I remember trudging behind my dad in the deep snow when I was little. My short legs had a hard time just lifting out of the hole. At some point he must have looked back to see me struggling because he began encouraging me and lessening the length of his stride.
We think of the gospel as only Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, but His incarnation and intercession are essential as well. John 1:14 tells us, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us ….” There’s more than just His work on the cross and tomb; Jesus’ example shows us how to live our lives in the flesh (1 Peter 2:21-24) … and His footsteps are not always easy to follow!
I. 1 Peter 3:8-11. We are called to follow Jesus’ example, but His steps lead through Gethsemane and onto Golgotha. He did all that because of our sin and for our sin. What a heavy burden it was to bear, and what a burden we too must bear if we truly place our feet in the deep depressions His feet have made. But, we see the cross as God’s wisdom and power.
II. 1 Corinthians 1:18-29. Jesus led by facing whatever challenges were before Him by faith. He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly, and so must we! Through that same lens of faith, the ‘nots’ see the world differently. As Jesus’ suffering brings a blessing to us, we consider wise the things the world finds foolish and find a stepping stone in what the world considers a scandal.
III. Acts 2:22-39. Jesus did all of that so we might die to sins and live for righteousness. Many choose not to after they initially obey the gospel by believing, confessing ‘Jesus is Lord,’ repenting, and being baptized into Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. Faithful living, however, must characterize the lives of the ‘nots’ as all we have to boast in is Jesus’ faithful walk while in the flesh.
Obeying the gospel is an event; living as a new creation takes a lifetime. Jesus gave us an example of how to do it. The path is difficult, but He is with you. Are you willing to follow in His steps?