The sheep...

John 10:22-30

Prior to this Scripture, Jesus has been stirring up quite a fuss among the Pharisees and now the Jews.  He began this description of the sheep and shepherd relationship earlier and continues that in this portion of Scripture we are reading here.

First, the Jews want Jesus to come right out and answer their question…are You the Messiah?  They want Him to be clear about it.  They surround Him during a feast that the Jews had made up…one to celebrate the rededication of the temple after it has been defiled.  It is noted that it was winter…probably cold and dark – like their hearts at that time.

Jesus answers their question with more than they bargained for.  He has a lot to say to this.

He answers their question by continuing the sheep/shepherd relationship.

Here are some things that are noted about the sheep:

-They know their Shepherd

-They hear His voice

-They follow the Shepherd

-They are protected by the Shepherd

These are important to note.  Because Jesus continues by showing them that they don't know He is the Shepherd because they are not of His sheep.

This had to really shake them up because they have always been privileged…of the right lineage…chosen because they were Jews.  He is opening doors that they weren't really prepared to be opened.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He and the Father are One.  We know that more than the Jews heard Him and followed.  The Shepherd has more sheep than just the Jews.  In fact, many of the Jews are rejecting Him. 

They refuse to listen.  They want it their way.  They don't want to believe what He is saying.  This must have been a scary thought…and must have brought much fear for them…as we see if the following verses where they sought to stone Him.

This Scripture can also be a very comforting one for those who hear and follow…

Those who hear the Shepherd follow and are protected…eternally.

No one can separate them from the Lord.  Which reminds me of 2 other scriptures…

Romans 8:38-39 – NOTHING separates

But, Paul was also quick to address that this doesn't give us a reason to act like we want and do what we want.  Romans 6:1-2…Just because you have received grace doesn't mean you sin knowing you are covered…

Remember…sheep know the Shepherd…Hear the Shepherd…Follow the Shepherd…

Abide

We have been talking about what we do now as Christians given that Jesus is RISEN…

In line with the thought about what we do, we need to grasp the concept that outside of Christ, we will never be all we were called to be.

John 15:1-17

In this scripture, we are given a number of key components to following Christ and becoming more like Him.  He is telling us several things that we could easily overlook if we are not careful.

First, he gives us this concept of abiding…What does it mean to abide…to remain…to continually be there…connected…not on our own

He also give us an illustration of what it means to abide that should help us to understand.

What does abiding look like?

Those who abide are pruned.

That is an important concept in keeping vines.  Every year, my grandmother prunes her grape vine so that it will produce the best crop for that year.  It seems counterintuitive to cut something so it grows out better.  We want to see things keep blooming, but in many cases that just damages the plant.

Pruning isn't easy…isn't fun…isn't what we want.  But, it necessary for growth.

Those who abide bear fruit.

We know that the Bible talks a lot about bearing fruit.  We studied it in Luke not too many months ago.  If we are bearing fruit, others will know.  If we are bearing fruit, that is an outward sign of what we believe. 

Important to know we don't bear fruit without Him.  We don't bear fruit if we aren't connected…remaining…abiding.

Those who abide are full of joy.

Those who abide will have the joy of the Lord which is much stronger.  The joy of the Lord is not dependent on circumstances.  We could even say that we are joyful because God is giving us what we ask.  If we look at that though, if we are abiding, we will have Christ in us and we will be seeking His will as we ask.  His will becomes our will and thus we ask according to His will…and He answers.

We are joyful because our joy doesn't depend on things of this world.  It doesn't matter what goes on in our world because we are fixed on Him. 

Those who abide love others.

Because of what Jesus has done for us, it puts this amazing love inside of us that we can't help but share with others.  When we abide in Him, we automatically love others.

He is telling us that we are to continually love us…this is an ongoing love that He is talking about…not a one time – love you today – type of love.  This is a continual love for others in our lives.  Because we are called…because we are appointed…because we are abiding…we LOVE.

Are you abiding?  If not, it is time that we become connected to the vine.

What's Next?

It is the second Sunday of Easter!

Many are wondering what that means…why is that important?  Isn't Easter over?

Easter is just beginning.  As we talked about last week, Jesus is Risen and if we believe that He is Risen, then something has to change.

So, what do we do now?  What is next?

Well, we can't go backward…we can walk away as many of the people following Jesus did.  We can simply walk away from following.  We can walk away from serving.  We can walk back to the life before we met Him…and remain unchanged.  OR we can MOVE FORWARD!

What does it mean to move forward?

Let's look at what it meant for the disciples.  But first, let's think of who these men are.  They are ordinary people.  They aren't anything extraordinary by the world's standards.  They don't hold positions of power.  They are not in the elite group.  They are not the 'people to know'.  They are ordinary men that have been chosen by God.  To the world, that means nothing.

They have fled as Jesus was being crucified.  Peter has denied.  When He needed them most, they left Him.  Bravery is not their number one trait apparently.  They were scared of the religious leaders and of the people.  You need to hear today that they are not particularly skilled speakers…not brave warriors…not political powerhouses.  These men are normal, everyday, ordinary people who have been chosen by God.

Let's look in Acts to see what is going on with these ordinary men.  Acts 5:27-33.

What has happened to these ordinary men?  I want us to look at two things that these men are doing…

First, they are PROCLAIMING…

What does that mean?  They are getting the message of Jesus out to the people.  They are speaking words of life.  They are giving the people the message that they need to hear regardless of the circumstances or outcomes.

When they are addressed by the high priest and the captains and leaders, they were direct and let them know exactly where they stood.  Specifically, we know what Peter said.  He told them about what they were doing and what the religious leaders had done…but most importantly what God had done. 

This is the same man who denied Jesus to a young girl not too much earlier.  He is not standing before authority with words like they are not accustomed to hearing.  He is proclaiming the word…the message…life.

Second, they are MAINTAINING…

They know the truth.  The puzzle is finally put together for them.   The things that Jesus had taught them and they truths that He had been giving them all begin to come together and make sense.  They get it! 

Now that they get it, they aren't going to back down just because the leaders have told them to keep quiet.  They were given a choice.  The religious leaders have already told them to be quiet.  Not to proclaim the name of Jesus.  They are told not to teach in that name.  They had Him hung on a cross so they could get rid of Him.  They don't want to hear His name again.

The disciples could have said…Ok – we understand…we will go back to our homes and we will have little groups that can meet there.  But that isn't what God told them to do.  They have a choice…they can follow God or they can follow these men.

They choose to follow God and proclaim the name of Jesus right in the courtyard and then proclaim it right before the leaders themselves.  They are maintaining that what they have seen and heard is truth and that they will let everyone know about it!

What is so different about these men??  Why the change?

We know they saw the power of God.  They saw Jesus crucified.  They saw Him raised from the dead.  Jesus is alive!  Jesus is RISEN and that means something to them!

We know that they are putting it all together.  They have been told all of these things by Jesus so much but now they are beginning to put together all they have been taught.  They are beginning to understand who Jesus really is and what that means.

We also know that they are filled with the POWER of the Holy Spirit!  Jesus promised them a helper.  He promised them power from on high.  He gave it to them.  And they listened and followed God.

Finally, we know that they chose God rather than men.  They chose to follow the One True God!  They weren't willing to go back…they were moving forward.

WOW!  God did amazing things in the lives of those ordinary men. Do you think God is done doing amazing things in the lives of ordinary people?  I don't think so!  I know He will continue to do amazing things…The question is whether you are willing for Him to use you.  He is God and can do all things.  Are you ready for what's next?  Or will you just turn away and follow man?