Jesus the Ressurection and Life

The Resurrection and the Life

Book of John Chapter 11

We all need some place to unwind and it is very possible that Jesus used the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus to do this. Remember the flesh side of Christ felt everything that we feel.

In our lesson today we will see Jesus express love for His friends. It is in this chapter where we find the shortest verse in all the Bible.

John 11:35 says Jesus wept.

Jesus did not cry out in excessive grief. This crying was not a sign of human weakness. It was Jesus sharing in the grief of this family He loved.

They were dear friends He had met and enjoyed their company.

The New Testament records three times that Jesus wept.

1) In this passage we are studying today.

2) Jesus wept as He entered Jerusalem for the last time.

Luk 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

3) Not many talk about it, but Jesus wept just before the cross.

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

The most important thing we can learn from this lesson is that Jesus revealed Himself as "The Resurrection and Life".

It is easy for us all to see that Jesus had compassion. Another word for compassion is pity.

The Lord expects each and every one of us to show compassion and have pity on all our brothers and sisters.

Mat_18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

Bethany is about 2 miles from Jerusalem and by the time Jesus had walked to Bethany, Lazarus had been dead four days.

Jesus did not go directly to the home of Lazarus but stayed just outside the little city and sent word that He was there.

Let's begin our lesson at verse 18:

*****Joh 11:18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

Joh 11:19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

Joh 11:20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

What we must understand is, that when we believe that have reached the point of endless sorrow, this is when the Lord can do His greatest work.

Isa 33:10 Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.

We should understand that the Jews had a wrong belief that it was possible for someone to be raised from the dead if they had been no more than 3 days dead, but no one could be raised from the dead after 4 days or more because their body had begun to deteriorate.

Even today there are many who say this story is just a parable or some story and it never happened, but it did.

Jesus did many things that only God can do!

We should also understand that this family was ranked high in Jewish society because many of the Jewish hardliners had come to comfort this family, but they were the enemies of Jesus.

This did not stop Jesus from raising Lazarus from the dead and Jesus did not do this thing to impress these men.

We should also know Jesus did not raise Lazarus from the dead to make some big public statement.

This was another lesson for the 12 disciples and a lesson of faith for Mary and Martha.

There are many who believe in some sort of resurrection but if we do not put our faith in the only One, Jesus Christ, who is the "Resurrection and the Life" then we will only see a resurrection of the dead.

The key to eternal life is only in the Lord Jesus Christ!

We can believe that Jesus was unwilling to mingle in that crowd of mourners, many of which were paid to act like mourners which was the custom.

If you going to be around Jesus, then you better be real, Jesus did not like hypocrites nor did He like people who were paid to seem like your friend!

Martha went to meet Jesus while Mary stayed at the house.

*****Joh 11:21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

Joh 11:22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

Martha had enough faith to believe that had Jesus been in Bethany when Lazarus was sick that He would have healed him.

Martha gave no thought to Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

Martha had enough faith to know Jesus was her Savior but just like many today she questioned why Lazarus had died.

It should be obvious that we do not completely understand the plan of God, but we must realize that the Lord never does bad things.

This is another place where God placed a certain person into the path of Jesus.

With Lazarus, Jesus would raise him from the dead but in doing so Lazarus would have to leave paradise or Abraham's bosom.

Martha did not have the "faith" of Abraham:

Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Heb 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Heb 11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Abraham knew that if he had killed Isaac his covenant would be broken with God, but he was certain that God would raise Isaac up from the dead to keep the covenant God had made with Him!

Many will teach that this is why Jesus wept and it could be true, but one thing is sure, the Lord has compassion for all His children!

The thing we must all do is, just place our lives in Jesus's hands and serve in the complete will of the Lord!

Martha may have spoken harshly to Jesus for a moment, but she was convicted by her own words and said, "whatsoever thou will ask of God, God will give thee" and we had better believe this is true because God the Father told God the Son not to lose any of His children!

We also see with this statement that she placed Jesus at a level below God the Father and Jesus had already said many times that what the Father did then He did the same, "for they are the same in every way".

We all have a tendency to do this from time to time.

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost all share the same power, in fact the same everything!

Not three persons but One God in three persons!

We can also see that just believing in what Jesus says, will cause our "faith" to grow!

*****Joh 11:23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

Joh 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

We will not understand why God does what He does until we get to Heaven and then we will understand.

We must trust that everything God does is the right thing to do, because the Lord does not make mistakes!

We must also understand that to a child at the death of their parents, some resurrection in the far future is not much consolation.

Only the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the love of other family members and friends can help them.

At the loss of every loved one we will experience a change in our life, but we must remain close to the Lord to have peace.

Martha did not really know Jesus as well as she thought, and we do the same thing. We make the Lord to be small when the Lord is great in all power but also in compassion.

Martha did not want her home to change while she was still living but none of us are guaranteed a tomorrow.

Every Father wants to die before any of his children and it is the same for the mother just as it is the same for every oldest son or daughter.

We just do not want our family to ever leave us!

We must place our lives in the hand of the Lord and know that He will do right!

Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Joh 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

We must know that true life comes only by the Lord Jesus Christ.

*****Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

What is the greatest truth of the Christian? We live a life that has triumphed over death!

Joh_10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

By the power of the Godhead, Jesus did this very thing.

What we should understand is that the atonement of Christ did not end with His death.

The atonement of Christ only came to a climax when He "resurrected" from that death.

There was so much power revealed to us at this moment of the Lords death and then His resurrection that there was enough "Grace" to be sufficient for the sins of this entire world, but it was effectual only for those who believe.

We were saved by the power of the Triune God and we are kept saved by the Triune God and we must not make the power of God too weak to sustain our life throughout eternity.

Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Almost every one of us make our God to be weak when we cannot know the strength of His power other than observing all His creation.

Rom_1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

It is by God's own power that we can be at peace with Him.

Reconciliation truly means that God by His power, not ours, has removed that barrier of sin that has been against us, since the time of Adam.

The reconciliation becomes effective once we believe.

2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Jesus made all this much simpler when He said He was the "resurrection" and He is "life".

Martha said she understood but in reality, she lacked faith, but in many ways, she puts us to shame.

After this Martha went to tell Mary that the Lord had arrived.

One of best examples of the compassion the Lord shows to us all is the fact the He will weep with us in the time of our trials and tribulations.

We have a loving, caring, compassionate God!

*****Joh 11:34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

Joh 11:35 Jesus wept.

We must remember, God was still God, but He was also human, and the human side showed the compassion that God had for this family.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

It is a fact that there can be tears of joy but in our life, we shed more tears because of sin but the tears of Jesus were out of sympathy for those around Him but also from a deep sense of misery sin had brought upon our nature.

Heb_4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

It would have been easy for the Holy Spirit to have left this passage out, but He wanted us all to know the love of God for each of us!

*****Joh 11:37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

Joh 11:38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

Joh 11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

We must understand that God gets no pleasure at all in the death of anyone!

Eze 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

At the same time it is a precious sight for God to witness the death of any of His saints.

Psa_116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Jesus was groaning "in" His Spirit as He approached the grave of Lazarus.

It always comes up that if Jesus has this much love for us, then why did He allow this to happen?

We must understand that the nature of this world is corruption which we see every day, but also trials and tribulation, suffering and pain, death and hell.

Many times it is these things that allows an opportunity for God to do a great work.

God did not cause the death of Lazarus, and I'm sure that Lazarus did not want to be brought back to life, but because so many would witness this great miracle it was a great opportunity for the Lord.

Many believed but many fled to tell the High Priests and the Lord knew who these were.

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

It is easy to see that Jesus lived the way He preached!

We must believe that God never does unnecessary things!

We must also believe that God never speaks unnecessary words.

When Jesus was upon this earth Jesus never did an unnecessary deed or miracle open to the eyes of those around Him.

God will never show us another sign that He is real until just before He returns other than what we see every day!

Once we are saved, God gives a place to reach out to others and He allows us the time to do as He says, but we must do the rest!

We should be very clear, God will never do something that we could have done ourselves!

We must never be a stumble stone, but we should remove the stumble stones in the path of others whenever we are able!

*****Joh 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Joh 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

Our "faith" has not grown until we know, that we know, that we know, we are saved.

We must never doubt our salvation!

We must also know that we are to be busy about the work of the Lord.

Our Hope must be built upon the promises of God knowing that He has never broken a promise that He has made.

We must not grow weary in well doing nor complain about the things God has given us to do.

Mary and Martha were still growing in their faith and we need to be growing in our faith every day.

We must be at rest and at peace with the Lord and "faith" that what we lack God will provide.

The Lord Jesus did everything His Father ask Him to do and we need to do everything Jesus ask of us knowing that His words are the words of His Father!

The Father has always listened to us just as He listened to the prayers of His Son.

We are to approach God as a child calling upon his father.

Jesus said, "I thank thee that thou have heard me" and we should have this same confidence when we pray in fact it does not hurt to thank God ahead of time before we receive what we are asking for.

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God

Jesus spoke these things out loud, so these people would know more how to to pray and to show those Jews who were among this group that He still claimed to be the Son of God.

What was His proof?

*****Joh 11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

Joh 11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

This thought from someone else reminds me of the truth.

By speaking loudly to His Father, Jesus put God in the position of answering His request or denying it.

If Lazarus remained in that tomb, then Jesus would be an impostor.

We should also understand that all the prayers of Jesus were heard by the Father and it is the same for all those who believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

Many of the lost believe their prayers are heard and maybe God hears them, but He will not respond to the prayers of this person.

Psa 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Jesus cried with a loud voice because He wanted everyone there at that time to hear Him. The truth is if Jesus had not called Lazarus by name then all the dead that died having the faith of Abraham would have come forth and that would have been the rapture.

Jesus called him out of the tomb as easily as if he had been not only alive, but also awake.

This is what we call sleeping in Jesus!

Death had to give up to the commands of the Lord.

1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

But the rapture is for the Church only!

The Church would not begin its, life until after the ascension of the Lord back to Heaven.

So what happened?

*****Joh 11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Notice Lazarus came forth still in his grave clothes and they had to be removed and I imagine someone had to loan him a cloak.

Lazarus remained alive to again suffer a natural death.

It will not be like that for the saint of God when God calls His church out to go home.

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

This is the promise we have from the Lord Jesus Christ!

We should remember what Jesus has already said:

Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

You see, this is the truth of the Word of God!

Amen,

Let's pray!

The Lord Is My Shepherd

The Good Shepherd

Book of John Chapter 10

Before we start Chapter 10, we need to look back to Chapter 9.

Joh 9:40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

Joh 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Jesus had just boldly said that He was the Son of God and some truly believed, but the Pharisees and the High Priest and those close to them rejected everything that Jesus had said.

These are the same men who had all the Scriptures, who spent much time studying the Scriptures and swore to abide by them.

These men were not blind to what Jesus was saying, in fact some them believed that Jesus could be who He said He was.

These men just refused to give up their places of leadership and thought that they could resist God.

These same foolish men still exist today, and they will exist when Jesus returns and then they will be no more, till in the end when they will face the Lord again at the White Throne Judgment.

These men were followers of Satan, even if they did not know this was true.

They clung to their sin so tightly that no one could deprive them of it.

What is said of Satan?

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Jesus told these evil men that if they did not know the Word of God, they would have believed but because they knew so much of the Scriptures and had so many means of knowing the truth and rejected the truth, then there was no hope for them and Jesus continues in Chapter 10.

*****Joh 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

If we look at the original Greek manuscripts, we will see that the word used for "thief" is the same word used for "Judas" and the same word used for "robber" is used to describe "Barabbas".

Jesus begins with a passage much like a parable and a parable is an earthly story that has a Heavenly meaning.

This lesson boldly states that it is Jesus Christ who is "the door" of the sheepfold and we will see this soon.

The sheep fold will one day include most all the Jews but at this time the sheep fold is the Church.

Those who try to enter the Church by some means other that Jesus Christ become as a thief and a robber and as the trained servants of Satan!

Jesus was probably looking straight into the eyes of these Temple leaders as He said these words.

Most of these men only thought of shepherds as the low-lives of society and had nothing to do to them. A true shepherd was with his flock 7 days a week.

We could say that Jesus was also pointing out what a true Church leader should be. These who were before Him knew nothing of caring for God's people!

We should clearly understand that God does not deal with us a General over a His great army, the Lord deals with us a Shepherd over his valuable flock!

In this parable the sheepfold is the place where the Lord keeps His sheep.

This parable will deal with the false shepherd and the true Shepherd.

The true Shepherd is Jesus Christ and the false shepherds are all those opposed to Jesus Christ!

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in threat:

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

No one can get inside the pen where the sheep are kept unless they come through the Door and that Door is the Lord Jesus Christ.

*****Joh 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

Joh 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

We should understand that a flock of sheep are led by the shepherd and the shepherd’s boy will bring up the rear.

When there is a journey that shepherd's boy will lead the sheep while the shepherd drives the sheep.

When darkness comes the sheep are herded into enclosures to keep them safe and the shepherd becomes the door to enter into that enclosure. Nothing gets by the shepherd to cause harm to the sheep.

The Shepherd knows each and every one of his sheep and the sheep know him.

It is sin for Christian people to suppose that they are just part of a crowd. The Lords knows each child of God as a shepherd knows his sheep!

In fact the Lord knows each of us so well that He knows when one hair on our head has fallen out or if we stumped our toe while walking.

God also does not so much convert the masses as He deals with us one on one.

The Lord Jesus wants a personal relationship and we can have one with Him if we just accept Him as the truth!

In the short time the Lord spent upon this earth in the flesh, He personally felt every infirmity that we deal with and so He knows what we are going through in every situation.

Note: Christ even felt what it like to be hated by other people even by some His own family for a time!

Christ does not just know something about us, He knows all about us and He makes the effort to know more that He can help us through this life until He takes us home to present us to His Father.

Note: Christ does not watch over us as if we are in a prison. We are never treated as slaves even though Christ purchased us from the slave-market of sin. Christ treats us members of His own family and He is our older Brother.

Note: Christ is the true Shepherd of the Christian sheep and the Holy Spirit is then the Porter or the Doorkeeper.

As sheep, the Christian will listen for the call of the Shepherd and He knows our name and we will follow and obey the Shepherd.

We should understand that the Lord deals with us individually. The only time the Lord will call us as a group is at the "Rapture" of the Church.

The truth of the Shepherd:

Psa 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

If we do not know these things, then we are subject to be led by a false shepherd.

*****Joh 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Joh 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Once we know the Lord as our Redeemer, we will know His voice and we will never forget the sound of His voice.

We must trust the voice of the Lord. He will speak to us through the Holy Spirit just as we speak to Him through the Holy Spirit.

Joh 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Our true Shepherd does not just go before us as some man, but He goes before us with all the power of God.

1Jn_5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

When the Lord puts forth His sheep none are ever left behind, and He will feed them with the truth.

When a false shepherd puts forth his sheep it is to rid himself of trouble, making merchandise of them.

2Pe_2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

The true Christian will never follow a stranger whom they do not know as a Christian.

Joh 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Those who do not put forth the truth of the Scriptures are all strangers and have nothing of God within them!

What is the path of the stranger? Humanism, materialism, worldliness, fame, false religion, false science, false philosophy.

We are to flee from these things!

Again we see a parable that these Pharisees could not understand so Jesus explains this parable to them.

*****Joh 10:6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

Without the Holy Spirit who abides in each believer, these things cannot be understood.

Pro 28:5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

If we can see the truth, then we can see that these things are a fulfillment of prophecy.

Isa 6:9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

Isa 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Jesus continues to teach the truth that these men would not accept.

*****Joh 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

Joh 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

Jesus begins with "Listen to Me, these things are very important"(verily,verily)

Jesus explains that He is not only the Shepherd, but He is also the Door.

Maybe the most important thing in this parable, (some say proverb) is that we must understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Door to the sheepfold or we could say "The Church"!

The fact of this is that the sheep cannot leave without confronting the Door and enemies could not enter without going through the Door which is impossible.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Notice in verse 8 the "I Am". When the Lord says "I Am" we know He is Jehovah or Yahweh!

Who are those thieves and robbers?

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

By knowing these about these things, we should never be fooled by them!

All those who disagree with what the Lord is saying here need to get a true Bible and study and believe!

The Lord's sheep will never be sheared again but those who follow a false prophet or priest, or false pastor will be sheared over and over again!

All those who reject the Lord as the Messiah, as Lord, as the True Shepherd, as our Redeemer cannot come through the Door where the sheep of the Lord are located.

Their message is a message of plunder and murder, they will not have a message from Heaven and God the Father because they cannot know Him!

1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

*****Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Door to salvation.

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

He Lord is the "Door":

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

He is also the Shepherd:

Isa 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

Isa 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

He is also the Pasture.

Jer 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

His Pasture contains not only the "Bread of Life" but also the "Water of Life"!

Joh_4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Joh_6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Notice again, no one enters except by the Lord. (by Me).

*****Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Again Jesus is blunt when He says all those who say there is another way get to Heaven are just "thieves" and "robbers". The only thing that they know to do is to kill and destroy.

Some just want the wool which is all the things of value.

Next, they will want the life of each sheep.

Life is the power behind our being!

Even as Christians we cling to life not willing to let go and there is nothing particularly wrong with this, as long as we know that true life comes after the death of our flesh.

True life is the deliverance from condemnation and death!

True life is forever.

True life is satisfaction.

True life is security.

True life is enjoyment.

True life is found only in God!

True life comes only by Jesus Christ!

True life begins when we are filled and sealed by the Holy Spirit!

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

*****Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Jesus Christ is our Perfect Shepherd and He knows we cannot be left alone so He will care for us all our days.

Jesus is the good Shepherd because He gave His life for His sheep!

Jesus is the Great Shepherd!

Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Jesus Christ is the "Ideal" Shepherd

Isa 49:9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.

Isa 49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

Jesus Christ is the Shepherd of our souls:

1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Who are those that are false leaders of God's people?

*****Joh 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

Joh 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

There are many of these "hirelings" behind the pulpits today.

They are men and women who are hired who care not for the children of God but they are more like the mercenary who will leave when things look bad because they serve only their own interest!

These men and women who are wolves in sheep's clothing who spend their time attacking the Christian faith.

They attack Christian liberty.

They attack the Christian life.

A wolf will capture some and scatter the rest intentionally destroying the flock of God and those that follow them are just as bad!

The hireling will never defend the cause of Jesus Christ!

*****Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Jesus Christ is the owner of all the Christian sheep.

They were "given" to Him by His Father.

He is the Creator of all things and He "created" the Church and His flock.

Jesus laid down His life for His sheep and the Christian sheep are "paid for with His own blood".

In a day that is close by, Jesus will "Redeem" His sheep and take them home to a New Heaven.

This is why His sheep know Him. He knows my name and your name if you love Him.

What is on the mind of Jesus Christ today? His sheep.

Every thought of the Lord is always on His sheep every day.

He is concerned about our joy and our happiness.

He is concerned about our trials and our sorrows.

He is there to pick us up when we stumble or if we stray from the path.

He is concerned about or needs and our wants.

Jesus keeps His mind on His sheep every moment we live and is waiting with open arms when He takes us home.

This is why the Rapture is guaranteed, so the world will know that Lord has redeemed His sheep and then proof that those left behind chose wrong.

Because those left behind all got an opportunity to know the Savior!

*****Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

As the Lord was speaking to the Jews of course, these other sheep would be of the Gentiles, that includes us who here today.

This included all other nations and every generation until Jesus returns!

Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

In the end there will be only one church!

There will be only one flock of sheep because there is only one Savior who is also the true Shepherd!

That word "must", is very important. It means Christ Jesus is compelled by His Father to reach out to the Gentile sheep!

There are not Jews nor Gentiles, there are only Believers!

*****Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Had Jesus not died we would all still have our sin.

Had Jesus not arose from the dead we would still have our sin!

Our Good Shepherd sacrificed His life for our sin to become the Perfect Shepherd!

The Fathers infinite love for His Son would not allow for Him to stay dead.

It is because of the Son's infinite love for His sheep that He arose from that death.

We must realize that Jesus as the Son of God could not die.

This passage means, it was Christ's human life that died, and Christ had to take on that human life again in order that we be saved.

Christ was still in that human life when He ascended even though it was glorified to teach that we will certainly be like Him when we meet Him!

Jesus Christ will free us from death by providing eternal life to each and every believer!

If Jesus had not taken up that human life again, then we would still be lost in this dying world.

1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

1Co 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

So we see that our Father in Heaven not only sent His Son to die but to also rise from that death.

Joh 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

Joh 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

We know that our Father in Heaven has given us the choice to follow Him or not and Jesus had this same choice. Jesus could have said no and just went back to Heaven, but had He done so then as far as truth goes there would be no God at all.

The Scriptures must be fulfilled just as they are written, or we would have nothing to to put our "Faith" because remember this plan was conceived before creation week began.

So, all these things being true it should increase our "faith".

1Jn 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Jesus did all these things to glorify His Father another example for us to do the same!

Amen

Let's Pray!