120

1 John 2:4-6

“Whoever says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys His word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.”

John is making a pretty bold statement. Here he is saying whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did. Study the life of Christ and then study your life. Would you say that you are “In Him?”

John is able to make this statement because he understands the statement “living as Jesus lived.” John The Beloved, The one whom Jesus loved! When Jesus called John, just like all the other disciples, he left everything to follow Him.

Being a disciple of Jesus isn’t about calling Jesus into YOUR world and asking Him to be with YOU every day as YOU go about YOUR business. Being a disciple of Jesus is about Jesus calling you into HIS world and asking you to be with HIM every day as HE goes about HIS business!

Those are two radically different ways to live. It was very clear who the disciples of Jesus were while He was here on earth. Have you ever thought about the fact that 99% of the “Christians” of that day weren’t considered a disciple of Jesus? Have you ever thought why only 120 people were waiting in that room in Acts 2 as they waited for the gift of the Holy Spirt that Jesus promised them? Have you ever thought why every synagogue priest didn’t hang up their little robe and chase after Jesus the minute He showed up on the scene? After all, this is the man who they would preach and speak about every Sabbath.

Think about that…

Billy Graham recently passed away. They say he was “America’s Pastor.” I don’t really know how to sum up the impact he had on the lives he encountered as well as the ministry world as a whole. The easiest way for me to describe it is he will leave the same legacy within the ministry world that Michael Jordan left in the basketball world. I’m not big on judging the success within the world of ministry but if I was forced I would make that parallel and leave it at that.

Billy Graham’s funeral was by private invitation only. Roughly 2,000 people were in attendance. It was attended by the biggest names we know. From the President of the United States to the biggest priest and pastors of our day. Vice President, mayors, owners of professional sports teams and big name musical artists. The most famous people of our time along with all of Billy Graham’s family were in attendance at his funeral. The reality is – if it was open to the public there would have been well over a million people attending his funeral. God used Billy Graham to populate Heaven with millions of souls. I’m sure many of them would have shown up to his funeral if it were an option.

The end of Jesus’ life looked much different. The scene at the cross was documented to have 4 women and 1 man. John 19:25 says, Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby He said to her woman, here is your son and to the disciple, here is your mother.

Then there is His death, burial and resurrection. After He was raised from the dead and hangs out with the disciples for a while, He says, “It is time for me to go home.” Before He leaves Jesus gives one last instruction in Acts 1:4-5. Jesus told them to wait until I send the gift of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:15 it is recorded that 120 were waiting on this gift before God poured out His Spirit on them.

You would think after everything Jesus did and after being raised from the dead – that room would have been filled with every Christian in Jerusalem along with every priest of every synagogue. They shouldn’t have had a building big enough to hold everyone in. Why only 120 people?

Either Billy Graham at the end of his life was considered more successful than Jesus or there is a hidden message within John’s words.

John is saying look there was only 120 of us in the room guys. You aren’t fooling me. I know what it’s like to be a disciple. You aren’t fooling me and you aren’t fooling God! He is trying to tell them the only way to live in Him is to live as He lived! Furthermore, it’s to live as I did when I decided to follow Him! You might fool your neighbor, but you aren’t fooling me!

John wants people to really fall in love with Jesus the way he did! He wants people to know Jesus the way he does! John is telling the people if you really know Him you will do what He says. When you do what He says then true love is created inside of your heart!

John understand the message he is delivering is radical. He was there when Jesus said you have to eat my flesh and drink my blood or you have no life in you. Jesus told the crowds whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will have eternal life. When Jesus preached that, half His followers left Him. John 6:53-66.

The reality is living the life of a true disciple of Jesus is very rare. With that said, John understands that it is the most rewarding life to live. This is life and life more abundantly. He is wanting his audience to have the same walk with Jesus that he did.

Think about it. They had the physical Jesus and there was only 120 at the end of His life waiting on a gift. Only a few followers while Jesus was alive. Let John’s words sink in deep. Reevaluate your life. Really dig deep. Do you know Jesus? Do you really know Him?