WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.639 All right, good morning. Please take your copy of God's Word and join me in John chapter 10. 00:00:05.639 --> 00:00:05.739 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:15.980 There's never a time that we come together and don't come together with a measure of frailty. 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:28.480 Because after all, we are human. We are not infinite. We are finite. But at times that frailty is felt a bit more. 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:42.359 Or perhaps for our very good, that's the case. We had a men's retreat this weekend and many of the men in this room are feeling that frailty in higher order than typically. 00:00:42.760 --> 00:00:45.539 We had a great time, but we are tired. 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:56.280 Additionally, I don't know if all of you know this or not, but I'm a type 1 diabetic. Have been since I was five. I'm 46 now. 00:00:56.280 --> 00:01:00.660 So for a lot of years, and you would think by now I'd have it all figured out. 00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:04.640 And I would totally understand how to monitor and regulate. 00:01:04.780 --> 00:01:08.599 I've got all this cool technology that's helping me do that even as I speak now. 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:12.840 But my blood sugar is low. And so I have treated it. 00:01:12.900 --> 00:01:16.280 So those of you who are medical professionals and know what that means, it's okay. 00:01:16.900 --> 00:01:20.840 I have had the grape juice. It's probably going to start climbing like crazy right now. 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:25.980 But I'm kind of in a curl up in a ball feeling stage at the moment. 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:33.980 So feeling even more beyond being tired, also having a low blood sugar at the moment. 00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:41.040 And so we're going to pray before we even look at the text at all today, and then we'll get into it together. 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:50.500 Father, we ask as we are feeling frail and humbly recognize that we always are, that you'd help us. 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:53.040 Help us to take up your word together today. 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:57.700 Empower the preaching of it and the hearing of it by your spirit. 00:01:57.700 --> 00:02:03.540 We know that you love your people far more than we love each other. 00:02:04.140 --> 00:02:09.180 With all of our greatest effort and intention, you love us more. 00:02:09.860 --> 00:02:15.460 So we ask that you'd work and that you'd work mightily as we put ourselves humbly before you this morning. 00:02:15.699 --> 00:02:16.900 And we pray this in Christ's name. 00:02:17.980 --> 00:02:18.280 Amen. 00:02:18.280 --> 00:02:18.400 00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:23.039 Okay, so we've been working through John chapter 10. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:31.740 And to set a little bit of context for you before I begin reading, and I'll start in verse 1, although our text for today is verses 15 through 18. 00:02:32.539 --> 00:02:36.840 At the end of 9, Jesus has healed a man born blind. 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:42.580 It causes all of this commotion, and there's a bit of a trial of sorts, although not formally so. 00:02:42.580 --> 00:02:50.820 He's brought before the Pharisees, and he corrects some of their thinking, and they are upset at him, and they cast him out of the synagogue. 00:02:51.180 --> 00:02:58.980 And then Jesus comes and reveals himself to this man born blind, and then the man truly sees spiritually. 00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:04.480 We believe is converted, begins to follow Christ at this point. 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:12.019 And what follows is an indictment of these Pharisees, where Jesus presents this metaphor. 00:03:12.579 --> 00:03:22.120 It varies in its shaping as we see the chapter go on, and it kind of finds its high point in the text that we looked at last week, 00:03:22.439 --> 00:03:26.699 where Jesus twice calls himself the good shepherd. 00:03:26.699 --> 00:03:36.179 Verse 11, and then in verse 14, he says, I am the fourth of his I am statements in John's gospel. 00:03:36.359 --> 00:03:39.519 I am the good shepherd. 00:03:39.799 --> 00:03:44.579 And so we're going to pick up and look at the four verses that follow that declaration. 00:03:44.799 --> 00:03:48.219 Let's begin reading together in verse 1. 00:03:48.219 --> 00:04:18.199 Jesus says, 00:04:18.220 --> 00:04:29.020 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 00:04:29.580 --> 00:04:31.200 So Jesus again said to them, 00:04:31.200 --> 00:04:34.140 Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:39.700 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:41.300 I am the door. 00:04:41.740 --> 00:04:46.900 If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 00:04:46.899 --> 00:04:51.199 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. 00:04:51.699 --> 00:04:55.199 I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 00:04:55.799 --> 00:04:57.219 I am the good shepherd. 00:04:57.699 --> 00:05:00.620 The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 00:05:01.299 --> 00:05:08.439 He who has a hired hand and not a shepherd who does not own the sheep sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees. 00:05:08.579 --> 00:05:11.519 And the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 00:05:11.519 --> 00:05:16.639 He flees because he's a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:19.019 I am the good shepherd. 00:05:19.339 --> 00:05:22.479 I know my own and my own know me. 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:28.160 Just as the father knows me and I know the father and I lay down my life for the sheep. 00:05:28.819 --> 00:05:30.740 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. 00:05:30.819 --> 00:05:33.700 I must bring them also and they will listen to my voice. 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:37.060 So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 00:05:37.740 --> 00:05:42.580 For this reason, the father loves me because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 00:05:43.379 --> 00:05:46.960 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:51.680 I have authority to lay it down and I have authority to take it up again. 00:05:52.219 --> 00:05:55.680 This charge I have received from my father. 00:05:57.139 --> 00:06:01.759 Okay, so we're going to look at this text in three points. 00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:05.620 Number one, the good shepherd loves his sheep. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:10.279 Number two, the good shepherd gathers and unites his sheep. 00:06:10.519 --> 00:06:14.620 And number three, the good shepherd is loved by his father. 00:06:14.620 --> 00:06:21.480 So firstly, the good shepherd, I'm picking that language up from verse 11 and verse 14. 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:28.879 The good shepherd, the fitting shepherd, the right shepherd for the task of rescuing the sheep. 00:06:29.379 --> 00:06:31.720 He loves his sheep. 00:06:32.420 --> 00:06:36.120 Specifically, the last part of verse 15. 00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:40.840 And I lay down my life for the sheep. 00:06:40.839 --> 00:06:44.519 I am the good shepherd, he says, verse 11. 00:06:45.039 --> 00:06:49.279 The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 00:06:49.739 --> 00:06:53.519 This is just between anybody else who's a religious leader, right? 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:56.079 Does not care for, does not own. 00:06:56.219 --> 00:06:59.319 Therefore, when danger comes, they leave. 00:06:59.379 --> 00:07:03.259 And the wolf consumes those people. 00:07:03.379 --> 00:07:06.819 But not so with the good shepherd. 00:07:06.819 --> 00:07:10.219 He lays down his life for the sheep. 00:07:10.420 --> 00:07:14.740 And his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 00:07:14.939 --> 00:07:21.480 He says in verse 14, I know my own and my own know me. 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:30.019 Now, Jesus doesn't just say that the good shepherd is willing to lay down his life for the sheep, 00:07:30.100 --> 00:07:32.659 but that he actually does. 00:07:32.660 --> 00:07:40.220 And the interesting, curious thing that he's doing here is saying that he will lay down his life for the sheep. 00:07:40.500 --> 00:07:45.500 A dead shepherd, of course, if we're thinking logically in temporal terms, 00:07:45.580 --> 00:07:49.600 is not any longer any help to the sheep. 00:07:49.980 --> 00:07:55.180 So the metaphor gets stretched a little bit at this point, right? 00:07:55.180 --> 00:08:02.639 What Jesus is doing is that he's teaching what will be necessary to accomplish the safety of his flock. 00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:07.920 He will die so that they will live. 00:08:09.259 --> 00:08:15.600 And I want to speak very simply and very plainly at this point. 00:08:16.019 --> 00:08:18.660 I just want to think together about the gospel. 00:08:18.920 --> 00:08:23.480 Maybe we never grow tired of sharing it or hearing it. 00:08:23.480 --> 00:08:32.740 The implication in saying that the good shepherd dies for his sheep so that they will live does not allow room for the sheep 00:08:32.740 --> 00:08:40.240 that are not of his flock to go on their merry way, living their lives in whatever way that they see fit. 00:08:41.100 --> 00:08:47.360 The implication is that the sheep that are not of the fold of the good shepherd die. 00:08:47.899 --> 00:08:49.019 The wolf snatches them. 00:08:49.220 --> 00:08:50.879 The wolf scatters them. 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:54.039 The sheep scattered do not stay alive. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:08:56.759 They are picked off one by one by one. 00:08:56.879 --> 00:08:58.120 That's the implication here. 00:08:58.419 --> 00:09:03.019 The sheep that belong to Jesus, those that he dies for, live. 00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:06.019 The rest don't get to live some other way. 00:09:06.439 --> 00:09:08.179 They die. 00:09:09.460 --> 00:09:12.259 The sheep of Jesus' fold live eternally. 00:09:12.259 --> 00:09:16.919 And the sheep not of Jesus' fold die eternally. 00:09:18.319 --> 00:09:26.259 In Matthew, Jesus uses sheep language in another metaphor, but there he makes the contrast much more stark. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:30.120 This is Matthew 25, beginning in verse 31. 00:09:30.120 --> 00:10:00.100 There he says, 00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:00.899 To the sheep. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:09.460 Come, you who are blessed by my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:11.840 And then I'll skip down to verse 41. 00:10:12.120 --> 00:10:14.899 Then he will say to those on his left, depart from me. 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:20.259 You cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:22.399 And then verse 46. 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:29.700 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. 00:10:29.700 --> 00:10:30.100 Right? 00:10:30.259 --> 00:10:36.019 So a similar but different metaphor, making that contrast much more stark. 00:10:36.019 --> 00:10:47.860 The question of your eternal state, whether you will be joyful or in anguish forever, has a binary answer. 00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:56.639 You will be judged a sheep and inherit a kingdom or you will be judged a goat and receive eternal punishment. 00:10:56.639 --> 00:11:04.460 In our text, you are a sheep of the fold of the good shepherd or you are not. 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:05.240 It's binary. 00:11:05.439 --> 00:11:11.580 There's two choices to this question of your eternal state. 00:11:11.580 --> 00:11:17.240 This binary is determined not by a multitude of ways. 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:20.900 This is not a choose your own adventure book. 00:11:21.300 --> 00:11:22.900 Some of you may remember those. 00:11:22.899 --> 00:11:38.919 Now, some want to frame Jesus as somehow cruel, exclusive. 00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:43.240 How dare he say he's the way and the truth. 00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:47.659 That he demands things of them that they're just not willing to give up. 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:49.939 I prefer to live my life a different way. 00:11:50.019 --> 00:11:51.500 How dare he say? 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:53.759 I'm a relatively good person. 00:11:53.980 --> 00:11:55.480 Can this claim be made? 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:57.159 But it is. 00:11:57.820 --> 00:12:04.620 The claim is made and there's an eternal consequence if we don't heed the claim. 00:12:05.740 --> 00:12:11.720 And my friends, Jesus, the good shepherd is merciful. 00:12:12.940 --> 00:12:17.200 It doesn't require a way to be made right with God. 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:20.940 We all deserve death and hell. 00:12:21.500 --> 00:12:26.019 So the offer to us is a great mercy. 00:12:26.019 --> 00:12:31.779 In our home, we do some formal catechesis. 00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:35.079 And then we have from time to time some informal catechesis. 00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:39.100 And one of our informal ones, if there's some complaining going on, 00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:41.600 is I will say to the complainer, 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:42.879 what do you deserve? 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:45.439 And the answer that my boys have been taught, death and hell. 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:53.540 And so then I will say, well, then slightly burnt pancakes are kind of a mercy, aren't they? 00:12:55.340 --> 00:12:57.640 A little perspective for you there. 00:12:57.639 --> 00:13:05.960 If we understand that what we deserve is death and hell because we are rebels against a holy God, 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:10.639 then a way back to relationship with him is a great mercy. 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:13.639 A way is a great mercy. 00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:14.240 Mercy. 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:20.139 Just because it's limited to a singular way doesn't make God unmerciful. 00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:27.460 He's abounding in mercy for those who will turn in faith to him. 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:31.960 He desires your eternal restoration to God the Father. 00:13:31.960 --> 00:13:39.639 And in the context of these statements, he has purposed to lay down his life for the sheep, right? 00:13:39.920 --> 00:13:40.860 He hasn't done it yet. 00:13:41.060 --> 00:13:46.720 Jesus is in the living the perfect life that God demanded of us phase as we look at his ministry here. 00:13:46.900 --> 00:13:54.519 But soon we'll see in John, he will sacrificially die the death that we deserve. 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:58.639 And then he will raise again that we would have life in him. 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:03.720 And we'll talk a little more about the resurrection here in a moment. 00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:10.360 You need not get your life all tidied up before you come to Jesus for the salvation of your soul. 00:14:11.460 --> 00:14:12.480 Just go to him. 00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:14.419 Let him do the saving. 00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:19.179 And then in time, he will tidy you up. 00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:23.519 He says in Matthew chapter 11, verse 28 and following, 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:31.539 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:38.419 Jesus is talking here about spiritual labor, trying to earn the life to come. 00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:39.960 Come to me. 00:14:40.579 --> 00:14:43.179 I will give you rest. 00:14:43.620 --> 00:14:46.360 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. 00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:49.199 For I am gentle and lowly in heart. 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:52.000 And you will find rest for your souls. 00:14:52.640 --> 00:14:53.720 For my yoke is easy. 00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:56.700 My burden is light. 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:02.259 Back into the context of our metaphor. 00:15:03.040 --> 00:15:08.420 If we are his sheep, then he will call us out. 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:10.440 He's laid down his life for us. 00:15:10.560 --> 00:15:13.320 He's purchased us with his very blood. 00:15:13.320 --> 00:15:20.100 Acts chapter 20, and therefore he will pursue us to the very end. 00:15:21.560 --> 00:15:28.180 I bumbled across a really fantastic quotation by Charles Spurgeon, as I tend to do from time to time. 00:15:28.620 --> 00:15:32.900 And I included it in your bulletin today that speaks to this very point. 00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:33.900 I'd like to read it to you. 00:15:34.040 --> 00:15:36.660 You may want to look at it there in your bulletin. 00:15:36.659 --> 00:15:39.839 He once said, quote, 00:15:39.839 --> 00:15:45.019 Oh, what blind slaves we were when we sported with death. 00:15:46.299 --> 00:15:49.980 We did not know then what his love had ordained for us. 00:15:50.100 --> 00:15:55.159 It never entered our poor, silly heads that there was a crown for us. 00:15:55.819 --> 00:16:02.679 We did not know that the father's love had settled itself on us or ever the day star knew its place. 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:04.819 We know it now. 00:16:05.679 --> 00:16:09.519 And it is he that has taught us, for he followed us over mountains of vanity, 00:16:09.859 --> 00:16:13.339 through bogs and miry places of foul transgression, 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:18.659 tracked our devious footsteps on and on through youth and manhood, 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:26.079 till at last, with mighty grace, he grasped us in his arms and laid us on his shoulders. 00:16:26.179 --> 00:16:27.919 That's shepherd talk there. 00:16:28.959 --> 00:16:30.620 Laid us on his shoulders. 00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:36.639 And is this day carrying us home to the great fold above, 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:42.840 rejoicing as he bears all our weight and finds us in all we need. 00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:47.080 Oh, that blessed work of effectual grace. 00:16:48.539 --> 00:16:56.620 The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep because he loves his sheep. 00:16:56.620 --> 00:17:03.399 I hope, I genuinely, earnestly hope it could be said of you this morning, beloved. 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:09.660 And if it can't, then the response to that is repentance, a change of your mind, 00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:17.180 turn from your sin and turn to faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, a merciful shepherd. 00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:25.140 Secondly, the good shepherd gathers and unites his sheep. 00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:26.420 See verse 16. 00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:29.620 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. 00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:33.500 I must bring them also and they will listen to my voice. 00:17:34.100 --> 00:17:37.220 So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:47.059 Now we see clearly that the fold mentioned in verses one through five represents Judaism in this metaphor. 00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:49.019 We talked about that a bit, right? 00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:56.200 The fold would have been most often a group of families who had hired out a space. 00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:57.559 Maybe one of them owned it. 00:17:57.619 --> 00:18:02.619 Maybe they rented some space, built a fence, and they would have brought all of their sheep together, 00:18:02.819 --> 00:18:08.220 various flocks together into a fold that would have been protected at night. 00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:11.740 That's what we see there in those first five verses. 00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:21.140 Jesus, in those verses, is calling out the true worshipers from amongst Israel who will turn in faith to him. 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:29.579 But Jesus does not conclude his metaphor with that fold, nor his saving work in actuality. 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:33.400 The sheep called out at the beginning of the chapter? 00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:35.240 Ethnic Jews. 00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:41.000 The other sheep that are not of this fold is everyone who will ever be saved who is not. 00:18:41.740 --> 00:18:43.059 An ethnic Jew. 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:46.859 I presume this is us. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:50.000 Perhaps somebody here is ethnically Jewish. 00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:59.000 People of non-Jewish descent, most of us, that have also listened to the voice of the Good Shepherd. 00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.279 Recognized it. 00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:02.519 Seen him as such. 00:19:03.120 --> 00:19:04.620 And followed him. 00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:09.099 One people called together for God's praise. 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:11.039 United under the headship. 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:12.880 Of Jesus Christ. 00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:16.319 Stated as a grand reality. 00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:18.960 We don't always see this play out in the way that we think it ought to. 00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:21.880 The unity of the church. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.099 Lots of fragmenting. 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:28.019 But true worshipers are united because we are united under the headship. 00:19:28.700 --> 00:19:29.759 Of Jesus Christ. 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:33.720 And to us, this is so glorious. 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:44.819 What a thing to have a God who has a redemptive purpose for the world and is saving people from every tribe, nation, and tongue. 00:19:44.819 --> 00:19:49.039 We are so isolated, I think, when it comes to conversion. 00:19:49.399 --> 00:19:51.139 We are so connected in the world. 00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:55.299 You could know all of the calamities that are happening in the world right now. 00:19:55.299 --> 00:20:04.180 But God is doing a saving work around the world right now, even this morning, that we can't see from this vantage point. 00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:08.019 One day we will get the scope of it. 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:11.779 And we will praise our merciful God forever. 00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:17.399 Remember, to Jesus' audience, what he has said here is untenable. 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:19.059 We revel in it. 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:21.319 They rejected it. 00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:27.000 Jesus got himself into trouble at other times with language like this. 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.359 Join me if you would. 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:29.779 Keep John 10 Mark. 00:20:29.879 --> 00:20:31.399 But go to Luke chapter 4. 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:34.420 Let me show you another instance when he speaks this way. 00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:43.460 And the Jewish people, broadly speaking, became furious with him. 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.519 Luke chapter 4. 00:20:48.580 --> 00:20:49.920 I'm going to begin reading in verse 16. 00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:53.420 This is just after his wilderness temptation. 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:57.680 The beginning of his earthly ministry. 00:20:59.320 --> 00:21:03.480 Luke records, and he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up. 00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:10.920 And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:13.720 This was a regular practice in the synagogue. 00:21:14.560 --> 00:21:17.759 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. 00:21:17.820 --> 00:21:21.420 He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written. 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:27.759 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:33.080 He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind. 00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:33.940 Does that sound familiar? 00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:35.340 John chapter 5. 00:21:35.340 --> 00:21:35.360 John 5. 00:21:36.060 --> 00:21:39.120 To set at liberty those who are oppressed. 00:21:39.340 --> 00:21:42.680 To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. 00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:45.640 An understood messianic text. 00:21:46.340 --> 00:21:55.560 Everybody he's reading this to knew this part of the scroll of Isaiah was speaking of this one who would come and accomplish these things. 00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:57.359 And then verse 20. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:22:01.700 And he rolled up the scroll and he gave it back to the attendant and sat down. 00:22:01.899 --> 00:22:06.059 And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:13.220 And he began to say to them, today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:16.720 He says, I am the Christ. 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:24.440 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:27.299 And they said, is not this Joseph's son? 00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:30.599 And he said to them, doubtless. 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:32.980 You will quote to me this proverb. 00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:34.559 Physician, heal yourself. 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:36.440 What we have heard you did at Capernaum. 00:22:36.899 --> 00:22:40.180 Do here in your hometown as well. 00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:41.680 So he anticipates the question. 00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.619 Do some signs. 00:22:43.159 --> 00:22:43.279 Right? 00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:44.940 Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. 00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:46.240 We're marveling. 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:48.059 Perhaps this guy is the Christ. 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:50.299 But we also know him as Joseph's son. 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:54.460 And he gets out ahead of them asking for a miracle. 00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:56.880 And then he says this, verse 24. 00:22:57.160 --> 00:23:03.440 And he said, truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:07.860 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah. 00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:13.620 When the heavens were shut up three years and six months and a great famine came over all the land. 00:23:13.619 --> 00:23:23.059 And Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath in the land of Sidon to a woman who was a widow. 00:23:23.179 --> 00:23:24.000 Don't miss the detail. 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:24.479 Right? 00:23:25.399 --> 00:23:29.639 Lots of widows who could have used help in this day of famine. 00:23:29.979 --> 00:23:31.299 But who was Elijah sent to? 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:33.679 Not an Israeli woman. 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:34.259 Right? 00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:36.679 To a Sidonite. 00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:38.639 I'm going to guess that's how you would say that. 00:23:38.879 --> 00:23:39.019 Right? 00:23:39.419 --> 00:23:41.500 Only to Zarephath. 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:44.960 Somebody who was not ethnically Jewish. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:46.460 Verse 27. 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:50.319 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha. 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:56.460 And none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian. 00:23:57.940 --> 00:24:00.200 Not ethnically Jewish. 00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:01.880 Okay? 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:04.440 Now, we just read that and go, oh, how interesting. 00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:07.019 Those are fun details. 00:24:07.380 --> 00:24:08.519 What's Jesus talking about? 00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:12.599 If you look at the context, I'm going to have to read to you. 00:24:12.940 --> 00:24:17.519 What he's saying is that the mercy of God went beyond Israel. 00:24:18.139 --> 00:24:22.059 It was shown to people who were not ethnically Jewish. 00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:25.099 And look how they respond to what he says. 00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:25.440 Right? 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:27.460 He stands up and says, I am the Christ. 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:31.620 All of this good blessing that is promised in the book of Isaiah is coming. 00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.360 It is here. 00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.680 It has arrived. 00:24:34.120 --> 00:24:35.319 They question him. 00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:36.600 They want a sign. 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:39.420 And his response is, his response is, yeah. 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.660 Prophets aren't accepted in their hometown. 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:45.140 And let me tell you something about God's mercy. 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:47.460 Look at verse 26. 00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:57.860 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue, everybody whose eyes were fixed on him marveling, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 00:24:58.740 --> 00:25:00.980 This is a stronger word than anger. 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.019 Wrath. 00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:12.539 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built so that they could throw him down the cliff. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:17.579 They went from marveling to murderous. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:22.299 Because of this, God is a merciful God. 00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:25.519 And he means to save peoples. 00:25:27.639 --> 00:25:31.420 Verse 30 says, but passing through their midst, he went away. 00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:36.460 This is my proof text for ghosting at a party. 00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.799 Hi, kid. 00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:42.240 Nobody ever tries to throw me off a cliff at parties. 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:49.099 God always had grand plans to fill the earth with his praise. 00:25:49.859 --> 00:25:51.420 That was always the intention, right? 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:57.139 To fill the entire earth with his praise, his image everywhere. 00:25:57.140 --> 00:26:03.759 I don't know that I've ever heard this verse as a primary text for a missionary sermon. 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:10.140 But what a text it is as a primary text for a missionary sermon. 00:26:10.140 --> 00:26:13.200 We go and send. 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:24.100 We give and we pray for those who have gone because we believe that our God is worthy of praise and that he has a saving purpose for the nations. 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:29.159 But we recognize that we ourselves are not Israel. 00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:31.980 And so we are one of those nations. 00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:36.380 So even in our sending abroad, we also go. 00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:40.819 We go to our neighbors and our workplaces, to our family. 00:26:40.819 --> 00:27:02.419 We know that Jesus did not accomplish this in his day. 00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:11.240 He did not go to the ends of the earth, but he does that now through his church, through this one flock. 00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:15.480 We are sent everywhere to share the good news. 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:24.539 And he is bringing out his sheep because he's the one who's empowering that work. 00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:34.740 Lived, died, lived again, ascended, sent to us the helper, the spirit to empower this work. 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:38.360 Matthew 28, verse 18 and following. 00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:44.299 Jesus says all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:45.839 All of it. 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:53.539 I rule over all things with the primary purpose of calling together my people for the praise of my name. 00:27:53.659 --> 00:27:57.939 And we know that because verse 19 says, go, therefore, because I have all of this authority. 00:27:58.579 --> 00:28:02.099 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations. 00:28:02.959 --> 00:28:03.479 Peoples. 00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:05.279 That work to be translated. 00:28:05.519 --> 00:28:06.039 Peoples. 00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:12.619 Yes, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:17.940 And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. 00:28:18.659 --> 00:28:18.779 Right? 00:28:19.899 --> 00:28:22.399 Jesus has other sheep, not of this fold. 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:25.159 We are counted amongst that number. 00:28:25.159 --> 00:28:29.399 And there are others that he also must bring. 00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:35.940 And he commissions us to be part of that saving work, not because he really needs us. 00:28:36.879 --> 00:28:42.779 But because he intends to include us in his glorious purpose to save his people. 00:28:44.899 --> 00:28:45.379 Thirdly. 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:50.399 The good shepherd is loved by his father. 00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:54.940 So I want to pick up back up the beginning of verse 15. 00:28:55.880 --> 00:29:01.900 Jesus is talked about in 14 about about his sheep and him knowing one another. 00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:09.200 And then he says, just as the father knows me and I know the father. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:13.340 And then he says, and I lay down my life for the sheep. 00:29:13.840 --> 00:29:19.019 This is deeply intimate language. 00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:23.620 We do the word no and we just think about facts and figures. 00:29:24.299 --> 00:29:24.799 I think. 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:26.940 That's what my mind does at very least. 00:29:26.940 --> 00:29:30.140 It's a fairly cold word in my mind. 00:29:30.580 --> 00:29:32.580 But this is not that kind of knowledge. 00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:33.900 That's not what he's talking about. 00:29:34.120 --> 00:29:36.980 He's talking about intimate knowledge. 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:40.279 In men's retreat, we talked about friendship, Christian friendship. 00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:40.980 It's that thing. 00:29:41.039 --> 00:29:43.440 That thing we've been talking about all weekend. 00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:47.220 It's really, really knowing someone. 00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:49.440 Knowing all of the ins and outs. 00:29:49.580 --> 00:29:51.080 All of the intricacies. 00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:52.159 That's what he's saying here. 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:56.500 The father knows me and I know the father. 00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:05.819 But then he says, for this reason, the father loves me because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 00:30:05.899 --> 00:30:15.240 And I think what needs some clarification here is that Jesus is not communicating that the father's love for him is conditioned on his obedience. 00:30:16.639 --> 00:30:18.339 It kind of reads that way, doesn't it? 00:30:19.379 --> 00:30:20.619 This is why the father loves me. 00:30:20.619 --> 00:30:23.059 Because I lay down my life for the sheep. 00:30:23.379 --> 00:30:24.119 I lay down my life. 00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:26.779 And therefore, the father loves me. 00:30:27.479 --> 00:30:39.179 But we don't want to separate this out from the fact that, verse 15, they already know each other in this intimate, familial, loving way. 00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:48.239 In eternity past, the triune God had intimate knowledge within the Godhead. 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:52.180 Love within the Godhead. 00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:56.660 Just as the father knows me and I know the father. 00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:59.279 That's not a conditioned statement. 00:30:59.420 --> 00:31:01.579 It is a fact. 00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:04.740 The Trinity is something to marvel at. 00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:06.420 And it is difficult to understand. 00:31:06.420 --> 00:31:12.759 So maybe, maybe I hope to help us see what Jesus is saying in some measure. 00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:17.120 Maybe we could bring it down to our knowing of Jesus. 00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:19.779 John chapter 14 and verse 15. 00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:26.379 There he says, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. 00:31:26.380 --> 00:31:31.340 Now, there he's not saying, I will love you if you keep my commandments. 00:31:31.340 --> 00:31:33.720 But if you love me, you will keep my commandments. 00:31:33.820 --> 00:31:39.660 And what I think he's expressing to us here is that if we have rightly ordered affections for Christ, 00:31:39.660 --> 00:31:45.840 then the natural response is going to be to obey the things that Christ has asked of us. 00:31:46.519 --> 00:31:48.019 We know who he is. 00:31:48.120 --> 00:31:52.100 We're familiar with this character, the things that he deeply desires. 00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:54.220 We also deeply desire. 00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:56.460 And so we obey. 00:31:57.840 --> 00:32:01.300 I think that's what's following in this case. 00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:08.859 And so as Jesus is trying to explain in some measure the nature of the son with the father, 00:32:09.859 --> 00:32:14.019 which is complicated, it's a thing to marvel at. 00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:17.379 The son is obedient. 00:32:18.200 --> 00:32:24.379 And so the father in unison with him admires him, has affection for him 00:32:24.379 --> 00:32:28.859 because he's carrying out the purpose of the Godhead. 00:32:28.859 --> 00:32:34.240 Now, if I confuse you more than help you in that case, 00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:41.419 I just want you to not think that the father's love for Jesus is conditioned on his obedience. 00:32:41.419 --> 00:32:46.000 I don't believe that's what he's trying to communicate to us here at all. 00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:50.919 Jesus says, again, I lay down my life. 00:32:51.159 --> 00:32:57.419 And then he says that and it could be translated in order that I may take it up again. 00:32:57.420 --> 00:33:03.019 Again, dies so that he will rise. 00:33:03.580 --> 00:33:04.539 Once again. 00:33:05.560 --> 00:33:11.340 I appreciate that the times that Jesus is speaking of the laying down of his life, 00:33:11.340 --> 00:33:15.240 he's always quick to also talk about his resurrection. 00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:23.840 And he says in verse 18, no one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. 00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:28.959 Lord, lest you think that what's going to happen to me is some kind of mistake. 00:33:29.919 --> 00:33:33.839 I have authority to lay it down and I have authority to take it up again. 00:33:34.419 --> 00:33:37.759 This charge I have received from my father. 00:33:38.240 --> 00:33:47.099 The purpose of the Godhead has been given to me and therefore I will die and rise again. 00:33:47.099 --> 00:34:02.000 D.A. Carson in his commentary wrote of verse 18, the sacrificial death of the shepherd when it occurs must not be taken as an accident of fate or merely as a tragedy perpetuated by misguided men. 00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:05.440 But as the father's plan. 00:34:06.279 --> 00:34:12.360 Part of the son's obedience to that plan is his consummate awareness that he lays down his life of his own accord. 00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:20.179 The authority he has received from his father sanctions not only this, but also his own resurrection. 00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:30.799 I think that this is why I wrap our minds around this in closing. 00:34:31.739 --> 00:34:32.859 Paul's prayer. 00:34:32.980 --> 00:34:42.879 Paul prays in Ephesians chapter one that the Ephesian believers would understand the power of the resurrection for salvation. 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:51.660 He says, for this reason, because I have heard of your faith, this is verse 15 and following in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints. 00:34:51.860 --> 00:34:56.920 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 00:34:57.079 --> 00:34:59.460 And he tells them what he prays. 00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:08.260 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him. 00:35:08.260 --> 00:35:15.380 Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you. 00:35:15.620 --> 00:35:18.920 What are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints? 00:35:19.140 --> 00:35:23.940 And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe? 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:28.060 According to the working of his great might. 00:35:28.460 --> 00:35:30.080 Did you catch all of that? 00:35:30.180 --> 00:35:31.240 I know you're not looking at it. 00:35:31.700 --> 00:35:33.540 That we would have the eyes of our hearts enlightened. 00:35:33.680 --> 00:35:35.700 We may know what is the hope to which he's called you. 00:35:35.699 --> 00:35:38.219 What are the riches of his glorious inheritance of the saints? 00:35:38.359 --> 00:35:42.000 And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe? 00:35:42.500 --> 00:35:46.480 According to the working of his great might. 00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:50.199 And then and then here's the proofing of that. 00:35:50.539 --> 00:35:50.659 Right. 00:35:50.719 --> 00:35:52.579 He's praying that they would understand this. 00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:57.599 Wrap their minds around the significance of Christ's resurrection. 00:35:57.599 --> 00:36:05.519 Because he's working by this great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead. 00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:09.279 Seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. 00:36:09.739 --> 00:36:14.939 Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named. 00:36:15.359 --> 00:36:19.960 Not only in this age but also in the one to come. 00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:24.619 That's a good thing for us to pray. 00:36:25.840 --> 00:36:28.300 The good shepherd loves his sheep. 00:36:28.420 --> 00:36:31.679 The good shepherd gathers and unites his sheep. 00:36:32.159 --> 00:36:36.199 And the good shepherd is loved by his father. 00:36:36.699 --> 00:36:37.679 Let's pray in closing. 00:36:37.839 --> 00:36:37.839 00:36:37.839 --> 00:36:37.839 00:36:37.839 --> 00:36:37.839 00:36:37.839 --> 00:36:37.839 00:36:37.839 --> 00:36:37.839 00:36:37.839 --> 00:36:37.839 00:36:37.839 --> 00:36:37.839 00:36:37.839 --> 00:36:37.839 00:36:37.839 --> 00:36:37.839 00:36:37.839 --> 00:36:37.839 00:36:37.839 --> 00:36:37.839 00:36:37.840 --> 00:37:07.820