Five “Callings” of Jesus that Changed the World – They can change yours too!
Come out and live
God closed the door to the ark behind Noah and his family for their protection and salvation from the flood. More than a year later, He opened the door and called him out:
Then God said to Noah, “Come out of the ark… Genesis 8:15-16
God saved Noah and his family from death. He called them out to live which began by repopulating and reconstructing the earth—a fairly large assignment.
Thousands of year later, Lazarus died unexpectedly. Mary and Martha were his two sisters; all three had become good friends of Jesus. You can read that story in the gospel of John. When Lazarus was sick, his sisters sent friends to find Jesus and summon Him to come heal His friend. Instead Jesus where He was for two days. When He finally went to Bethany to see about Lazarus, Martha ran to Him and told Jesus Lazarus was dead and buried four days. This is where our story picks up and the most amazing miracle of Jesus occurred:
“When (Jesus) had said “these things”, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” John 11: 43
What were “these things” that Jesus said?
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have come to believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, and He who comes into the world.”…Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?… Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. But I knew that You always hear Me; nevertheless, because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.”
How do these “callings” apply to us?
Jesus called Lazarus from physical death back to life. He did that to show, as God Incarnate, He had power over death. While his sisters and friends rejoiced over this resurrection, we know at some point later, Lazarus died physically again. The point Jesus made to Mary is that we must be more concerned about spiritual life and death not physical. Here are three “life callings” Jesus makes to us.
His call to Eternal Life
We are all as dead in our sins because of the fall of Adam and Eve. We chose to continue the failures of our ancestors by sinning ourselves. The first call of Jesus is “come out” from that death and live in the way He described to Mary. Jesus said to Nicodemus,
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36
His call to Abundant Life
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they (His sheep – us) may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10
This word “abundant” in the Greek is perisson. It means beyond measure, more, superfluous, more than what one would expect or anticipate.”
The Apostle Paul wrote:
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
In short, Jesus promised us a life far better than we could ever imagine. The challenge for many is that sometimes the “good stuff or abundance” as we envision it is not the same and the most abundant blessings come once we get the Heaven.
His call to a Selfless Life of Serving
Before the Lord Jesus had the Passover meal (Last Supper) with His disciples, He got down and went around the table washing their dirty feet. Here is the object lesson He had for them expressed in His own words:
“So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example, so that you also would do just as I did for you.” John 13:14-15
The Apostle Peter encouraged and exhorted Christians in this way. I used the NKJV translation because it uses the word minister, which means
“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:8-10
The Greek word translated “minister” is diakonos, which is sometimes translated “deacon.” It is most frequently rendered either “minister” or “servant.”
Let’s close this first part of the message with these direct and pointed words from Jesus:
“…whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28
For Christ’s sake,
