WEBVTT

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 In his book, Jesus Among Other Gods,

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 Christian apologist and professor Ravi Zacharias

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 makes the insightful observation

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 that every other religion in the world

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 lays out a way of life for people to follow.

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 Zoroastrianism says it's people who seek to follow it

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 to pursue good thoughts, good words, good deeds.

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 Hinduism says you should pursue the objectives of human life,

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 which they say are righteousness, wealth, sensual pleasure,

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 and freedom from the birth-rebirth cycle.

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 Buddhism says to follow the four noble truths

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 and the Eightfold Path,

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 and that will grant you nirvana or enlightenment.

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 And Islam teaches you to follow the five pillars,

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 the declaration of faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting,

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 and pilgrimage to Mecca.

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 These are all ways of life that he tells people to follow.

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 If you follow this, then you will be saved,

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 then you will be enlightened.

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 By contrast, Zacharias writes,

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 Jesus did not only teach or expound his message,

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 he was identical with his message.

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 In him, says the scriptures,

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 dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

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 He did not just proclaim the truth,

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 he said, I am the truth.

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 He did not just show a way,

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 he said, I am the way.

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 He did not just open up vistas,

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 he said, I am the door.

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 I am the good shepherd.

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 I am the resurrection and the life.

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 I am the I am.

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 In him is not just an offer of life's bread,

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 he is the bread.

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 Right.

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 That fundamentally sets Christianity apart

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 from the other religions,

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 that Jesus doesn't offer simply a way of life,

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 but he offers life itself.

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 He doesn't leave us to strive

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 and to earn our own salvation

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 and may find our way there.

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 Rather, he takes the initiative

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 and comes to save us

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 and rescue us from our sin.

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 In this sense,

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 Christianity is not like any other religion

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 in the world.

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 And this pattern of relationship

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 between our Savior Jesus and us

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 is demonstrated in this passage.

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 It teaches that Jesus is the good shepherd

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 set apart and sent by the Father

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 to call, save, and preserve his sheep.

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 And those are going to be the three main points.

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 It's that the Father calls,

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 the Father sent the good shepherd

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 to call, save, and preserve his sheep.

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 Read verses one to two with me.

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 Truly, truly, I say to you,

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 he who does not enter by the sheepfold,

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 who does not enter the sheepfold by the door,

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 but climbs in by another way,

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 that man is a thief and a robber.

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 But he who enters by the door

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 is the shepherd of the sheep.

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 Given the context and the confrontation

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 that just took place

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 between Jesus and the Jewish leaders,

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 Jesus is implying here

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 that those Jewish leaders are thieves and robbers.

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 It's the real shepherd of the sheep

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 enters by the sheep pen,

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 the door of the sheep pen,

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 but thieves and robbers enter secretly

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 in order to take advantage of the people.

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 And he's accusing them

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 of being illegitimate shepherds.

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 And the image of the shepherd

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 and this accusation in particular

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 is stinging and it's significant

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 because in Ezekiel 34,

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 God had prophesied,

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 he had indicted the Jewish leaders

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 at the time of being false shepherds.

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 It says in Ezekiel 34,

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 Ah, shepherds of Israel

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 who have been feeding yourselves

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 should not shepherds feed the sheep?

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 You eat the fat,

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 you clothe yourselves with the wool,

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 you slaughter the fat ones,

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 but you do not feed the sheep.

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 The weak you have not strengthened,

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 the sick you have not healed,

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 the injured you have not bound up,

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 the strayed you have not brought back.

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 So they were scattered

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 because there was no shepherd

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 and they became food for all the wild beasts.

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 Now this was God's indictment,

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 personal indictment of the Jews,

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 the Jewish leaders at the time.

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 But then this skating indictment

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 was followed by a startling promise.

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 God said himself,

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 Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep

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 and will seek them out.

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 I will feed them with good pasture

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 and on the mountain heights of Israel

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 shall be their grazing land.

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 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep

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 and I myself will make them lie down,

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 declares the Lord God.

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 I will seek the lost

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 and I will bring back the strayed

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 and I will bind up the injured

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 and I will strengthen the weak.

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 So God promised this in Ezekiel 34

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 that he would himself come

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 as the true shepherd to lead Israelites,

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 to lead his people

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 who had not been taken care of

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 and led properly by the Jewish leaders.

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 And this is in fact what Jesus has come to do.

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 Jesus saying he's fulfilling this,

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 he's now the good shepherd

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 that the Father has sent.

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 And now how does the shepherd of Israel

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 relate to his sheep?

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 In verse 3 it tells us,

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 To him the gatekeeper opens,

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 the sheep hear his voice

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 and he calls his own sheep by name

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 and leads them out.

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 Now the scene here is that

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 you shouldn't imagine like a private sheep pen

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 but this seems to be a larger enclosure,

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 a sheep pen that contains several families' flocks

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 and that's why it says

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 that he calls his own sheep by name.

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 So there's several flocks in that pen

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 and Jesus calls out his sheep,

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 the sheep that belong to him.

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 And so because Jesus is the true shepherd,

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 that tells us who the pastors are supposed to be.

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 So pastors like me, the shepherds,

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 we're really gatekeepers,

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 like the gatekeeper in this parable.

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 He's the shepherd,

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 the true Jesus is the one that truly leads them

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 and we are at best under shepherds,

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 serving under his guidance

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 and we make way for him,

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 for him to come and lead,

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 for him to encounter his sheep.

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 And that's why we make the person and work

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 of Jesus Christ central to everything

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 that we do in our ministry.

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 It's because it's not about us,

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 it's not about people,

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 it's about encountering and being led

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 by the true shepherd, Jesus Christ.

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 And that's why we let God's word,

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 rather than our personal preferences,

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 opinions, rule and lead our church.

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 So my job or the job of any pastor

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 is not to make you guys loyal to me,

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 to follow me,

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 but to make you loyal to Christ,

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 to follow Christ at all costs.

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 That's our call.

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 We're just gatekeepers.

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 And when the true shepherd comes to his flock,

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 it says he first calls his flock.

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 Verses three and four.

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 It says the sheep hear his voice

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 and he calls his own sheep by name

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 and leads them out.

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 When he has brought out all his own,

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 he goes before them

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 and the sheep follow him

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 for they know his voice.

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 There's a notable difference

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 between Western shepherds,

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 like shepherds in our parts,

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 and Eastern shepherds,

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 shepherds in Middle East, Asia.

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 And in our parts,

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 in Western parts,

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 the shepherds use sheepdogs, right?

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 And they drive the sheep

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 from behind them.

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 In Eastern cultures,

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 the shepherds don't use sheepdogs actually.

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 They lead from the front

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 and they use their unique calls

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 to call the sheep to themselves.

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 And so it's remarkable.

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 If there are several flocks

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 and different shepherds,

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 they each have a unique call

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 and when they call,

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 all the sheep that belong to them

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 will follow them.

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 And so that's kind of the picture

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 that is in view here.

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 Jesus has a specific call for his sheep

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 and they recognize his voice

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 and they follow him.

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 And note the logical priority

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 of the shepherd's call, right?

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 It's not that the shepherd takes

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 whatever sheep come to him.

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 The shepherd calls the ones

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 that already belong to him, right?

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 And that's why in verses 26 and 27,

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 later Jesus says to the Jewish leaders,

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 you do not believe

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 because you are not among my sheep.

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 My sheep hear my voice

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 and I know them

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 and they follow me, right?

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 The reason why they don't believe

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 is because they don't belong.

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 It's not that they don't belong

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 because they don't believe, right?

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 And so if you're a Christian,

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 then we should be assured of the fact

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 that you are one

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 because you have believed in Jesus.

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 Yes, that's true.

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 But even prior to that,

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 you belong to him.

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 You are one of his sheep

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 because he called you.

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 The shepherds called you

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 because you belong to him.

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 You followed

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 because you were already called by Jesus

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 and that should make us,

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 as Christians,

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 immensely grateful for him

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 because it's his grace

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 ultimately that first chose us

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 and called us.

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 And what that means

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 for those who have not responded

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 to his call then

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 is for you to respond to him

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 because it's in responding

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 to his call,

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 in hearing his call,

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 that you confirm

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 that you belong to his sheep pen,

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 his flock.

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 So then I want to invite you

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 because I believe

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 there are some here

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 who are hearing his call

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 for the first time

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 then you should not hesitate

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 or delay

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 but come to him

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 because that's where

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 you are confirmed

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 in your identity

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 as one of his sheep.

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 So the true shepherd

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 calls his own sheep

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 but he goes even further

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 than the traditional

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 Near Eastern shepherd

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 because he calls them

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 each by name.

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 He calls them individually.

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 He knows each one.

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 And it's such an amazing picture

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 of God's care for us,

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 detailed, intimate,

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 specific care for us.

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 He doesn't just call us out in mass

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 but he chooses

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 and calls us each by name.

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 But once we are called by name though,

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 we are gathered into one flock.

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 We're always gathered

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 or congregated into a flock.

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 So verse 4 says,

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 When he has brought out

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 all his own,

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 he goes before them

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 and the sheep follow him

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 for they know his voice.

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 The shepherd grazes,

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 guides, and guards

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 the flock together.

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 He doesn't become

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 a personal shepherd

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 of one sheep.

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 In a sense it is

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 but he always gathers

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 and congregates the sheep together.

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 And that's why

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 in verse 16 also

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 Jesus says,

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 So there will be one flock

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 and one shepherd.

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 And that's actually

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 what the word church means.

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 The church,

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 in Greek,

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 the word means

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 to be called out,

00:10:12.680 --> 00:10:13.700
 the called out ones.

00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:14.860
 So the church

00:10:14.860 --> 00:10:15.740
 is a group of people

00:10:15.740 --> 00:10:16.740
 congregated to sheep

00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:17.659
 that have been called out

00:10:17.659 --> 00:10:18.460
 by the true shepherd.

00:10:18.940 --> 00:10:20.039
 That's what a church is.

00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:21.600
 And since today

00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:22.560
 is Membership Sunday,

00:10:22.779 --> 00:10:24.620
 which is a really joyful occasion

00:10:24.620 --> 00:10:26.200
 for us inducting five new members,

00:10:26.500 --> 00:10:28.379
 I want to use this passage

00:10:28.379 --> 00:10:29.440
 just to briefly teach

00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:29.960
 on the importance

00:10:29.960 --> 00:10:30.580
 of church membership

00:10:30.580 --> 00:10:31.320
 before returning

00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:32.399
 to the rest of the passage.

00:10:33.220 --> 00:10:33.940
 Because membership

00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:35.399
 is not explicitly mentioned

00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:35.940
 in the Bible

00:10:35.940 --> 00:10:37.220
 and the reason why

00:10:37.220 --> 00:10:37.899
 it's not mentioned

00:10:37.899 --> 00:10:39.120
 is because for the most part

00:10:39.120 --> 00:10:39.940
 it's assumed

00:10:39.940 --> 00:10:40.879
 in the early church.

00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:42.480
 When you are baptized

00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:43.659
 in the early church,

00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:44.560
 you are assumed

00:10:44.560 --> 00:10:45.299
 to be then

00:10:45.299 --> 00:10:45.820
 from that moment

00:10:45.820 --> 00:10:47.080
 a part of that local church

00:10:47.080 --> 00:10:48.799
 that baptized that person.

00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:51.580
 And that became now

00:10:51.580 --> 00:10:52.299
 your new family,

00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:52.980
 the family of God

00:10:52.980 --> 00:10:54.100
 and people were wholeheartedly

00:10:54.100 --> 00:10:54.860
 committed to that

00:10:54.860 --> 00:10:55.659
 new community.

00:10:56.920 --> 00:10:58.060
 But since the second

00:10:58.060 --> 00:10:59.039
 great awakening

00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:00.460
 in the U.S.,

00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:00.879
 Christianity

00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:02.840
 has become much more

00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:03.960
 about personal piety.

00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:04.580
 You know,

00:11:04.620 --> 00:11:04.940
 Jesus,

00:11:05.180 --> 00:11:07.000
 just me and my Bible,

00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:07.720
 having my own

00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:08.300
 personal relationship

00:11:08.300 --> 00:11:08.740
 with Him.

00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:10.259
 And that emphasis

00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:10.920
 on community

00:11:10.920 --> 00:11:12.060
 has really fallen

00:11:12.060 --> 00:11:13.220
 by the wayside.

00:11:13.800 --> 00:11:14.420
 But the Bible

00:11:14.420 --> 00:11:15.120
 doesn't know

00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:15.680
 of any such

00:11:15.680 --> 00:11:16.860
 self-centered Christianity.

00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:19.420
 It speaks of

00:11:19.420 --> 00:11:20.480
 us being born

00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:20.920
 into family.

00:11:20.919 --> 00:11:21.919
 When you're born,

00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:22.819
 physically,

00:11:22.979 --> 00:11:23.259
 biologically,

00:11:23.339 --> 00:11:23.719
 you're born

00:11:23.719 --> 00:11:24.339
 into a family.

00:11:25.439 --> 00:11:26.379
 It could be

00:11:26.379 --> 00:11:27.179
 a broken family.

00:11:27.599 --> 00:11:28.079
 It could be

00:11:28.079 --> 00:11:28.939
 an adoptive family.

00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:29.259
 It could be

00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:29.899
 a rich family.

00:11:29.959 --> 00:11:30.159
 It could be

00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:30.819
 a poor family.

00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:32.139
 But when you're born,

00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:33.259
 no one can be born

00:11:33.259 --> 00:11:33.819
 in isolation.

00:11:33.979 --> 00:11:34.539
 When you're born,

00:11:34.699 --> 00:11:35.199
 you're born

00:11:35.199 --> 00:11:36.159
 into a family.

00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:38.139
 In the same way

00:11:38.139 --> 00:11:38.740
 as a Christian,

00:11:38.819 --> 00:11:39.339
 when you're born

00:11:39.339 --> 00:11:40.620
 again by the Spirit,

00:11:40.819 --> 00:11:41.339
 you're born

00:11:41.339 --> 00:11:42.279
 into a family.

00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:43.959
 You can't be born

00:11:43.959 --> 00:11:44.980
 again and be

00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:45.360
 a Christian

00:11:45.360 --> 00:11:46.179
 apart from being

00:11:46.179 --> 00:11:46.620
 born again

00:11:46.620 --> 00:11:47.339
 into a family

00:11:47.339 --> 00:11:47.779
 of God.

00:11:47.779 --> 00:11:50.600
 the same way

00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:51.299
 you can't become

00:11:51.299 --> 00:11:52.339
 a part of Christ

00:11:52.339 --> 00:11:53.259
 without being part

00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:54.019
 of the body

00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:54.559
 of Christ.

00:11:55.419 --> 00:11:56.199
 The community

00:11:56.199 --> 00:11:56.839
 is essential

00:11:56.839 --> 00:11:57.600
 to what it means

00:11:57.600 --> 00:11:58.779
 to be a Christian.

00:12:00.299 --> 00:12:02.079
 And so then

00:12:02.079 --> 00:12:02.860
 the early church

00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:03.720
 understood this

00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:04.279
 and so they

00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:05.220
 took community

00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:05.819
 seriously

00:12:05.819 --> 00:12:06.519
 and cared for

00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:06.860
 one another,

00:12:06.959 --> 00:12:07.439
 asked for their

00:12:07.439 --> 00:12:08.059
 own families.

00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:10.000
 But because

00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:10.779
 we live in a time

00:12:10.779 --> 00:12:11.120
 and culture

00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:11.939
 where privatized

00:12:11.939 --> 00:12:12.339
 Christianity

00:12:12.339 --> 00:12:13.179
 is the norm

00:12:13.179 --> 00:12:13.959
 and when there's

00:12:13.959 --> 00:12:14.339
 a lot of

00:12:14.339 --> 00:12:15.159
 nominal Christians,

00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:16.120
 church membership

00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:16.879
 is necessary

00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:17.620
 to tell us

00:12:17.620 --> 00:12:18.539
 who exactly

00:12:18.539 --> 00:12:19.539
 is part of the flock,

00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:20.679
 who is actually

00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:21.960
 part of God's people.

00:12:23.340 --> 00:12:24.299
 And the pastors

00:12:24.299 --> 00:12:25.340
 as undershepherds

00:12:25.340 --> 00:12:25.919
 and gatekeepers

00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:26.519
 need to know

00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:27.500
 who belong to the flock

00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:28.759
 and other members

00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:29.120
 of the church

00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:29.980
 also need to know

00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:30.720
 who belongs to the flock

00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:31.879
 so that they can

00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:32.939
 minister to one another

00:12:32.939 --> 00:12:34.000
 as God calls us to.

00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:36.460
 So maybe at this point

00:12:36.460 --> 00:12:36.919
 you might be thinking

00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:37.340
 to yourself,

00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:37.659
 well,

00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:38.860
 why can't I just

00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:39.500
 do that

00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:40.500
 without becoming a member?

00:12:41.620 --> 00:12:44.720
 Why is that formal process

00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:45.000
 necessary?

00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:45.620
 Why can't I just

00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:46.460
 be a part of church

00:12:46.460 --> 00:12:47.879
 and come every Sunday

00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:49.139
 and minister to people

00:12:49.139 --> 00:12:50.400
 without being a member?

00:12:51.040 --> 00:12:51.980
 And maybe this illustration

00:12:51.980 --> 00:12:52.720
 would be helpful for you

00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:53.720
 because many of you

00:12:53.720 --> 00:12:54.840
 have dated before,

00:12:55.139 --> 00:12:55.639
 right?

00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:57.100
 And if you have,

00:12:57.759 --> 00:12:58.320
 unfortunately,

00:12:58.540 --> 00:12:59.519
 some of you might have

00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.980
 experienced a relationship

00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:02.440
 that Facebook classifies

00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:03.379
 as it's complicated,

00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:04.060
 right?

00:13:04.940 --> 00:13:06.220
 And if you've been

00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:07.320
 in one of those relationships,

00:13:07.560 --> 00:13:08.800
 you understand the importance

00:13:08.800 --> 00:13:10.480
 of defining the relationship,

00:13:11.040 --> 00:13:11.240
 right?

00:13:11.740 --> 00:13:12.920
 Because there are a few things

00:13:12.920 --> 00:13:14.200
 more relationally frustrating

00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:16.280
 than having a semi-significant

00:13:16.280 --> 00:13:17.660
 other that takes you

00:13:17.660 --> 00:13:18.320
 out on dates,

00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:19.920
 texts you way late at night,

00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:20.780
 and then,

00:13:21.040 --> 00:13:21.340
 you know,

00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:24.080
 and calls you way too frequently,

00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:25.780
 yet refuses to say

00:13:25.780 --> 00:13:26.480
 whether he or she

00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:27.400
 is actually your boyfriend

00:13:27.400 --> 00:13:27.900
 or girlfriend,

00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:28.580
 right?

00:13:30.160 --> 00:13:31.000
 That leaves you

00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:32.140
 in a state of insecurity

00:13:32.140 --> 00:13:33.220
 and indecision,

00:13:33.460 --> 00:13:33.860
 doesn't it?

00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:34.759
 Right?

00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:36.280
 It's in this kind

00:13:36.280 --> 00:13:36.980
 of relationship

00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:38.200
 that irresponsible,

00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:40.080
 semi-significant other

00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:41.480
 can simply just one day

00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:42.379
 stop talking to you,

00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:43.840
 refuse to acknowledge you

00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:44.759
 and leave you,

00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:45.620
 and there's nothing

00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:46.660
 you can do about it.

00:13:47.040 --> 00:13:48.020
 Because there was no

00:13:48.020 --> 00:13:49.080
 responsibility taken

00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:49.600
 by that person

00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:50.320
 in the first place,

00:13:50.420 --> 00:13:51.160
 so there can be

00:13:51.160 --> 00:13:52.100
 no accountability.

00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:53.700
 There's nothing you can do.

00:13:55.060 --> 00:13:55.740
 The relationship

00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:56.759
 was never official.

00:13:59.420 --> 00:14:00.580
 This kind of illustrates

00:14:00.580 --> 00:14:01.080
 the importance

00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:02.160
 of that formal process,

00:14:02.280 --> 00:14:02.360
 right?

00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:03.160
 The church membership

00:14:03.160 --> 00:14:03.879
 lets pastors

00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:04.640
 and other members

00:14:04.640 --> 00:14:05.540
 of the church know

00:14:05.540 --> 00:14:06.780
 whether you're committed

00:14:06.780 --> 00:14:07.500
 or not,

00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:08.660
 whether you're in

00:14:08.659 --> 00:14:09.059
 or not,

00:14:09.100 --> 00:14:09.860
 whether you're saying,

00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:10.219
 yes,

00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:11.120
 we're going to live

00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:11.779
 with this community,

00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:13.059
 care for this community,

00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:14.399
 exhort one another,

00:14:14.659 --> 00:14:15.719
 confess our sins

00:14:15.719 --> 00:14:16.360
 to one another,

00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:17.539
 greet one another,

00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:18.299
 care for one another

00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:19.219
 in each other's needs,

00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:19.799
 yes,

00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:20.959
 I'm committing to do that

00:14:20.959 --> 00:14:22.199
 with this group of people.

00:14:22.419 --> 00:14:23.199
 That's what church

00:14:23.199 --> 00:14:24.199
 membership tells us.

00:14:24.339 --> 00:14:25.699
 It defines that relationship

00:14:25.699 --> 00:14:26.579
 so we can be free

00:14:26.579 --> 00:14:28.019
 to care for one another

00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:29.199
 and obey God's commandments.

00:14:31.559 --> 00:14:32.579
 So then the shepherd

00:14:32.579 --> 00:14:34.259
 calls his own sheep

00:14:34.259 --> 00:14:35.579
 and in so doing,

00:14:35.659 --> 00:14:37.079
 he constitutes the church

00:14:37.080 --> 00:14:39.100
 and those who are called

00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:40.900
 by him follow him.

00:14:41.180 --> 00:14:42.200
 It says in verse 5,

00:14:42.680 --> 00:14:44.680
 a stranger they will not follow

00:14:44.680 --> 00:14:46.200
 but they will flee from him

00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:47.600
 for they do not know

00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:49.680
 the voice of strangers.

00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:51.960
 Isn't that such a wonderful picture

00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:53.080
 of Christian discipleship,

00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:53.320
 right?

00:14:53.420 --> 00:14:54.780
 Christ leads us on the head,

00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:55.780
 he calls to us

00:14:55.780 --> 00:14:57.200
 and we follow his voice

00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:58.360
 and we disregard

00:14:58.360 --> 00:14:59.340
 all other voices

00:14:59.340 --> 00:15:00.280
 because he alone

00:15:00.280 --> 00:15:01.640
 is our shepherd.

00:15:02.420 --> 00:15:03.640
 And that's an important truth

00:15:03.640 --> 00:15:04.740
 because if you're a Christian

00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:06.379
 and your ultimate allegiance

00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:08.000
 is not to your parent,

00:15:08.419 --> 00:15:09.799
 it's not to your spouse,

00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:11.100
 it's not to your coach,

00:15:11.340 --> 00:15:12.580
 it's not to your president,

00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:14.720
 it's not even to your pastor.

00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:16.080
 Your ultimate allegiance

00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:17.139
 is to Christ

00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:18.740
 and Christ alone.

00:15:19.379 --> 00:15:20.600
 And if anyone,

00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:21.680
 any one of those people

00:15:21.680 --> 00:15:22.759
 seek to draw you away

00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:23.480
 from Jesus,

00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:24.419
 then it's not merely

00:15:24.419 --> 00:15:25.139
 your right,

00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:26.259
 it's your duty

00:15:26.259 --> 00:15:27.220
 to flee from that,

00:15:27.940 --> 00:15:28.980
 to not follow that.

00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:32.440
 And that's in fact

00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:33.320
 what a Christian does.

00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:35.060
 A stranger they will not follow,

00:15:35.280 --> 00:15:36.720
 but they will flee from him,

00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:38.040
 for they do not know

00:15:38.040 --> 00:15:39.379
 the voice of strangers.

00:15:40.820 --> 00:15:41.960
 And interestingly enough,

00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.720
 governments throughout history

00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:45.300
 that have sought

00:15:45.300 --> 00:15:47.020
 absolute power for themselves

00:15:47.020 --> 00:15:49.080
 have always persecuted Christians.

00:15:49.560 --> 00:15:50.240
 And I think because

00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:51.660
 they understood this truth

00:15:51.660 --> 00:15:52.520
 perhaps even better

00:15:52.520 --> 00:15:53.300
 than we do today.

00:15:54.560 --> 00:15:56.040
 They knew their ultimate allegiance

00:15:56.040 --> 00:15:56.940
 was not to them.

00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:58.320
 The Christian's ultimate allegiance

00:15:58.320 --> 00:15:59.080
 was to Jesus.

00:16:00.680 --> 00:16:01.320
 There's a story

00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:03.300
 that Roman historian Eusebius

00:16:03.300 --> 00:16:04.480
 writes about a time,

00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:06.520
 AD 177,

00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:07.920
 a Christian was being tormented

00:16:07.920 --> 00:16:08.720
 for his faith,

00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:11.000
 persecuted by the authorities.

00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:12.520
 And he writes this about him.

00:16:12.980 --> 00:16:14.500
 With such determination

00:16:14.500 --> 00:16:15.600
 did he stand up

00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:16.720
 to their onslaughts

00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.879
 that he would not tell them

00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:18.620
 his own name,

00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:19.300
 race,

00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:20.300
 and birthplace,

00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:21.420
 or whether he was slave

00:16:21.420 --> 00:16:21.940
 or free.

00:16:22.460 --> 00:16:23.320
 To every question

00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:25.600
 he replied in Latin,

00:16:26.020 --> 00:16:26.940
 I am a Christian.

00:16:27.520 --> 00:16:28.820
 I am a Christian.

00:16:28.820 --> 00:16:30.620
 I am a Christian.

00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:32.420
 This he proclaimed

00:16:32.420 --> 00:16:33.520
 over and over again

00:16:33.520 --> 00:16:34.200
 instead of name,

00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:34.840
 birthplace,

00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:35.460
 nationality,

00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:36.180
 and everything else.

00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:37.540
 And not another word

00:16:37.540 --> 00:16:38.200
 did the heathen

00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:38.900
 hear from him.

00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:42.140
 That's where

00:16:42.140 --> 00:16:43.200
 our true allegiance lies.

00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.020
 Christ.

00:16:45.180 --> 00:16:46.240
 We're first and foremost

00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:47.160
 before anything else

00:16:47.160 --> 00:16:47.700
 a Christian.

00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:53.420
 And then,

00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:54.480
 so that's what the shepherd,

00:16:54.540 --> 00:16:56.000
 the shepherd calls his sheep

00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:57.379
 and then constitutes the church.

00:16:58.100 --> 00:16:58.759
 And then the shepherd

00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.720
 also saves.

00:16:59.920 --> 00:17:01.180
 This figure of speech,

00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:02.780
 this metaphor of the shepherd

00:17:02.780 --> 00:17:04.019
 changes slightly

00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:04.740
 in verse 7

00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:06.380
 because they changed

00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:07.400
 to serve the purpose

00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:07.940
 of the author.

00:17:08.500 --> 00:17:08.799
 And it says,

00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:09.380
 truly, truly,

00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:09.960
 I say to you,

00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:11.319
 I am the door of the sheep.

00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:12.740
 So Jesus is not only

00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:13.779
 the shepherd of the sheep,

00:17:13.840 --> 00:17:14.539
 now he says,

00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:15.380
 I am the door

00:17:15.380 --> 00:17:16.160
 of the sheep pen.

00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:18.540
 And so,

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.680
 and he continues,

00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:21.580
 I am the door

00:17:21.580 --> 00:17:22.180
 in verse 9.

00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:23.680
 If anyone enters by me,

00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.860
 he will be saved

00:17:24.860 --> 00:17:26.220
 and will go in

00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:26.759
 and out

00:17:26.759 --> 00:17:28.060
 and find pasture.

00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:29.980
 In other words,

00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:30.500
 Jesus is saying

00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:32.080
 that he's the sole means

00:17:32.080 --> 00:17:32.720
 by which

00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.820
 we can be saved.

00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:35.259
 He's the only way

00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:36.340
 to God the Father.

00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:37.759
 There's no other way.

00:17:37.820 --> 00:17:38.759
 There's no other door.

00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:40.080
 The only way to come to him

00:17:40.080 --> 00:17:41.680
 is through him.

00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:43.680
 And this metaphor

00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:44.600
 switches back and forth

00:17:44.600 --> 00:17:45.480
 in verse 8 and 10.

00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:45.740
 It says,

00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:47.200
 All who came before me

00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.259
 are thieves and robbers,

00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:48.740
 but the sheep

00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:50.019
 did not listen to them.

00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:51.620
 In verse 10,

00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:52.559
 the thief comes only

00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:53.559
 to steal and kill

00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:54.160
 and destroy.

00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:56.420
 I came that they may have life

00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:58.180
 and have it abundantly.

00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:00.019
 And I think here,

00:18:00.180 --> 00:18:01.460
 as Jesus talks about

00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:03.680
 all those who came before him

00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:04.779
 who are thieves and robbers,

00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:06.059
 he probably has in mind

00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:07.620
 not only the illegitimate

00:18:07.620 --> 00:18:08.259
 Jewish leaders

00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:08.700
 who are leading

00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:09.759
 the people astray,

00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:12.079
 but also any false pretenders.

00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:14.599
 There's been a lot of

00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:15.939
 messiahs,

00:18:15.939 --> 00:18:16.960
 so-called messiahs,

00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:17.960
 who pretended to be

00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:19.319
 the promised messiah,

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.579
 and they all failed

00:18:20.579 --> 00:18:22.299
 in their claims.

00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:24.220
 And if Jesus is the only one,

00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:25.759
 if he's the only true shepherd,

00:18:25.879 --> 00:18:26.240
 then of course,

00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:27.159
 not only all those

00:18:27.159 --> 00:18:27.939
 who came before him,

00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:29.059
 but also all those

00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:30.159
 who came after him

00:18:30.159 --> 00:18:31.460
 who seek to supplement

00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:32.439
 what he taught

00:18:32.439 --> 00:18:35.539
 are also false teachers.

00:18:35.699 --> 00:18:36.500
 They're also robbers

00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.119
 and thieves.

00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:38.039
 They're not coming in

00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:38.519
 through the door.

00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:44.119
 Only Jesus is the true shepherd

00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:46.059
 who can save his sheep,

00:18:46.159 --> 00:18:47.939
 and it's he that has come

00:18:47.939 --> 00:18:49.519
 that we may have life

00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:51.500
 and have it abundantly.

00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:54.179
 The fulfillment that you seek,

00:18:54.739 --> 00:18:55.899
 the life abundant

00:18:55.899 --> 00:18:57.259
 that we all desire

00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.539
 can only come from Jesus,

00:18:58.639 --> 00:18:59.199
 and that includes

00:18:59.199 --> 00:19:00.619
 spiritual eternal life

00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:01.279
 here and now

00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:02.679
 and the resurrection life

00:19:02.679 --> 00:19:03.359
 that is to come

00:19:03.359 --> 00:19:04.419
 in the future.

00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:06.379
 And Jesus continues,

00:19:06.380 --> 00:19:07.460
 and this gets into

00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:08.500
 one of the favorite passages

00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:09.320
 for most people,

00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:10.960
 verses 11 and 15.

00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:14.100
 I am the good shepherd.

00:19:15.260 --> 00:19:16.340
 The good shepherd

00:19:16.340 --> 00:19:18.000
 lays down his life

00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:18.580
 for the sheep.

00:19:19.120 --> 00:19:20.460
 He who is a hired hand

00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.260
 and not a shepherd

00:19:21.260 --> 00:19:22.980
 who does not own the sheep

00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:24.540
 sees the wolf coming

00:19:24.540 --> 00:19:25.540
 and leaves the sheep

00:19:25.540 --> 00:19:26.220
 and flees.

00:19:26.700 --> 00:19:28.540
 And the wolf snatches them

00:19:28.540 --> 00:19:29.380
 and scatters them.

00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.720
 He flees because he is

00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:31.500
 a hired hand

00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:32.220
 and cares nothing

00:19:32.220 --> 00:19:32.820
 for the sheep.

00:19:33.620 --> 00:19:35.080
 I am the good shepherd.

00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:36.659
 I know my own

00:19:36.659 --> 00:19:37.779
 and my own know me

00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:38.839
 just as the father

00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:39.480
 knows me

00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:41.339
 and I know the father

00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:43.359
 and I lay down my life

00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:44.519
 for the sheep.

00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:48.279
 So this difference

00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:48.899
 that we know

00:19:48.899 --> 00:19:50.159
 between a hired hand

00:19:50.159 --> 00:19:51.919
 and a true shepherd,

00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:53.419
 just like a nanny

00:19:53.419 --> 00:19:54.279
 is not going to take care

00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.319
 of the child

00:19:55.319 --> 00:19:56.039
 in the same way

00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:57.159
 that a parent does,

00:19:57.639 --> 00:19:57.779
 right?

00:19:57.799 --> 00:19:58.579
 So the true shepherd

00:19:58.579 --> 00:19:59.599
 takes care of his sheep

00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.279
 in a way that

00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:01.279
 a hired hand

00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:02.559
 can't come close to.

00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:03.779
 A hired hand,

00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:04.319
 I mean no matter

00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:05.160
 how responsible

00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:06.299
 or conscientious they are,

00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:07.220
 you can guarantee

00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:08.740
 if a wolf's coming at them,

00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.539
 they're going to run

00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.559
 to save their own skin,

00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:10.960
 right?

00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:12.420
 The sheep doesn't belong to them.

00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:13.119
 He doesn't own them,

00:20:13.399 --> 00:20:13.599
 right?

00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.519
 But shepherd,

00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:16.399
 the true shepherd,

00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:18.160
 the one who owns the sheep,

00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:19.180
 Jesus says

00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:20.119
 he will lay down

00:20:20.119 --> 00:20:21.899
 his own life for them.

00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:24.720
 And I think

00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:25.839
 we need to kind of tweak

00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:27.359
 our image of the shepherd

00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:27.839
 a little bit

00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:28.559
 because for us,

00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:29.660
 we've seen so many pictures

00:20:29.660 --> 00:20:30.920
 and when we think

00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:32.059
 of the good shepherd,

00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:32.940
 we have this image

00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:33.879
 of this kind of

00:20:33.879 --> 00:20:35.359
 congenial face

00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:37.579
 with this cuddly lamb

00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.679
 in his arms.

00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:39.440
 That's what we think

00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.359
 of a good shepherd,

00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:41.740
 this kind of a softy

00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.359
 kind of a person,

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:42.639
 right?

00:20:42.639 --> 00:20:43.159
 The good shepherd.

00:20:43.419 --> 00:20:44.559
 But that's not at all

00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:45.659
 the picture of a shepherd

00:20:45.659 --> 00:20:47.159
 that the original readers

00:20:47.159 --> 00:20:47.940
 and hearers

00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:48.839
 of this word

00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:49.480
 would have had

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.559
 because in the

00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:51.440
 Near Eastern context

00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:51.879
 of John,

00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.740
 a shepherd is one

00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:53.779
 of the most grueling

00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:55.179
 professions there is

00:20:55.179 --> 00:20:55.859
 because remember

00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:56.599
 that it's a desert,

00:20:56.919 --> 00:20:57.379
 that they're in

00:20:57.379 --> 00:20:57.960
 a desert climate,

00:20:58.059 --> 00:20:58.720
 so you have to walk

00:20:58.720 --> 00:20:59.799
 a long way

00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:01.900
 of scattered patches

00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:02.400
 here and there

00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.640
 to get adequate food

00:21:03.640 --> 00:21:04.480
 for all your flock.

00:21:05.120 --> 00:21:05.900
 So this involves

00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.720
 a lot of walking

00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.400
 and not only that,

00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:09.000
 there are wild animals

00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:11.319
 seeking to claim

00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:11.819
 your sheep

00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:14.360
 and you have to be

00:21:14.360 --> 00:21:15.319
 willing to fend them up

00:21:15.319 --> 00:21:16.400
 whether it be wolves

00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:17.920
 or marauding bears

00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:20.039
 or whatever they may be.

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.460
 And so it's no wonder

00:21:21.460 --> 00:21:22.779
 that this man,

00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:24.000
 he was a Scottish theologian

00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.059
 named George Adam Smith

00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:25.700
 and he traveled

00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:26.339
 to Palestine

00:21:26.339 --> 00:21:27.659
 and came back

00:21:27.659 --> 00:21:28.559
 and wrote an atlas

00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.359
 about the region

00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:30.359
 and that's still used

00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:31.159
 as standard textbook

00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:31.899
 in some places

00:21:31.899 --> 00:21:33.220
 and in it he writes

00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:34.000
 about the shepherd.

00:21:34.619 --> 00:21:35.859
 On some high moor

00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:37.339
 across which at night

00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:38.679
 the hyenas howl

00:21:38.679 --> 00:21:40.259
 when you meet him

00:21:40.259 --> 00:21:41.480
 sleepless,

00:21:41.919 --> 00:21:42.939
 farsighted,

00:21:43.399 --> 00:21:44.159
 weather beaten,

00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.939
 leaning on his staff

00:21:45.939 --> 00:21:47.079
 and looking out

00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:48.399
 over his scattered sheep,

00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:50.000
 every one of them

00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:51.240
 on his heart,

00:21:51.699 --> 00:21:52.899
 you understand why

00:21:52.899 --> 00:21:54.419
 the shepherd of Judea

00:21:54.419 --> 00:21:55.639
 sprang to the front

00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:57.000
 in his people's history,

00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:58.820
 why they gave his name

00:21:58.820 --> 00:21:59.600
 to their king

00:21:59.600 --> 00:22:00.600
 and made him

00:22:00.600 --> 00:22:02.259
 the symbol of providence,

00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:04.540
 why Christ took him

00:22:04.540 --> 00:22:07.520
 as a type of self-sacrifice.

00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.040
 The shepherd,

00:22:09.620 --> 00:22:11.660
 the rugged, strong,

00:22:12.120 --> 00:22:12.580
 courageous,

00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:14.560
 and noble shepherd,

00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:16.620
 that's the good shepherd

00:22:16.620 --> 00:22:18.100
 and that's what the word

00:22:18.100 --> 00:22:18.840
 good can mean.

00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:20.440
 It means noble, worthy,

00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:21.540
 as well as good

00:22:21.540 --> 00:22:23.380
 as we typically understand it.

00:22:23.380 --> 00:22:26.860
 And that reminds me of the,

00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:27.920
 you guys,

00:22:28.020 --> 00:22:28.640
 many of you have read

00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:29.920
 the Chronicles of Narnia series,

00:22:30.060 --> 00:22:30.180
 right?

00:22:30.280 --> 00:22:30.900
 Lion, the witch,

00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:31.420
 and the wardrobe.

00:22:31.560 --> 00:22:32.580
 There's a great conversation

00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:33.600
 that Lucy has

00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:34.400
 with Mr. Beaver

00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:35.540
 about the prospect

00:22:35.540 --> 00:22:37.080
 of meeting Aslan the lion

00:22:37.080 --> 00:22:39.560
 and Mr. Beaver says,

00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.640
 Aslan is a lion,

00:22:41.340 --> 00:22:42.040
 the lion,

00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:43.760
 the great lion.

00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:45.480
 Oh,

00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.500
 Susan actually,

00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.440
 oh, says Susan,

00:22:48.800 --> 00:22:50.200
 I thought he was a man.

00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:52.420
 Is he quite safe?

00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:54.480
 I shall feel rather nervous

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.559
 about meeting a lion.

00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:57.759
 And then Mr. Beaver says,

00:22:57.860 --> 00:22:58.400
 Safe?

00:22:59.080 --> 00:23:01.220
 Who said anything about safe?

00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:03.019
 Of course he isn't safe,

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.519
 but he's good.

00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:06.600
 He's the king,

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.240
 I tell you.

00:23:08.360 --> 00:23:09.740
 That's our good shepherd.

00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.360
 He's not safe.

00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:12.200
 He's not tame.

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:14.299
 He's not a softie,

00:23:14.340 --> 00:23:15.279
 but he's the courageous,

00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.559
 the noble king,

00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:17.279
 the shepherd,

00:23:17.620 --> 00:23:19.140
 the good shepherd.

00:23:19.140 --> 00:23:21.360
 And he not only calls us,

00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.580
 he saves us

00:23:22.580 --> 00:23:23.500
 by laying down

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.840
 his life for the sheep.

00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:27.080
 And this sacrifice

00:23:27.080 --> 00:23:28.300
 is not accidental,

00:23:28.620 --> 00:23:29.560
 or it's not something

00:23:29.560 --> 00:23:31.259
 that he can't help but do,

00:23:31.360 --> 00:23:32.220
 but rather it's something

00:23:32.220 --> 00:23:34.020
 that Jesus willingly does.

00:23:34.080 --> 00:23:35.280
 He sacrifices himself.

00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:36.820
 Verse 17, 18,

00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:38.580
 I lay down my life

00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:39.840
 that I may take it up again.

00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:42.220
 No one takes it from me,

00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.960
 but I lay it down

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:45.040
 of my own accord.

00:23:45.580 --> 00:23:46.460
 I have authority

00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:47.180
 to lay it down,

00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.860
 and I have authority

00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:49.319
 to take it up again.

00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:51.079
 So imagine this shepherd

00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:53.819
 maybe looking at this disease

00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:55.179
 that's taking over his flock

00:23:55.179 --> 00:23:56.979
 or staring at this wolf

00:23:56.979 --> 00:23:58.779
 that is coming at his flock.

00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:00.659
 He stares him down in the face

00:24:00.659 --> 00:24:01.919
 and decides he's going

00:24:01.919 --> 00:24:03.000
 to lay down his life

00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:03.839
 for his flock.

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:05.119
 That's what Jesus does.

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.879
 He sees sin plaguing us

00:24:06.879 --> 00:24:07.399
 and leading us

00:24:07.399 --> 00:24:08.259
 to eternal death

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.719
 and separation from God.

00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:11.539
 He stares death in the face

00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:12.039
 and he says,

00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.659
 I lay down my life

00:24:13.659 --> 00:24:14.639
 for my sheep.

00:24:15.139 --> 00:24:16.099
 That's what Jesus does.

00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:17.619
 He saves us.

00:24:19.379 --> 00:24:20.480
 And he does that

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.759
 because he loves his father

00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.679
 and that's the charge

00:24:22.679 --> 00:24:23.859
 he has received from him.

00:24:30.639 --> 00:24:32.299
 And this truth

00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:35.459
 that Jesus saves the sheep

00:24:35.459 --> 00:24:37.299
 that belong to him,

00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:39.119
 that he has already called,

00:24:39.699 --> 00:24:41.019
 has great implications

00:24:41.019 --> 00:24:43.119
 for our evangelism as well.

00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:45.959
 Because sometimes people say,

00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.259
 well,

00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:47.519
 if you already know

00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.119
 the sheep,

00:24:48.219 --> 00:24:49.099
 if God already knows

00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:50.219
 the sheep that belong to him,

00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:51.199
 then there would be no reason

00:24:51.199 --> 00:24:52.399
 for us to evangelize.

00:24:54.039 --> 00:24:55.019
 Well, that's actually

00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:56.000
 quite the opposite.

00:24:58.339 --> 00:25:00.239
 Because if you recall

00:25:00.239 --> 00:25:01.579
 the parable that Jesus tells

00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:02.359
 in Luke 15,

00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:03.399
 he tells the parable

00:25:03.399 --> 00:25:04.199
 of a good shepherd

00:25:04.199 --> 00:25:05.379
 and the shepherd

00:25:05.379 --> 00:25:07.319
 leaves the 99 sheep

00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:08.099
 in his flock behind

00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:09.299
 to go find that one

00:25:09.299 --> 00:25:10.219
 missing sheep.

00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:11.519
 And about this,

00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:11.920
 he says,

00:25:12.100 --> 00:25:12.940
 what man of you

00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:14.059
 having a hundred sheep,

00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:15.500
 if he has lost one of them,

00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:16.700
 does not leave the 99

00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:17.600
 in the open country

00:25:17.600 --> 00:25:18.920
 and go after the one

00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:19.480
 that is lost

00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:20.500
 until he finds it?

00:25:21.140 --> 00:25:22.380
 Did you catch that question

00:25:22.380 --> 00:25:22.700
 in the beginning?

00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.059
 He says,

00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:24.380
 what man of you

00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:25.700
 wouldn't do this?

00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.480
 He assumes

00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:28.200
 that that's exactly

00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:29.000
 what we'd do.

00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:30.100
 This is not remarkable

00:25:30.100 --> 00:25:30.500
 for him.

00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.240
 And do you know why

00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:32.000
 that's not remarkable?

00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:33.039
 Because he says

00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:34.100
 they're his sheep.

00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:36.939
 We would go

00:25:36.939 --> 00:25:37.839
 to great lengths

00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:38.740
 to find the stuff

00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:39.919
 that belongs to us

00:25:39.919 --> 00:25:40.639
 that we're missing.

00:25:41.699 --> 00:25:41.859
 Like,

00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:42.879
 think for a moment

00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:43.699
 about the person

00:25:43.699 --> 00:25:44.899
 maybe that's dearest to you.

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:46.339
 Maybe your son

00:25:46.339 --> 00:25:47.099
 or daughter

00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:48.299
 or a loved one,

00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:49.039
 a spouse

00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:50.599
 or a sibling,

00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:51.579
 a parent,

00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.519
 and imagine

00:25:52.519 --> 00:25:53.599
 they go missing.

00:25:57.939 --> 00:25:58.419
 Oh,

00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.879
 there's a few things

00:25:59.879 --> 00:26:00.480
 I wouldn't do

00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:01.419
 to go find that person.

00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:05.579
 It's because

00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:06.459
 they're ours.

00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:07.559
 They belong to us.

00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:09.000
 And so that's

00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.879
 what Jesus says.

00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.419
 You see,

00:26:12.879 --> 00:26:13.599
 the reason why

00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:14.439
 we often don't love

00:26:14.439 --> 00:26:15.199
 and seek sinners

00:26:15.199 --> 00:26:16.000
 and unbelievers,

00:26:16.419 --> 00:26:18.000
 it's not because

00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:19.839
 we don't think

00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:20.699
 that they're lost.

00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:21.759
 It's because

00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:22.719
 we don't see them

00:26:22.719 --> 00:26:23.399
 as belonging

00:26:23.399 --> 00:26:24.480
 to our God,

00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:25.419
 as belonging

00:26:25.419 --> 00:26:26.359
 to our family.

00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:28.519
 We're God's people

00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:28.959
 in here.

00:26:29.379 --> 00:26:30.679
 They're God's enemies

00:26:30.679 --> 00:26:31.219
 out there.

00:26:31.639 --> 00:26:32.439
 They're strangers,

00:26:33.139 --> 00:26:34.019
 non-relations.

00:26:35.099 --> 00:26:35.379
 Others.

00:26:37.639 --> 00:26:38.579
 But the truth

00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:39.219
 is that there are

00:26:39.219 --> 00:26:40.319
 people who belong

00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:41.139
 to God,

00:26:41.439 --> 00:26:42.500
 the sheep for whom

00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.259
 our good shepherd

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.419
 laid down his life

00:26:44.419 --> 00:26:45.000
 out there.

00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:47.439
 There are brothers

00:26:47.439 --> 00:26:48.079
 and sisters

00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:48.879
 in our family

00:26:48.879 --> 00:26:49.459
 and the family of God

00:26:49.459 --> 00:26:50.619
 who are currently missing

00:26:50.619 --> 00:26:51.659
 and they're out there.

00:26:52.659 --> 00:26:53.919
 There's compatriots

00:26:53.919 --> 00:26:55.119
 in the kingdom of God

00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:57.439
 who are in a foreign land

00:26:57.439 --> 00:26:59.619
 without citizenship,

00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:00.500
 without rights

00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.159
 out there.

00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:04.600
 there are comrades

00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:05.980
 in the army of God

00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:07.820
 held prisoner

00:27:07.820 --> 00:27:08.840
 out there.

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.980
 That's why we go

00:27:12.980 --> 00:27:15.300
 to reclaim people

00:27:15.300 --> 00:27:16.640
 that belong rightly

00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:17.360
 to our God

00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:18.140
 and to our Father.

00:27:18.480 --> 00:27:19.040
 We don't go

00:27:19.040 --> 00:27:20.019
 to minister to people,

00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:20.759
 evangelize people

00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:22.360
 that God has no claim on.

00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:23.360
 Oh, you're on this

00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:23.940
 neutral ground

00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:24.779
 and we're going to bring you

00:27:24.779 --> 00:27:25.640
 and convince you ourselves.

00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:27.520
 No, they belong to him.

00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.780
 They're his sheep.

00:27:29.080 --> 00:27:29.800
 That's why we,

00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:31.200
 with passion and zeal,

00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:32.100
 with love,

00:27:32.180 --> 00:27:33.460
 we go after those sheep.

00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:37.080
 This should give us

00:27:37.080 --> 00:27:38.220
 great faith and hope

00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.060
 in our evangelism.

00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:41.480
 So the good shepherd

00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:43.240
 calls and saves his sheep

00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:45.060
 and once he has saved them,

00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:46.320
 the final thing he does

00:27:46.320 --> 00:27:47.500
 is he preserves them.

00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:52.960
 Now, verse 24,

00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:55.339
 Jews ask him

00:27:55.339 --> 00:27:56.519
 after all this dialogue,

00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.339
 how long will you

00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.279
 keep us in suspense?

00:27:58.359 --> 00:27:59.380
 If you are the Christ,

00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:00.660
 tell us plainly.

00:28:01.299 --> 00:28:03.059
 And Jesus makes it plain to them,

00:28:03.099 --> 00:28:04.000
 I did tell you,

00:28:04.359 --> 00:28:05.299
 you just didn't believe.

00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:06.019
 I mean,

00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:06.759
 if you've been with us

00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:07.819
 for even just one week,

00:28:07.900 --> 00:28:08.859
 you know Jesus makes this

00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:09.660
 abundantly clear

00:28:09.660 --> 00:28:10.759
 throughout the Gospel of John

00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:11.940
 that he is the Son of God,

00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:12.660
 the Son of Man.

00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:14.019
 He is the bread of life,

00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:14.799
 the living water,

00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:15.839
 the new temple of God,

00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:16.740
 the true Son.

00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:18.099
 He said all these things

00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:18.940
 and not only that,

00:28:19.319 --> 00:28:21.240
 not only has he said these things,

00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:22.160
 not only his words

00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:23.120
 testify to this,

00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.200
 but his works.

00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.200
 He says in verse 25,

00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.180
 the works that I do

00:28:26.180 --> 00:28:27.079
 in my Father's name

00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:28.539
 bear witness about me.

00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:30.220
 He's told them

00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:31.380
 and he has shown it to them

00:28:31.380 --> 00:28:32.900
 and they don't believe.

00:28:33.120 --> 00:28:34.120
 So he rebukes them.

00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:35.079
 You do not believe

00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:35.940
 because you are not

00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:36.799
 among my sheep.

00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:39.920
 In contrast,

00:28:40.380 --> 00:28:41.660
 verses 27 to 30,

00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:44.339
 my sheep hear my voice

00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:45.880
 and I know them.

00:28:45.880 --> 00:28:47.460
 and they follow me.

00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:49.680
 I give them eternal life

00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:50.860
 and they will never perish

00:28:50.860 --> 00:28:52.880
 and no one will snatch them

00:28:52.880 --> 00:28:54.020
 out of my hand.

00:28:54.800 --> 00:28:56.780
 My Father who has given them to me

00:28:56.780 --> 00:28:57.700
 is greater than all

00:28:57.700 --> 00:28:59.220
 and no one is able

00:28:59.220 --> 00:28:59.980
 to snatch them

00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:01.180
 out of the Father's hand.

00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:04.040
 I and the Father are one.

00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:07.500
 No one can snatch the sheep

00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:09.440
 out of the good shepherd's hand,

00:29:09.520 --> 00:29:10.380
 not wolves,

00:29:10.520 --> 00:29:11.100
 not thieves,

00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:12.200
 not robbers,

00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:13.799
 not anyone

00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:15.240
 and the reason for that,

00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:17.039
 the reason why the security

00:29:17.039 --> 00:29:18.559
 of his sheep is guaranteed

00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:20.400
 is because Jesus

00:29:20.400 --> 00:29:21.720
 and by relation

00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:23.460
 to God the Father himself

00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:25.799
 stand behind that promise

00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:27.600
 and guarantees it

00:29:27.600 --> 00:29:29.039
 and because the Father

00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:30.480
 who has given them to Jesus

00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:32.240
 is greater than all

00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.259
 so no one is able

00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:33.759
 to snatch them

00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:34.980
 out of the Father's hand.

00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:36.799
 if the Father

00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.860
 were not strong enough,

00:29:37.920 --> 00:29:38.440
 if the Father

00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:39.539
 were not smart enough,

00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:40.059
 if the Father

00:29:40.059 --> 00:29:41.319
 was not capable enough,

00:29:41.620 --> 00:29:42.620
 then we would have

00:29:42.620 --> 00:29:43.319
 cause to worry

00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:44.039
 but the Father

00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:45.519
 is greater than all

00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:46.920
 and no one can snatch them

00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:48.579
 out of his hand.

00:29:48.700 --> 00:29:49.920
 It would be infinitely

00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:50.980
 more futile

00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:52.259
 than a toddler

00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:52.980
 trying to steal

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.599
 a soccer ball

00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:54.640
 from Lionel Messi

00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:56.039
 or Cristiano Ronaldo,

00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:56.299
 right,

00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:57.700
 trying to run after them

00:29:57.700 --> 00:29:59.680
 and you can't snatch them

00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:01.500
 out of the Father's hand.

00:30:05.380 --> 00:30:06.460
 A pastor,

00:30:06.620 --> 00:30:09.240
 a friend of mine,

00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:09.940
 actually made me,

00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.980
 I just wanted to ask

00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:12.539
 actually first,

00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:14.759
 do you feel secure

00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:15.420
 in your salvation?

00:30:16.660 --> 00:30:18.019
 Do you feel assured

00:30:18.019 --> 00:30:19.080
 in that?

00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:22.980
 Because a lot of people

00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:24.880
 live in insecurity

00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:25.519
 and anxiety

00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:26.700
 about their own salvation.

00:30:26.700 --> 00:30:28.279
 Maybe you're one

00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:28.779
 of those people

00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:30.779
 who have these doubts

00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:34.080
 that persistently creep up.

00:30:34.940 --> 00:30:35.900
 Is that really true?

00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:37.500
 Do I really believe that?

00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:39.299
 And you wonder

00:30:39.299 --> 00:30:39.880
 whether you're

00:30:39.880 --> 00:30:40.819
 a real Christian at all.

00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.860
 Maybe you're one

00:30:43.860 --> 00:30:44.279
 of those people

00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:45.559
 who have been dealing

00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:49.559
 with a rather pernicious sin,

00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:50.759
 a besetting sin

00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:52.019
 that you just can't seem

00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.880
 to shake off.

00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.559
 And then you wonder,

00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:57.000
 if I do that,

00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:58.179
 am I really a Christian?

00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:01.419
 Or maybe you've done

00:31:01.419 --> 00:31:02.440
 something that you think

00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.339
 is so heinous

00:31:03.339 --> 00:31:05.700
 that you don't think

00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:06.700
 God can forgive you

00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.259
 and you wonder,

00:31:07.419 --> 00:31:08.559
 can I really be saved?

00:31:08.639 --> 00:31:10.099
 Can God really save me?

00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:13.919
 And to you,

00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:14.679
 God would say,

00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:17.200
 your preservation

00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:18.259
 is not up to you.

00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:19.879
 It's up to the Father.

00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:21.900
 It's up to the Good Shepherd.

00:31:22.280 --> 00:31:24.140
 And no one can snatch you

00:31:24.140 --> 00:31:25.600
 out of His hand.

00:31:27.960 --> 00:31:28.400
 Pastor,

00:31:28.580 --> 00:31:29.160
 a friend of mine

00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:30.380
 sent me a video

00:31:30.380 --> 00:31:33.040
 which was totally random

00:31:33.040 --> 00:31:34.300
 because he's the kind of guy

00:31:34.300 --> 00:31:35.320
 who never watches YouTube.

00:31:36.180 --> 00:31:37.320
 And it was entitled

00:31:37.320 --> 00:31:39.380
 Brave Bear Cub Against Cougar.

00:31:39.380 --> 00:31:43.020
 And it seems quite realistic

00:31:43.020 --> 00:31:44.000
 as you watch it.

00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:46.800
 And there's a cub,

00:31:47.040 --> 00:31:47.640
 a bear cub,

00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.840
 who is being attacked

00:31:48.840 --> 00:31:49.440
 by a cougar.

00:31:50.280 --> 00:31:52.060
 And it's just a cub,

00:31:52.140 --> 00:31:53.460
 so the cub is not strong enough

00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:54.520
 to get away from the cougar.

00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:55.600
 He flees,

00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:56.340
 he runs,

00:31:56.440 --> 00:31:57.580
 and in one desperate measure

00:31:57.580 --> 00:31:58.920
 he jumps into a river

00:31:58.920 --> 00:32:01.340
 and climbs onto a floating,

00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:01.700
 you know,

00:32:01.820 --> 00:32:03.440
 a piece of wood.

00:32:04.040 --> 00:32:05.460
 And the cougar

00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:06.660
 is way smarter than him,

00:32:06.660 --> 00:32:08.500
 so he runs right downstream

00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.120
 to the end

00:32:09.120 --> 00:32:10.180
 and just waits for him

00:32:10.180 --> 00:32:10.720
 to come to him.

00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:12.540
 And he's there

00:32:12.540 --> 00:32:13.480
 and you're watching this

00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.519
 and you're starting to freak out

00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:14.800
 and like,

00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:15.340
 oh no,

00:32:15.420 --> 00:32:16.140
 it's going to happen.

00:32:17.060 --> 00:32:18.820
 And so the bear gets there

00:32:18.820 --> 00:32:20.580
 and the cougar starts slashing him.

00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:23.100
 And the bear tries to roll,

00:32:23.860 --> 00:32:24.080
 I mean,

00:32:24.120 --> 00:32:26.140
 just to roar against him,

00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:26.380
 but he,

00:32:26.880 --> 00:32:27.080
 I mean,

00:32:27.100 --> 00:32:27.860
 the cougar's not scared

00:32:27.860 --> 00:32:28.840
 of this little bear cub,

00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:29.720
 so he keeps going.

00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:32.440
 And then in a weird turn of events,

00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:34.860
 you hear this really kind of loud,

00:32:35.040 --> 00:32:36.640
 unusual roar from this cub.

00:32:36.660 --> 00:32:41.100
 And then this cougar

00:32:41.100 --> 00:32:42.180
 just kind of whimpers

00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:43.380
 and scampers off,

00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:43.960
 runs away.

00:32:44.580 --> 00:32:47.160
 And then the camera pans away

00:32:47.160 --> 00:32:48.040
 and then it shows

00:32:48.040 --> 00:32:49.160
 what's actually going on

00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:49.840
 is that that wasn't

00:32:49.840 --> 00:32:50.800
 the bear cub at all.

00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:53.220
 The mother bear had arrived

00:32:53.220 --> 00:32:54.360
 and she's standing

00:32:54.360 --> 00:32:55.200
 on her hind leg

00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:56.660
 behind the cub

00:32:56.660 --> 00:32:59.060
 and roaring at the wolf

00:32:59.060 --> 00:33:00.779
 so the wolf flees.

00:33:01.820 --> 00:33:01.920
 Right?

00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:04.500
 No one dares to rob

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.980
 a mother bear of its cub.

00:33:06.660 --> 00:33:09.519
 Our good shepherd,

00:33:10.040 --> 00:33:11.320
 our father in heaven,

00:33:12.100 --> 00:33:12.940
 guards you.

00:33:14.320 --> 00:33:15.600
 And he neither sleeps

00:33:15.600 --> 00:33:16.840
 nor slumbers.

00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:21.440
 So be assured of your salvation.

00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:21.580
 Amen.

00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:30.159
 And the reason why

00:33:30.159 --> 00:33:32.899
 we can be assured of this,

00:33:33.419 --> 00:33:34.019
 that Jesus,

00:33:34.199 --> 00:33:34.799
 the true shepherd,

00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:35.599
 calls us,

00:33:36.220 --> 00:33:36.919
 saves us,

00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:37.960
 and preserves us

00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:40.019
 is because he's

00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:41.199
 the consecrated one,

00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:42.639
 the sent one.

00:33:42.640 --> 00:33:50.400
 note that this happens

00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:51.560
 at the Feast of Dedication.

00:33:52.080 --> 00:33:53.680
 That's not a feast

00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:54.500
 that's commanded

00:33:54.500 --> 00:33:55.280
 in the Old Testament

00:33:55.280 --> 00:33:56.300
 but it's what we know

00:33:56.300 --> 00:33:57.000
 as Hanukkah.

00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:57.560
 Right?

00:33:57.660 --> 00:33:58.080
 So this is,

00:33:58.140 --> 00:33:59.100
 they're celebrating Hanukkah,

00:33:59.220 --> 00:33:59.840
 the Jews here.

00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:01.620
 And the Hanukkah celebrates

00:34:01.620 --> 00:34:02.860
 a time when,

00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:04.980
 so there was a Syrian ruler

00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:06.840
 who took over the temple,

00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:07.580
 overran Jerusalem,

00:34:07.680 --> 00:34:08.320
 took over the temple

00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:09.120
 and set aside,

00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:10.620
 set a pagan altar

00:34:10.620 --> 00:34:11.620
 inside the temple

00:34:11.620 --> 00:34:12.940
 and in doing so

00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:14.160
 he desecrated the temple.

00:34:14.740 --> 00:34:15.360
 And the Jews

00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:16.280
 fought a successful

00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:17.260
 guerrilla warfare

00:34:17.260 --> 00:34:19.059
 led by a man

00:34:19.059 --> 00:34:20.400
 named Judas Maccabeus

00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.640
 and he,

00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:23.160
 and they took it over again

00:34:23.160 --> 00:34:23.580
 and then

00:34:23.580 --> 00:34:24.880
 re-consecrated the temple

00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:26.039
 and Hanukkah celebrates

00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:27.320
 the re-consecration

00:34:27.320 --> 00:34:27.920
 of this temple.

00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:28.360
 That's what's called

00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:29.740
 Feast of Dedication.

00:34:31.360 --> 00:34:32.160
 And in Jesus,

00:34:33.120 --> 00:34:33.740
 in this,

00:34:34.140 --> 00:34:35.320
 in this context,

00:34:35.460 --> 00:34:37.580
 during the Feast of Dedication,

00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:38.519
 the consecration,

00:34:38.599 --> 00:34:38.960
 he says,

00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:40.159
 whom the,

00:34:40.199 --> 00:34:40.940
 he is the one

00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:41.759
 whom the Father

00:34:41.759 --> 00:34:42.860
 consecrated

00:34:42.860 --> 00:34:43.880
 and sent

00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:45.699
 into the world.

00:34:46.219 --> 00:34:47.119
 So Jesus is making

00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:48.039
 a deliberate connection

00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:48.840
 to the feast

00:34:48.840 --> 00:34:49.659
 that they're celebrating.

00:34:53.980 --> 00:34:55.039
 And so when

00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:55.860
 these

00:34:55.860 --> 00:34:58.179
 Jewish leaders

00:34:58.179 --> 00:34:59.199
 accuse Jesus

00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:00.360
 of,

00:35:00.420 --> 00:35:02.279
 of claiming to be God

00:35:02.279 --> 00:35:03.559
 even though he's a mere man,

00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:05.880
 he gives this answer

00:35:05.880 --> 00:35:06.719
 which might be

00:35:06.719 --> 00:35:07.679
 a little bit enigmatic

00:35:07.679 --> 00:35:08.079
 at first

00:35:08.079 --> 00:35:08.739
 but I'll explain.

00:35:09.219 --> 00:35:10.079
 It's a quotation

00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:11.279
 from Psalm 82,

00:35:11.719 --> 00:35:12.500
 6-7.

00:35:13.879 --> 00:35:14.539
 I said,

00:35:14.659 --> 00:35:15.419
 you are God's

00:35:15.419 --> 00:35:16.379
 sons of the Most High,

00:35:16.439 --> 00:35:16.879
 all of you.

00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:20.459
 And,

00:35:20.619 --> 00:35:22.759
 and if that's what

00:35:22.759 --> 00:35:23.679
 the Word of God says,

00:35:23.739 --> 00:35:24.679
 if you call them gods

00:35:24.679 --> 00:35:26.099
 to whom the Word of God came

00:35:26.099 --> 00:35:27.439
 and Scripture cannot be broken,

00:35:27.919 --> 00:35:28.819
 do you say of him

00:35:28.819 --> 00:35:29.339
 whom the Father

00:35:29.339 --> 00:35:30.339
 consecrated and sent

00:35:30.339 --> 00:35:30.899
 into the world,

00:35:31.139 --> 00:35:32.099
 you are blaspheming

00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:32.779
 because I said,

00:35:32.899 --> 00:35:34.859
 I am the Son of God.

00:35:34.860 --> 00:35:34.900
 God,

00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:36.539
 this is probably

00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.260
 as good a passage

00:35:37.260 --> 00:35:38.079
 as any to teach

00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:38.900
 on angels.

00:35:39.140 --> 00:35:39.340
 I mean,

00:35:39.380 --> 00:35:40.000
 you guys have,

00:35:40.740 --> 00:35:41.920
 there's a lot of fascination

00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:42.380
 with angels

00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:43.340
 and messengers nowadays.

00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:45.200
 But this Psalm 82,

00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:47.220
 if you go back

00:35:47.220 --> 00:35:47.900
 and look at it,

00:35:48.280 --> 00:35:49.260
 it paints a scene

00:35:49.260 --> 00:35:49.800
 of God

00:35:49.800 --> 00:35:50.980
 assembling these

00:35:50.980 --> 00:35:52.140
 sons of God

00:35:52.140 --> 00:35:53.360
 who are angelic beings

00:35:53.360 --> 00:35:54.840
 and he rebukes them

00:35:54.840 --> 00:35:56.340
 for their miscarriage

00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:56.860
 of justice.

00:35:57.099 --> 00:35:58.039
 God had given them

00:35:58.039 --> 00:35:59.200
 to rule and judge

00:35:59.200 --> 00:35:59.980
 parts of nations

00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:00.660
 throughout the world

00:36:00.660 --> 00:36:01.519
 and they have failed

00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.180
 in their task.

00:36:02.179 --> 00:36:03.379
 So God says to them,

00:36:03.460 --> 00:36:03.899
 I said,

00:36:04.039 --> 00:36:04.659
 you are God,

00:36:04.779 --> 00:36:05.519
 sons of the Most High,

00:36:05.579 --> 00:36:06.059
 all of you.

00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:06.679
 Nevertheless,

00:36:07.159 --> 00:36:07.799
 like men,

00:36:07.919 --> 00:36:08.559
 you shall die

00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:09.799
 and fall like any prince.

00:36:09.859 --> 00:36:10.839
 So this is God's punishment

00:36:10.839 --> 00:36:11.739
 for their miscarriage

00:36:11.739 --> 00:36:12.359
 of justice.

00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:14.919
 And then the Psalm

00:36:14.919 --> 00:36:15.940
 ends with the prayer

00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:17.480
 that God would rise up

00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:18.440
 and judge the earth

00:36:18.440 --> 00:36:20.119
 and inherit all the nations.

00:36:20.319 --> 00:36:21.139
 And that's what Jesus

00:36:21.139 --> 00:36:22.679
 has in fact come to do.

00:36:23.199 --> 00:36:24.599
 And so in biblical cosmology,

00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:25.259
 there's God,

00:36:25.339 --> 00:36:25.899
 the Supreme Being

00:36:25.899 --> 00:36:26.480
 at the top

00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.179
 and then there's

00:36:27.179 --> 00:36:28.359
 archangels,

00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:28.699
 right?

00:36:28.759 --> 00:36:30.319
 And we don't know

00:36:30.319 --> 00:36:31.279
 of very many of them.

00:36:31.280 --> 00:36:32.160
 The only ones we know

00:36:32.160 --> 00:36:32.640
 from the Bible

00:36:32.640 --> 00:36:33.720
 are Michael and Gabriel.

00:36:34.660 --> 00:36:35.860
 And at that level

00:36:35.860 --> 00:36:36.600
 seems to be another

00:36:36.600 --> 00:36:38.340
 evil being who opposes God

00:36:38.340 --> 00:36:39.460
 named Lucifer.

00:36:39.820 --> 00:36:40.980
 It's actually not a name.

00:36:41.540 --> 00:36:42.560
 The name's not mentioned

00:36:42.560 --> 00:36:43.100
 in the Bible.

00:36:43.560 --> 00:36:45.380
 But 2 Corinthians 11, 14

00:36:45.380 --> 00:36:46.080
 says that Satan

00:36:46.080 --> 00:36:47.200
 disguises himself

00:36:47.200 --> 00:36:48.660
 as an angel of light.

00:36:49.019 --> 00:36:49.900
 And Lucifer means

00:36:49.900 --> 00:36:50.640
 shining one

00:36:50.640 --> 00:36:51.440
 or light bearer,

00:36:51.460 --> 00:36:52.300
 so it's fitting for him.

00:36:52.720 --> 00:36:54.440
 So that God at the top

00:36:54.440 --> 00:36:55.540
 and these angelic beings

00:36:55.540 --> 00:36:56.760
 who are leaders of angels

00:36:56.760 --> 00:36:57.840
 and below them

00:36:57.840 --> 00:36:58.420
 is what the Bible

00:36:58.420 --> 00:36:59.680
 calls sons of God

00:36:59.680 --> 00:37:00.740
 whom God has given

00:37:00.739 --> 00:37:02.139
 dominion over certain

00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:02.979
 nations throughout

00:37:02.979 --> 00:37:03.579
 the world.

00:37:03.739 --> 00:37:05.399
 And then he promises

00:37:05.399 --> 00:37:06.159
 in Psalm 82

00:37:06.159 --> 00:37:07.819
 to disinherit them

00:37:07.819 --> 00:37:09.359
 and to come himself

00:37:09.359 --> 00:37:09.799
 to rule

00:37:09.799 --> 00:37:11.059
 and gather all the nations

00:37:11.059 --> 00:37:11.719
 to himself

00:37:11.719 --> 00:37:13.099
 and to be the judge

00:37:13.099 --> 00:37:13.979
 over all the earth.

00:37:14.399 --> 00:37:15.079
 And that's why

00:37:15.079 --> 00:37:15.639
 the promise

00:37:15.639 --> 00:37:16.919
 in Matthew 24, 14

00:37:16.919 --> 00:37:17.199
 is,

00:37:17.579 --> 00:37:18.239
 and this gospel

00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:18.719
 of the kingdom

00:37:18.719 --> 00:37:19.419
 will be proclaimed

00:37:19.419 --> 00:37:20.439
 throughout the whole world

00:37:20.439 --> 00:37:21.000
 as a testimony

00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:22.479
 to all nations

00:37:22.479 --> 00:37:23.739
 and then the end

00:37:23.739 --> 00:37:24.439
 will come,

00:37:24.599 --> 00:37:24.779
 right?

00:37:24.939 --> 00:37:25.879
 That's why the mission

00:37:25.879 --> 00:37:27.179
 we go to all the nations

00:37:27.179 --> 00:37:28.059
 and that's part of

00:37:28.059 --> 00:37:29.940
 God's promise

00:37:29.940 --> 00:37:31.059
 already given

00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:31.639
 in Psalm 82

00:37:31.639 --> 00:37:33.179
 of gathering all the nations

00:37:33.179 --> 00:37:34.820
 to himself.

00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:35.920
 And Jesus,

00:37:36.099 --> 00:37:36.340
 in effect,

00:37:36.400 --> 00:37:36.759
 is saying,

00:37:37.139 --> 00:37:38.920
 if these lower

00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:40.519
 angelic beings

00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:41.219
 can be,

00:37:41.340 --> 00:37:41.699
 in a sense,

00:37:41.779 --> 00:37:42.619
 called gods,

00:37:43.299 --> 00:37:44.579
 how much more

00:37:44.579 --> 00:37:45.579
 the Son,

00:37:46.219 --> 00:37:47.759
 the consecrated one

00:37:47.759 --> 00:37:48.679
 whom the Father

00:37:48.679 --> 00:37:50.059
 himself sent,

00:37:51.059 --> 00:37:54.340
 so he justifies.

00:37:54.340 --> 00:37:56.059
 And that's the guarantee.

00:37:56.220 --> 00:37:57.180
 It's because he's

00:37:57.180 --> 00:37:58.700
 that special envoy,

00:37:58.840 --> 00:37:59.920
 the unique Son

00:37:59.920 --> 00:38:01.200
 whom the Father sent

00:38:01.200 --> 00:38:01.920
 as the ultimate

00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:02.960
 revelation representation

00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:03.980
 of God,

00:38:04.140 --> 00:38:04.920
 we can be assured

00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:06.500
 that he can call us,

00:38:06.820 --> 00:38:07.300
 save us,

00:38:07.380 --> 00:38:09.340
 and preserve us.

00:38:13.260 --> 00:38:14.720
 And Jesus,

00:38:15.019 --> 00:38:15.880
 being a good shepherd,

00:38:15.980 --> 00:38:16.940
 does many good works,

00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:18.539
 but the greatest one,

00:38:19.120 --> 00:38:20.140
 the one that is most good

00:38:20.140 --> 00:38:20.700
 that he does,

00:38:21.300 --> 00:38:22.740
 is what he does

00:38:22.740 --> 00:38:23.380
 on the cross.

00:38:23.380 --> 00:38:24.420
 And we already see

00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:25.420
 a glimpse of that

00:38:25.420 --> 00:38:26.539
 here in verse 40.

00:38:27.019 --> 00:38:27.980
 It says that he went away

00:38:27.980 --> 00:38:29.119
 again across the Jordan

00:38:29.119 --> 00:38:30.260
 to the place where John

00:38:30.260 --> 00:38:31.599
 had been baptizing at first,

00:38:31.760 --> 00:38:33.460
 and there he remained.

00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:34.840
 If you recall,

00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:36.900
 Jesus began his ministry

00:38:36.900 --> 00:38:38.180
 where John was baptizing,

00:38:38.740 --> 00:38:39.660
 his public ministry,

00:38:39.880 --> 00:38:41.160
 and now that public ministry

00:38:41.160 --> 00:38:42.380
 is coming to a close.

00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:43.800
 And after this,

00:38:44.200 --> 00:38:45.200
 at the end of this chapter,

00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:46.440
 now we're in earnest

00:38:46.440 --> 00:38:48.320
 going directly to

00:38:48.320 --> 00:38:49.940
 and swiftly going to the cross.

00:38:50.300 --> 00:38:51.059
 Jesus is on his way

00:38:51.059 --> 00:38:51.800
 to the cross now.

00:38:51.800 --> 00:38:53.780
 And that's the ultimate

00:38:53.780 --> 00:38:54.300
 good work.

00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:56.120
 And the Jews accuse Jesus

00:38:56.120 --> 00:38:57.100
 of being a man,

00:38:57.200 --> 00:38:57.980
 but making himself

00:38:57.980 --> 00:38:58.940
 out to be God.

00:38:59.300 --> 00:39:00.080
 But actually,

00:39:00.260 --> 00:39:01.560
 quite the opposite

00:39:01.560 --> 00:39:02.620
 is true,

00:39:02.720 --> 00:39:04.620
 because Jesus is God,

00:39:05.220 --> 00:39:06.160
 yet he takes

00:39:06.160 --> 00:39:08.420
 on human mortality.

00:39:09.660 --> 00:39:10.960
 Jesus is the holy one,

00:39:11.080 --> 00:39:12.140
 the consecrated one,

00:39:12.200 --> 00:39:13.600
 yet he bears our sin

00:39:13.600 --> 00:39:14.360
 on the cross.

00:39:14.940 --> 00:39:16.260
 Jesus is the eternal one,

00:39:16.340 --> 00:39:18.080
 the God of all creation,

00:39:18.200 --> 00:39:19.240
 yet he dies

00:39:19.239 --> 00:39:21.000
 a human's death.

00:39:23.119 --> 00:39:23.979
 And it's

00:39:23.979 --> 00:39:25.739
 his humiliation

00:39:25.739 --> 00:39:27.179
 that opens the door

00:39:27.179 --> 00:39:27.779
 to our glory.

00:39:30.059 --> 00:39:31.279
 It's his death

00:39:31.279 --> 00:39:32.299
 that opens the door

00:39:32.299 --> 00:39:33.399
 to our eternal life.

00:39:36.919 --> 00:39:38.459
 I am the door.

00:39:38.859 --> 00:39:40.559
 If anyone enters by me,

00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:41.639
 he will be saved

00:39:41.639 --> 00:39:42.419
 and will go in

00:39:42.419 --> 00:39:42.939
 and out

00:39:42.939 --> 00:39:44.659
 and find pasture.

00:39:44.659 --> 00:39:49.639
 my prayer for you

00:39:49.639 --> 00:39:50.299
 this morning

00:39:50.299 --> 00:39:50.739
 is that you

00:39:50.739 --> 00:39:53.480
 will hear his call,

00:39:54.259 --> 00:39:55.279
 be saved by him.

00:40:01.779 --> 00:40:02.739
 Let's pray together.

00:40:02.739 --> 00:40:11.259
 God, we thank you

00:40:11.259 --> 00:40:11.879
 that you did not

00:40:11.879 --> 00:40:12.299
 leave us

00:40:12.299 --> 00:40:13.299
 to our own devices,

00:40:13.859 --> 00:40:15.000
 but you took the initiative

00:40:15.000 --> 00:40:16.279
 to come and save us.

00:40:17.059 --> 00:40:17.619
 We thank you

00:40:17.619 --> 00:40:18.579
 for the good shepherd,

00:40:19.379 --> 00:40:20.619
 the good shepherd

00:40:20.619 --> 00:40:21.699
 who calls,

00:40:21.939 --> 00:40:22.179
 saves,

00:40:22.219 --> 00:40:22.939
 and preserves us.

00:40:22.979 --> 00:40:23.459
 And we pray

00:40:23.459 --> 00:40:24.599
 that you would enable us

00:40:24.599 --> 00:40:26.479
 to entrust ourselves

00:40:26.479 --> 00:40:26.979
 to him

00:40:26.979 --> 00:40:28.779
 and to grow deeper

00:40:28.779 --> 00:40:29.919
 in our relationship

00:40:29.919 --> 00:40:30.759
 with him each day.

00:40:31.459 --> 00:40:32.519
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:40:32.739 --> 00:40:33.319
 Amen.