Being Jesus

Have you ever known someone, friend, who, when you were with them, they made you think of Jesus? That just spending time with them made you more thirsty for Jesus? A man like that in my life was Adrian Rogers. For every time I was with him, I felt I was in the presence of Jesus, because Christ shines so clearly through him. Perhaps you can think of someone you know who makes you think of Jesus.

The title of my message today, friends, is Being Jesus. There was a man who lived in Manchester, England, about a hundred years ago, and he was well known for being a Christian. His name was Frank Crossley, and he owned and operated a huge engine manufacturing plant in Manchester.

There is a story told about him, which I feel is worthy of our time today, friends, as we focus in our devotions on being more like Jesus, and I'll tell you that story in just a few minutes. Jesus told his disciples in John 15, 17, These things I command you, that you love one another. And in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, we have the Apostle Paul's magnum opus on love.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind. Charity envieth not. Charity vaunteth not itself.

Is not puffed up. Doth not behave unseemly. Seeketh not her own.

Is not easily provoked. Thinketh no evil. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. I will stop there, friends. Paul is saying here that our good deeds, done in the name of Christ, are empty acts, veiled with hidden motives, unless they are done in love, meaning performed, with the love of Christ shining through us.

Our daily prayer should be, Jesus be Jesus in me, so others can see Christ shine through me. And this brings us to our story today, friends, about that. Englishman named Frank Crossley, who exemplified the love of Christ to all who came in contact with him, because the love life is the Christ life.

Here now is that story about a man who made others think about Jesus. The story is related by Samuel Chadwick, the great Methodist minister. One day in Leeds Station, Samuel Chadwick went into a waiting room, and there was a man in the room.

He was leaning against the mantelpiece and seemed in distress. Chadwick went up to him and observed that he was weeping. He said, My friend, are you in trouble? Not exactly, was the reply.

What is the matter then? asked Samuel Chadwick. Well, he said, my brother and I had saved a bit of money, and we thought we would start a business. So we went to Crossley's and bought a gas engine and put it into our little workshop to run it.

After working for about two years, we found that we were losing money. The engine was not powerful enough for the task. So we decided to go back to the firm and explain the situation.

We told the person we saw what had happened, that we were losing money, that the engine was not powerful enough, and asked what could be done. You got the engine you ordered, didn't you? He said. Yes, I'm afraid then we cannot do anything more.

They left the office and on the way out they met Frank Crossley. They addressed him and told him the story. He took them back into his office, got all the particulars from them, and said, now, I will put an engine into your workshop, adequate for the purpose.

And if you will let me know how much you have lost on that inadequate engine for the last two years, I will refund it to you. And the man wept again and said, sir, I've seen the likeliest person to date of Jesus Christ, and it's been too much for me.