13.06.10 - The Power Of Example

At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

The power of example. People copy what they see others doing. In the 1934 film, It Happened One Night, Clark Gable removed his shirt and he wasn’t wearing an undershirt! Every man wore an undershirt! It is said that the sale of undershirts in the United States dropped by 75% as a result. People copy.

The makers of the 1982 film E.T approached the confectionary maker, Mars, about having M&Ms used in the film. Mars, for some reason, said “no”, so the film makers went to Hershey’s. The result was that E.T. ate Hershey’s Reece’s Pieces which were relatively unknown at the time but sales went through the roof. People copy even aliens.

If you live in another country for any length of time, you will pick up an accent. How does that happen? Is it something in the environment. Is the air different or the water different? Do your vocal chords change shape? No, people copy what they see (or, in this case, what they hear.)

That is why people will often say our example is more powerful than our words. Actions speak louder than words. A person can say impressive words, but people take notice of what he/she actually does.

Parents say to their children, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Either they are joking and acknowledging that their actions don’t match their words, or they are serious and you have to ask why they say one thing for their children to do while they do another. In fact, are those children going to take more notice of their parents’ words or their parents’ actions? Their actions.

Parenting is a good illustration of the power of example. Children imitate their parents in everything from learning to speak to their ethical and lifestyle choices. Speaking of learning to speak, parents very seldom teach a child to speak by sitting down and talking about the theory of speech. They just speak and their children copy. They also copy how their parents speak. Have you ever heard yourself in your child?

Mix with people who swear a lot and you will probably find yourself swearing. Or you will have to make a major effort not to and remain constantly vigilant – because we tend to copy what other people do.

We become like the people we mix with – sometimes subconsciously; sometimes by a deliberate choice. Sometimes we just drift into the behaviour of those around us. Sometimes we see someone we admire doing something and we say, “I am going to do that too.” Or “I am going to be like that too.”

That is why advertisers use celebrity endorsements. If Rachel Hunter uses Pantene maybe I should too.

It is why advertisers tell us that a certain car is the best selling in its class. If other people are buying it, maybe I should too. People copy.

How much are we influenced by what other people do? How much do we copy? Possibly more than we realise. Are we copying good things? Or are we copying bad things? Who is influencing you?

But on the other side of the coin there are questions about our influence:
• If people copy me will they be better people?
• Can I more intentionally be an influence by my example?

In other words, what unintentional influence am I having? And could I have a more intentional influence?

Let’s get back to Jesus (which is always a good idea.) When He said, “I have set you an example that you should do what I have done for you” what had He just done?

He had washed the disciples’ feet and so had modelled incredible humility. Washing feet was the job of a slave. Jesus was the Son of God; the Messiah. Moreover, He was about to be killed, yet here He was washing their feet. Do you think that action had a powerful effect on the disciples? Do we read about them regularly washing people’s feet?

Well, no, but was Jesus meaning literally wash feet or was He meaning be the servant; humble yourself; put others’ needs ahead of your own. The disciples became servants. They dedicated their lives to taking the gospel to people and making more disciples. They lay down their lives for others. Almost all of them were martyred for their faith. They had seen Jesus wash feet and they had seen Jesus’ willingness to die and they imitated Him.

But if example is so powerful, why was so much of the Last Supper talk? John dedicates five chapters to the Last Supper. Most if it is Jesus’ words: His teaching; His instruction; His encouragement. In fact, much of what we have recorded about Jesus, throughout His ministry, is His teaching.

True, but Jesus wasn’t all talk, was He? We also have huge amounts about His example. He embraced the unlovely; He healed – even on the Sabbath; He spoke the truth fearlessly; He spent regular time with God.

Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

Even the way Jesus prayed inspired the disciples. They wanted Him to teach them to pray. Do you let people see you pray? Are they inspired by how you pray? Do they ask you to teach them to pray?

This is the point. We surely want people to understand more about knowing God. One of the most powerful ways we can influence people towards that is by our example. Actions speak louder than words. So can people see us relating to God? We have an opportunity to influence. Example is one of the most powerful ways of influencing. Are we modelling what we want to see in others? Are we showing them what it is like knowing God? In our culture we tend to think that is personal and private. I think Jesus challenges our culture. He modelled His life being an open book for others to see and imitate.

Even in the Last Supper, which seems to be largely words, I think there is a lot of example. There was the very dramatic example of going around the circle washing the disciples’ feet. What else? What about the fact that Jesus spent so much time caring for, and re-assuring, the disciples and readying them for the future, when He could have been preoccupied with His own impending death? Jesus modelled putting others before Himself. He modelled love and gentleness.

There was a bit of interplay too between Jesus and Judas. I can’t prove it but I think Jesus was appealing to Judas to change his mind – to just think once more before he acted. If so, Jesus modelled concern for Judas’ salvation and a willingness to still care about the person who was about to betray Him. Jesus celebrated the Passover. The Last Supper was a Passover feast. And so, Jesus modelled worship and that obedient remembrance of God’s deliverance of His people out of Egypt. He modelled honouring God. At the end of the meal, He prayed for the disciples, modelling both compassion and prayerfulness.

Then, of course, He went from that upper room to the Garden of Gethsemane where he wrestled with God in prayer but all the time saying, “Yet may it not be my will that is done, but yours, Father.” Then He walked out to meet those who would arrest Him. He modelled submission, selflessness, obedience, peace at doing the will of God.

Then we have the trial and the crucifixion and His forgiveness of those who killed Him and so on – massive amounts of example. Mark 15:39 tells us that it was when he saw how He died that the centurion realised that Jesus was the Son of God. Even the manner of His death was influential. Someone was converted by seeing how He died. People are influenced by what they see.

So, we need to be very careful about what people see in us. Do they see Christlikeness? Do they see that same concern for others before ourselves; that submission, selflessness, obedience, peace, prayerfulness, joy, servanthood, worship?

We are to be shining examples. READ Matthew 5:14-16

We are to be the light of the world. Jesus is very explicit that we are to be seen. We are definitely not to be hidden. You don’t light a lamp then put it under a bowl. On the contrary, you put it on a lamp stand. You actually show it off. You give it prominence. And, in case we haven’t yet understood, Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds, and glorify your Father in heaven.” Let people see your example.

Jesus modelled modelling. He modelled being a shining light. He said, “I have given you an example. Follow it.” The disciples did the same thing. They allowed their character and their deeds to be seen and people were influenced. Paul did the same thing. His life was transparent. He let people see into his life and then he said, “Be like me. Do what I do.” Seven times in his letters recorded in the Bible, Paul says, “Imitate me.”

What does that tell us? Firstly, that Paul was confident his example was a good one. He was living in a way that pleased God and would be a good example. And maybe that doesn’t mean that he always got it right. Maybe it means that when he got it wrong, he would do the right thing by acknowledging it and sorting it out. People would see godly repentance in him – and he would let them see that.

That is the second point: Paul very intentionally put his life out there and told people to watch and follow. He was very intentional about using his example to influence – about being a shining light.

People will watch us whether we like it or not. And people will be influenced by what they see. We might as well make sure that influence is as positive as it can possibly be. That means that we live in a way that will be a good influence. In other words, first we attend to our own lives How are you living? Would you be happy that people imitate you? Would God be pleased if people imitate you?

So first, we attend to our own lives. But secondly we take an interest in others’ lives. We want to influence others and so we let our light shine. We want people to trust God and so we show them what that looks like. We want people to be compassionate and so we model it.

Example is powerful. We have a tremendous opportunity to influence by our example.

As we come to Communion, we might consider those two things.
1. Attend to our own lives. Am I following Jesus’ example? Is there anything we need to seek forgiveness for? Is there anything we need God’s help with if we are to be a shining light?
2. Attend to other people’s lives. Is there someone you should try to influence by showing a good example? We have opportunities. We should be taking those opportunities.