I had the opportunity that year to teach our senior class. And I'll never forget the first morning of the Look at the Man Series. I asked the seniors to take a few minutes to try to put into words their description of who Christ was and what He was like. We had 11 seniors in class that morning and there were 11 completely different images of Christ. Who He was and what He meant to each one of them was in some way similar, but no two teens' images of Christ were even closely the same. Isn't it interesting that in a class of 12 including myself, we all had different images of who Christ really is? We all had the same information about him in scripture, but we had all picked up on different parts of his personality that really seemed to stand out to each one of us.

Today, there is a new fad that has swept across our Christian youth culture. Perhaps many of you have seen it. The new thing to wear is the bracelet or the necklace with the inscription, WWJD. Have you seen them? Believe it or not, there was a time this past summer when you couldn't find a bracelet or necklace with the phrase WWJD anywhere. You would have to place an order with a local Bible Book Store or distributor and the waiting period was sometimes as much as 6 weeks. I remember receiving a call from Jason Roark who was working with the teens in Clarksville and he wanted to know if I would look around Ft. Smith and see if I could find any. He wanted to order them for his group and could not find them anywhere.

I am sure that you have seen this acronym before, WWJD, which simply stands for What Would Jesus Do? However, as many of you know, this is not a new concept. I remember my parents giving me the advice WWJD many times during my teen years. You know, at times it made me mad. Because every time I would remember to ask myself WWJD, it was usually contrary to what I would have naturally decided to do. But when I would hear that phrase and remember my promise to Him, I simply knew it would always be best to do whatever Jesus would do if He were in my shoes.

So today, with this new fad set in motion, I think it would be very helpful for everyone of all ages to ask themselves on a daily basis, "What Would Jesus Do?" We have spent hours upon hours in Bible class. We have spent days and weeks of our lives in church services. We focus many parts of our daily lives around Christ, but I ask each one of you this morning, "Do You Really Know Christ?" Do you know Him well enough to know what He would do in every situation? Have you spent enough time in the gospels to know how He handled the type of situations that we struggle with every single day? I think it would be worth our time together this morning to focus on What Jesus Did and then ask ourselves as His followers, "Do we do the same?"

1. The first thing I find extremely interesting about Christ is the kind of people He chose to surround Himself with. Have you ever thought about it? If you were Christ and you knew all that you were going to go through in your life, if you understood the goals you needed to reach, What kind of people would you have chosen to be your leaders to carry your message through?
   1. Before we look at who Jesus chose, let's look at who we would have probably chosen.
      1. People who were above reproach- trustworthy and honest.
      2. Men who were well respected- looked up to by everyone.
      3. Perhaps community leaders- someone everyone was familiar with.
      4. Most importantly- Spiritual Giants- perhaps religious leaders.

   2. Now lets take a look at the kind of men Jesus chose.
      Listen to these words from Luke 5:8-10, Luke 5:27-32.
      ⁸ When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" ⁹ For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; ¹⁰ and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men."

      ²⁷ After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." ²⁸ So he left all, rose up, and followed Him. ²⁹ Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. ³⁰ And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" ³¹ Jesus answered and said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ³² "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

      1. Fisherman.
      2. Tax Collectors.
      3. Sinners.

2. Next let's take a look at something we deal with every day: Adultery. It is everywhere today, in and out of our Lord's church body. First, let's look at how we sometimes deal with it today.
   1. If we find someone in an adulterous situation, we generally take the opportunity to remind them of what they have done on a continuing basis with our comments, our actions, and the way we treat them.
      1. We generally take the opportunity to remind them all that the Bible says about adultery and what the result of such actions are.
      2. We usually instruct them of what they need to do in their life, and how they need to correct things, in order to gain or continue fellowship with us.
      3. Once they have made the needed corrections, we generally allow them to remain with us but usually as a second-class Christian. "Well, you just can't be trusted in a leading role because of the damage that was done due to your sin."

   2. Now, let's take a look at how Jesus handled the situation.
      1. The Samaritan woman - John 4:7-31.
      2. The adulterous woman - John 8:1-11.
      3. Jesus shared with them the living water.
      4. He showed compassion to them and sent them on their way.

   3. Do we remember what God allowed to happen in the life of David after his enormous sin with Bathsheba?

3. Have you ever thought about what you have done or would do to a close friend that completely betrays you?
   1. Perhaps you let them know that you would forgive but not forget!
      1. Remind them that they are going to have to earn your trust again.
      2. Perhaps it hurt so much that you decided to end the relationship all together.

   2. Have you ever thought about what Jesus did with Judas and Peter? How about the other disciples that disappeared the night he was betrayed?
      1. Judas- he completely betrayed his friend for 30 pieces of silver. (John 13:25-27)
      2. Peter- after offering complete allegiance to Christ, he denies him publicly three times.
      3. Jesus forgave both of them completely.

4. What would you have said to the people while you were on the cross- with the pain of the nails in your hands and feet and the crown of thorns on your head? What words would you have chosen for those who were there to laugh at you?
   1. Remember Jesus words, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34

   2. Remember His words to the thief on the cross, "Truly, I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

5. I know what all of you are saying, "Yeah! But He's Jesus. He wasn't supposed to make any mistakes. He was supposed to treat everyone like that. It was easier for Him."
   1. Do we remember the words the author used in Hebrews 2 & 4?
      1. Hebrews 2:17-18.
         ¹⁷ Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

      2. Hebrews 4:15.
         ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

   2. At times He wanted to lash out; but look at His decision not to sin.

6. Let's pay special attention to what Jesus had to say to the religious leaders of the day. They were the ones who were supposed to be right. They were on top of things. They knew the words of the prophets. They observed the Sabbath. They gave 10% of all that they made. How did He respond to them?
   1. Matthew 23:1-11.

   2. Matthew 23:14, 15, 23-26.

   3. We need to be careful not to fall into this trap!