zaccheaus undoubtedly thought he was safe from the scrutiny of Jesus or the other onlookers, when suddenly he was ordered to come down from the tree because Jesus announced, “I am going to your house today!” And that is exactly what happened. What was there about the character of Jesus that He could with a sentence of rebuke, turn away a mob bent on stoning a woman caught in the act of adultery? Let us explore more about Him.
Throughout the gospel record there is a listing of an incredible variety of places to which Jesus went and the people to whom he ministered. Of course, we know he preached to the crowds gathered in the synagogues, as one would expect, but he also was found at the seaside with the fishermen. He also moved among the unclean lepers and healed them. He scourged the temple of the moneychangers. He was meek, but certainly not weak and mild. He could get the job done. He went into the wheatfields with the harvesters and told them of the bread of life that he represented. While in the crowded street, he sensed when the woman with the issue of blood had touched his garment. He sat beside the man with the withered hand and made him complete and whole. He broke bread at the Pharisee’s table where a woman of the street came in to wash his feet with her tears. He sat with the Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar and told her of the water of life that he offered, that could quench her thirst eternally. She had come to the well with her waterpot and went away with a well of living water. Jesus not only loved others, but he loved life itself. He was interested and observed everything around him. He noticed the trees and flowers more intently than anyone else could have ever seen them. The Gospels are filled with his life stories of which much took place outdoors. In all his life and ministry Jesus motivated people to action because of his acts of love, compassion, grace, goodness, and mercy.
This was Jesus of Nazareth, as people came to know him. He was the Son of Man, born of Mary, and an example of God-incarnate to be the model for all civilizations to come. With all due respect to the poet whose name was Swinburn, Jesus was hardly the “pale Galilean”, as he called him, and neither has the world “grown grey” from his “, breath.” Motivators of men and women are not pale copies of a clever idea, and the scenery does not become grey because they have been there. If anything, Jesus brought color, energy, and life to his surroundings, wherever he went. He could see small children who had not been loved nearly enough and he showed love to them. When the temple was being misused as a marketplace, it was no mild-mannered “pale Galilean” who angrily set God’s house in order. When accused of wining and dining with sinners and prostitutes and other such like, Jesus pleaded guilty and reminded his accusers he had come to bring healing to the sick and salvation to the lost. He was a very colorful and dynamic motivator.
This Jesus of Nazareth was also the Son of God, in the most literal sense. His father was the Almighty God, who’s Spirit overshadowed Mary so that a son could be conceived and born to bring redemption to the world. He was the author of creativity, who motivated men and women to action by his very presence. He simply could not be ignored. Of all men in history, Jesus truly was a man for all seasons. He exuded positivity. The first question Jesus asked the man by the pool was, “Do you want your health restored?” John 5:1-6 says, “After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, blind, halt, withered, waiting for the movement of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, wilt thou be made whole?” There are still important questions for us to answer for ourselves today. “Do we want to be made well and whole?” “Do we want to live up to our potential?” “Do we want to be the one people can rely on because we are able to do the right thing?” If the answer is yes to these questions, then we can have our heart’s desire. Everyone of God’s marvelous resources and promises are at our disposal. All we must do is ask. Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.”
Jesus was creative. He motivated people to action by using illustrations and parables to preach great truths. Some of his ‘sermon titles’ included: The Forgiving Servant, The Sower and the Seed, The Mustard Seed and the Yeast, The Hidden Treasure and the Pearl, The Land owner and the Tenants, The Ten Virgins, The Talents, The Wise and the Foolish Builders. The list can go on and on, and they have been preached repeatedly throughout generations even until this day. What an unforgettable teacher he was. The students, namely us, will never “surpass the Master,” but he has left us with excellent material to use.
Jesus knew the true source of joy. Happiness comes from what happens to us and circumstances around us. It can be fleeting and short lived if we are waiting for others to throw something good our way, but true joy comes from within. When we do things for others, we feel the reward of joy on the inside because of our selfless act of kindness. This is what the life of Jesus shows us. He knew the account in Nehamiah 8:8-12 which says, “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. So, the Levites stilled all the people, saying, hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.” We can rejoice when we hear the word of God declared to us and gain joy from it.
Jesus prayed for strength and guidance along life’s way. If we would follow this example, our faith will be made stronger as God strengthens and guides us. We read in Luke 22:39-43, “And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.” We must ask, seek his face, and we must believe as Paul mentioned in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Therefore, we see through prayer and supplication before God, we can remain encouraged and motivated to continue on life’s journey.
Jesus lived by his priorities. He did not have much time on earth; therefore, he made the time he had count. He was committed to telling the people of his day about the Kingdom of God, and his commitment to it one hundred percent. The world notices that kind of commitment when they see it, and they can also spot a hypocrite a mile away. Jesus had one purpose and that was to declare the good news that sins could be forgiven and that men could be made whole. It was the best news people had ever heard then and now, and it is an irresistible truth. When we hear truth, it is so powerful, it demands a response, whether we accept it or reject it that is our response. The truth is enshrouded with enthusiasm and motivates us to respond. Why did people flock to Jesus in multitudes? For many reasons, but one of them was because he was genuine and spoke the truth which brought them hope. They felt that he was their friend and had their best interest at heart. What he said, he lived daily, and this remains an example for us today. If you ask people around you what characteristics they like best in someone, the majority will express that they just want someone to be genuine and real.
Jesus was a friend. There are many ways to nourish a friendship, and Jesus was the greatest champion of that. He was an example to all those around him. You must permit your friends to be themselves. Accept them for who they are. Be grateful for the relationships you have and do not be annoyed by what your friends cannot give you or do for you. Accept each one’s imperfections and individuality, and do not feel threatened if their opinions and tastes sometimes differ from yours. Give each other space. We are all entitled to our own private feelings and thoughts. Friends who try to invade the inner space of one another risk destroying the relationship. Be ready to give and to receive. Be eager to help and be able to ask for help as well. Do not be over demanding or let yourself be used by others. Make your advice constructive. When a friend needs to talk, listen without interruption. If advice is asked for, be positive and supportive. Be loyal because loyalty is faithfulness. It means, “being with” your friend in the good times and the bad. It means honoring confidence. It means not disparaging a friend in their absence nor allowing others to do so.
Give praise and encouragement to others. Tell your friends what you like about them and how thankful you are for their presence in your life. Delight in their talents and applaud their successes. Always be honest. Open communication is of the essence in a friendship. Express your feelings whether good or bad instead of bottling up your anger and anxiety and allow them to do the same. Clearing the air helps a relationship grow, however, be aware of what should be left unsaid. Treat your friends as equals. In true friendship, there is no number one, or big me and little you. There is no room for showing off how smart and successful you are, nor for envy, or feelings of superiority or inferiority. Trust your friends. We live in a messy, imperfect world, made up of imperfect people, which includes us. Trust can be betrayed but trust is essential to friendship. Make the effort to believe in the unfailing goodness of your friends. Be willing to take a risk. One of the obstacles to a close relationship is the fear of rejection and hurt. We do not want to reveal our vulnerability to others, but unless we dare to love others and open our hearts to them, we condemn ourselves to a sterile life lived alone.
Yes, we can see all of this in the life of Jesus, the greatest motivator of men and women who ever lived. He knew how to be a friend to everyone. Friendship is the greatest thing we can ever aspire toward and strive for. It must be a part of our strategy of what we want to achieve in this life. It is said that when someone dies, if they have at least five good friends, they are indeed extraordinarily rich. Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” We must stay motivated to make friendship work. It is a two-way street, but it is worth it when your friendships become even ‘closer than a brother’ and they last a lifetime.
Jesus the greatest motivator of all time showed us through his life how to live life to the fullest. He came from nowhere, in an earthly sense, but we all know that he left his Throne in Glory, stepped down, and took on the form of a man to redeem us. Paul explains this to us in Philippians 2:5-11 and tells us to have the same mindset, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
It does not matter where we have come from, if we have been born again, we have become a child of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. We do not have to live below our privilege or remain in the rut we are in or just settle for the status quo. We must try to be like Jesus and become motivated by the example he left for us. We must stay motivated to continue to fulfil the ministry of his kingdom here on earth until he returns to take us home to the place he is preparing for us. And finally, we must try to motivate others to come along with us on this journey, so they too can have his friendship, joy, strength, guidance, and motivation in their lives until the day of his return. Jesus indeed was and is the greatest motivator of all time!