L.R. Ooten, one of the early leaders in the Pentecostal movement is said to have penned this chorus:
“To be like Jesus
To be like Jesus
All I ask is to be like Him
All through life’s journey
From earth to Glory
All I ask is to be like Him”
I remember leading this chorus many times, especially during special evangelistic meetings at VCC during extended altar times. The song is a very simple prayer with a deeply profound meaning. We rarely take the time to meaningfully contemplate the serious implications of a prayer like this being answered by the Lord. But in the book of Acts, we see this prayer being answered in the lives of the first Christians in many beautiful, yet bittersweet ways.
Dr. Craig Keener, in his commentary on the book of Acts, points out many parallels Luke gives us between the life of Jesus and the lives of His followers. As we study these comparisons, we are able to clearly observe the early followers of Jesus in their process of transformation, increasingly becoming more “like Him” as they experience similar trials and tribulations.
One such story is the unjust imprisonment of Peter and his angelic “jail break”, found in Acts chapter 12, compared with Luke’s account of the arrest, sufferings and resurrection of Jesus.
-Jesus was arrested during Passover (Luke 22:1) and Peter was arrested during the Passover season as well. (Acts 12:2)
-A King Herod (Antipas) was among the powerful oppressors of Jesus, (Luke 23:6–12; Acts 4:27) and another King Herod (Agrippa I) is the powerful oppressor in Peter’s story (Acts 12:1.)
-Hands were placed on Jesus to take him violently into custody, (Luke 9:44; 20:19) and wicked hands seized Peter also. (Acts 12:1)
-They arrested Jesus (Luke 22:54) and they arrested Peter.(Acts 12:3)
-They handed Jesus over to the authorities (Luke 23:25; 24:7) and Peter was also handed over. (Acts 12:4)
-Angels announce to women the miraculous release of the resurrected Jesus, (Luke 24:23) And it was an angel that delivered Peter from his impending death (Acts 12:7–10) and guided him to a woman to announce his freedom. (12:13)
-Women are disbelieved initially concerning the news they share about the empty tomb of Jesus (Luke 24:11), and disciples later disbelieve “for joy” (24:41) just as Rhoda left Peter “because of joy” (Acts 12:14), and disciples disbelieve her (12:15)
-The disciples think Jesus is a “ghost” during His post resurrection appearance (Luke 24:37) and the disciples think Rhoda merely saw Peter’s ghost. (Acts 12:15)
-After conversation, Jesus withdraws and ascends into Heaven (Luke 24:51) and after conversation, Peter withdraws to a different location. (Acts 12:17)
Of course, there are also other fascinating parallels that Luke gives us, comparing the life of Stephen with the life of Jesus. And, if we look for these parallels, we will find them more than once in the tribulations Paul endured. In fact, the faithful disciple, Ananias, is told directly by Jesus that He is going to reveal to Paul “how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake” and then later Paul said he was “filling up in his flesh what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.”
And of course, who can forget these breathtakingly beautiful words also spoken by Paul in his letter to the Christians in Philippi:
3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Praying “make me like Jesus” means a lot of things, but it doesn’t just mean “make me nicer.” It also means;
-Help me be kind to people who mistreat me
-Help me to forgive those who sin against me
-Help me to even bless and pray for those who curse and abuse me
IF that sounds impossible to do consistently, that’s because it is. So, let’s pray.
PRN: Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us so much You were willing to be kind, caring, compassionate and forgiving to those who hurt you terribly. We can never hope to be like You, unless You empower us, so Lord, fill us with Your Spirit and help us to be like You. All through life's journey, from here to Glory, all we ask, is to be like You. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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