Becoming like Jesus
[ READ ] Luke 6:39–49
39 He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.
A Tree and Its Fruit
43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Build Your House on the Rock
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
A Tree and Its Fruit
43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Build Your House on the Rock
46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Verse 40 gets me every time I read it: “Everyone, when fully trained, will be like their teacher.”
That’s the goal. Not just to know what Jesus knows. Not just to be able to explain what Jesus taught. To become like him.
And if I’m honest, I know there are days when what comes out of me doesn’t look much like Jesus.
Maybe that’s why what Jesus says next hits so hard. He starts talking about a person with a log in their own eye trying to help somebody else with a speck in theirs. And I don’t love how much I recognize myself in that picture.
It’s easy to see what’s wrong with somebody else. Their marriage. Their parenting. Their decisions. Their theology. Their doubt. Meanwhile, Jesus says, “Pay attention to what’s happening in you.”
Then he gives us another picture: a tree and its fruit.
A tree eventually produces what’s actually growing inside of it. You can call yourself whatever you want. You can have good intentions. You can know all the right answers. But eventually, the fruit tells the truth.
And I think that’s what I keep coming back to in this passage.
If we are going to help other people follow Jesus, then following Jesus has to be doing something in us first.
That doesn’t mean we have to have it all together. None of us do. It means discipleship is more than having something to teach somebody else. It’s becoming the kind of person whose life is increasingly pointing them toward Jesus.
So here’s the question I’m sitting with today:
If someone became more like me because they followed me, would they become more like Jesus?
- David Bempong
That’s the goal. Not just to know what Jesus knows. Not just to be able to explain what Jesus taught. To become like him.
And if I’m honest, I know there are days when what comes out of me doesn’t look much like Jesus.
Maybe that’s why what Jesus says next hits so hard. He starts talking about a person with a log in their own eye trying to help somebody else with a speck in theirs. And I don’t love how much I recognize myself in that picture.
It’s easy to see what’s wrong with somebody else. Their marriage. Their parenting. Their decisions. Their theology. Their doubt. Meanwhile, Jesus says, “Pay attention to what’s happening in you.”
Then he gives us another picture: a tree and its fruit.
A tree eventually produces what’s actually growing inside of it. You can call yourself whatever you want. You can have good intentions. You can know all the right answers. But eventually, the fruit tells the truth.
And I think that’s what I keep coming back to in this passage.
If we are going to help other people follow Jesus, then following Jesus has to be doing something in us first.
That doesn’t mean we have to have it all together. None of us do. It means discipleship is more than having something to teach somebody else. It’s becoming the kind of person whose life is increasingly pointing them toward Jesus.
So here’s the question I’m sitting with today:
If someone became more like me because they followed me, would they become more like Jesus?
- David Bempong
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What happens when a blind person tries to guide another blind person (v. 39)?
+ Why does Jesus move straight from "fully trained will be like their teacher" (v. 40) into the speck and the log (vv. 41–42)? What is he connecting between formation and correction?
+ What separates the person who hears and does what Jesus says from the person who only hears (vv. 46–49)?
+ What happens when a blind person tries to guide another blind person (v. 39)?
+ Why does Jesus move straight from "fully trained will be like their teacher" (v. 40) into the speck and the log (vv. 41–42)? What is he connecting between formation and correction?
+ What separates the person who hears and does what Jesus says from the person who only hears (vv. 46–49)?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Think of someone who shaped you well. What did they give you that wasn't a lesson, just who they were around you? How might God be inviting you to become that for someone else?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Think of someone who shaped you well. What did they give you that wasn't a lesson, just who they were around you? How might God be inviting you to become that for someone else?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Jesus, I want to be useful to the people around me. But I don't want to hand them a version of you I haven't actually lived with. Take out what's in me that isn't yours yet. Slow me down enough to be shaped before I try to shape anyone else. I trust you to keep doing this work in me, even on the days I can't see it happening. Amen.
+ Pray with me:
Jesus, I want to be useful to the people around me. But I don't want to hand them a version of you I haven't actually lived with. Take out what's in me that isn't yours yet. Slow me down enough to be shaped before I try to shape anyone else. I trust you to keep doing this work in me, even on the days I can't see it happening. Amen.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
yourself:
+ Talk today’s message over with someone who is discipling you, and someone you are discipling.
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