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Jesus, the Master of Relationship Building
Luke 19:1-10, John 13:14-17,34,35, John 15:4,5, Rome 12:9-17, John 20:19-23
Andy Nagahara
1. Jesus, the master of building relationships
a. Jesus: the one who connects humans with God (Luke 19:1-10)
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.'” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
b. Jesus: the one who connects people with each other (John 13:14-17,34,35)
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
2. Being the master’s disciple
a. Connect with the master (John 15:4,5)
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
b. Connect with other people (Rome 12:9-17)
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
c. Connect other people to the master (John 20:19-23)
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Summary
Following Jesus means that we are connected with God. This, of course, doesn’t mean that we should separate ourselves from other people or live in an exclusive community of those who share our faith. Jesus built relationships with everyone, even those who had no social status and were rejected by others.
For Discussion
- What is the secret of Jesus’ ability to build relationships?
- What do you find difficult about building relationships?