Helping the World Know We Belong to Jesus
By Woodrow Kroll
John 13, 14, 15, 17
Acts 4
So do you leave clues? What evidence do they see that marks you as a person who belongs to Jesus? Today we go back to the Gospel of John to help us uncover the clues we ought to be leaving. Jesus told His disciples about these things and they need to be true of us today as well.
From reading God's Word, I believe that it is extremely important, folks, for those of us who have been redeemed--those of us who are bought with the blood of the Lamb, born again, saved from their sin, on their way to Heaven--I believe it is extremely important for the Christian to live his life or her life in full awareness that we are being watched closely by the world around us--a world that has not yet been redeemed, not yet bought with the blood of the Lamb. That's what I want to talk with you about today, helping the world to know that you belong to the Lord Jesus.
Now, if you would like to follow along in the Bible, I am going to take you to the middle part of the Gospel of John today. John 13, 14, 15, and 17. You may turn there, but before you get there, let me read to you a portion of Scripture from Acts chapter 4 (1-4). Listen to this:
"Now when they spoke to the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of men came to be about five thousand."
Now, this is the story of the early apostles preaching in Jerusalem--Peter and John. But Peter and John, being both incarcerated and questioned by Annas the High Priest, and Caiaphas, and others, had something to say about the Lord Jesus. Listen to what Peter said. Verse 8 says:
"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, 'Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to the helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the "stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone." Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.'"
Now listen to this, this is Acts 4 verse 13, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus."
Now, that's the topic of our study in the Word today. See, these people--the elders, and Caiaphas the Priest--these people knew that Peter and John had been with Jesus. They marveled, they sensed that these disciples had spent some significant time with the Lord Jesus. And the Lord did more than rub off on them, friends, the Lord was shining through them. There is just something about having spent some time with the Lord Jesus.
When we spend time with the Lord Jesus, you know, it ought to show in our lives, shouldn't it? If we are fresh from time alone with the Savior, if we've had time in prayer with Him, if we spend some time in His Word getting to know Him, I think it ought to be impossible to hide that from the watching world around us.
So, how would those we work with, how would those we play with, those who live around us, how will our family members know that we belong to Jesus? What are some of the clues to the Christian life? What are things that the watching world around you is going to notice in your life and say, "Hey, that person has been with Jesus"?
Well, John chapter 13 gives us one of those clues. One of the clues is that they will see a love flowing out of us that only God could put in us. See, once you come to know the Lord Jesus as Savior, your whole life changes. And there's going to be a love in your life, not only for the Lord God, but for others around you, that will be discernible by others around you. Listen to this, the words of Jesus, John chapter 13 and verse 33:
"Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you cannot come,' so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also should love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another."
You see, one of the chief clues to the Christian life is when others see love in us that they didn't see before. William Barclay, the great Bible scholar, said, "If we are to accept the teaching of Jesus at all, then the only test of the reality of a man's religion is his attitude to his fellow man. The only possible proof that a man loves God is the demonstrated fact that he loves his fellow man." You see, folks, love is contagious. When you and I love God, it's going to show to the watching world around us. We are going to live out the love of God through our lives. One of the chief clues that you are a Christian is the way people see you treat other people.
I had the great privilege years ago, many years ago, 1970 in fact, of being a student at the University of Strasbourg in France. Now, I was not the most famous person ever to attend that University. In fact, one of the least famous! But one of the most famous was a man by the name of Schweitzer...Dr. Albert Schweitzer. Albert Schweitzer earned three doctorates from the University of Strasbourg--a Doctorate in Theology (the program I was in), a Doctorate in Medicine, and a Doctorate in Music. Schweitzer was one of the true heroes of his time.
One day a group of reporters had cornered Schweitzer at a railroad platform in Chicago. They were asking for an interview and while they were talking to the great Doctor, a woman carrying a heavy suitcase walked slowly by. Schweitzer excused himself for a moment, gently took the woman's suitcase and accompanied her to her car. When she got on the train, Schweitzer returned to where he had left these reporters and not a single one of them was still standing there. They were each trying to find some lady that they could help with her suitcase!
See, what Albert Schweitzer did shows the love of God in the hearts of individuals. The first clue to the fact that we are a Christian, the first clue to a watching world that there is something different about us is the way we love one another.
Let me read another passage to you from John chapter 15. John 15:9, "As the Father loved Me," Jesus said, "I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
Now, I hope you will put those things on the sticky side of your mind. There is commandment there--obedience--there is joy there, and there is love there. One of the first clues that you and I are a Christian is the people around us are going to see love flowing out of us that only God could put there.
I read an article from the San Francisco Examiner. This goes back to April 29, 1996. It appears that in Oakland, California, police said that a fight between two brothers over directions resulted in one brother shooting the other in the head. At about 4 a.m. the brothers and their mother got lost near High Street and Coliseum Way. In the disagreement over which way to go, one brother smashed a 40-oz. beer bottle over the other's head. And that brother responded by pulling out his 22-caliber pistol and shooting his brother in the forehead.
Now you talk about a lack of brotherly love, I think that is the consummate example of a lack of love. Jesus said, "If you love Me, you are going to let it show to others." The first clue to the fact that we are Christians is that people are going to see us live the life of love that God gave to us.
But that's not the only clue. Here we are in John chapter 15. Clue number two is that they are going to see a spirit of obedience to Christ that they did not see before. Remember the words that I just read, John 15. Jesus said in verse 10, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you" (10-14).
It's pretty evident, isn't it? If we are a Christian, people around us are going to see a spirit of obedience to Christ that they never knew was possible before. I think the life of Corrie ten Boom illustrates this so wonderfully well. Corrie ten Boom used to use a lot of common articles to illustrate things in her talks with people.
One time she took a glove--an old, almost worn out leather glove. She held up the glove to show how limp it was and then she put her hand in it. With this gloved hand, she picked up a Bible and performed all sorts of actions with it. And I think her point was simple.
See, it's Christ in us. It's obeying Christ, allowing Him to live through us, that we become useful to Him. Our love to the world around us is not some kind of mushy, gushy kind of love. It's not a pitiful kind of love. It is love that is the response of obedience to the commands of Christ.
Let me read another passage to you. This time it's John chapter 14. Jesus again, speaking about commandments and obedience and love. John 14 verse 12, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." Now listen! "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (12-15).
See, the second clue to the fact that you are a Christian, the watching world around you will know that you are a Christian when they see a spirit of obedience to Christ in you that they did not see before. You want to help the world to know that you belong to Jesus? Like Peter and John did in Acts chapter 4? Start with allowing the love of God to flow through your life to others. And then let others see the obedience that only comes through obedience to Christ--obedience that they never saw before.
That's clue number one and clue number two. Here's clue number three. If you want the world to know that you belong to Jesus, let the world see a certain joy in obeying Jesus that they have not seen in obeying anyone else. John chapter 13. Again at verse 13 the words of Jesus, John 13:13:
"You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things," now listen, "happy are you if you do them."
Do you remember a few minutes ago when I asked you to put those three things on the sticky side of your mind? Love...obedience...and joy. If you know these things, then you are happy if you do them. There will be a certain joy found in obeying the Lord Jesus that others are going to see. It will be a joy in your life and it will be evident to others. You can help the world know that you belong to Jesus by showing the joy you have in obeying His commandments.
Now let me ask you a question, a serious question. Where does one find joy? I mean, let's face it, people all over the world today are doing all kinds of things to be happy. Where is joy found?
Joy is not found in unbelief. The French philosopher Voltaire was an infidel. And yet he wrote, "I wish I had never been born." Voltaire was not a man of joy.
Joy is not found in money. One of the greatest millionaires of all time in American history, a fellow by the name of Jay Gould...Jay Gould had plenty of money. And yet on his deathbed, Jay Gould said, "I suppose I am the most miserable devil on earth." Obviously he didn't get any joy from his money.
No, joy is not found in unbelief. It's not found in money. And certainly joy is not found in infidelity to God. Thomas Paine cried out in his last moments, "Oh, Lord, help me. God help me. Jesus Christ help me." Thomas Paine, an infidel. No joy in his life. Voltaire said, "I am lost. I am lost. Oh, that I had never been born." There's no joy in denying the existence of God.
And joy is not found in pleasure. Most of you are familiar with the works of Lord Byron. Lord Byron, who reveled in pleasure all of his day, wrote on his last birthday, "My days are in the yellow leaf. The flowers and fruits of life are gone. The worm, the canker and grief are mine alone." That's a pretty miserable statement from a well-known poet. And, by the way, he was only 25 years old when he wrote that.
See, it's pretty evident that there is not joy to be found in the world. There is joy in serving Jesus. We sing that in church. But John chapter 13 reminds us that there is a certain joy in obeying Christ that is not seen in obeying anyone else.
Do you want the world to know that you belong to Jesus? Let the world see love flowing out of you that only God could put there. Let the world see a spirit of obedience to Christ that they did not see before. Let the world see a certain joy in obeying Christ that they have not seen in obeying anyone else.
Oh, there's one other clue. Clue number four to the Christian life, people are going to know that you are a Christian if they see this happen. If they see a change in behavior that they cannot explain, they are going to watch you and wonder and know that something in your life has changed for the better.
Let me again take you to John chapter 15. This is a great passage, John 15. These are the words of Jesus. Listen to what Jesus said to His disciples. John chapter 15 at verse 17, "These things I command you, that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (17-19).
Now the world is going to see a change in your behavior and they are not exactly going to like that change in behavior. I mean, after all, your old drinking buddies, the people you used to party with--when you don't do that anymore, when you find yourself witnessing to them instead of reveling with them--they are not going to like that. That's why Jesus said to the disciples, "Don't be surprised if the world hates you." In the 21st-century Church, we are trying to get the world to like us. Jesus said just the opposite would happen.
There was an old Pentecostal grandmother that used to say to her children, "Kids, it doesn't matter how high you jump or how loud you shout, it's what you do when you come down that really matters." It's your behavior of life. And when you change your behavior, when the Lord God comes into your life and your life is changed forever and your behavior is changed, people are going to notice that change in behavior.
When Jesus prayed for His disciples, John chapter 17, He said, "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You, Father, should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" (14-17).
Do you know how the world around you is going to know that you belong to Jesus? They are going to see a change in your behavior that you cannot explain. They are going to find things in your life that are different and they won't always like those things. But I have to tell you friends, like them or not, they will be attracted to them.
And you will attract the world to your Savior when you live a life in which love flows out from you that only God could put in you. You'll attract the world to your Savior when they see a spirit of obedience to Christ that they did not see before. You'll live a life that attracts the world to your Savior when they see a certain joy in obeying Christ that they haven't seen in obeying anyone else. And they will take knowledge of the fact that you've been with the Savior when they see a change in behavior in your life that they cannot explain.
You want to help the world know that you belong to Jesus? Let each of these clues from the Gospel of John be visible in your life--and the watching world around you will know that you belong to Jesus.
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