John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Oh Friends, by now you’ve realized that I’m fascinated by Jesus’ philosophy and how He shares it. The past couple days we’ve been looking at His remarks in John 10, about the enemy trying to entice the sheep, believers, away, but the sheep staying put, because they only respond to the shepherd’s voice. With Jesus claiming that He was the good shepherd, come not to destroy but to save His sheep and provide abundant life for them. His sheep knows Him and He knows them. Today, he delves a little deeper into the pastoral scenario, by saying, ‘As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father.’ In Mat.11:27, He expands on this: ‘All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the son will reveal him.’ Yes Friends, that’s certainly a tight knit duo. The Father provides the Son with all He needs, they hang out together, and it’s only possible to know the Father, if the Son reveals Him. ‘I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…’ (vs.9) So to get to the Father, we must go through Jesus. ‘And I lay down my life for my sheep.’ Words of awesome sacrificial intent people! That’s why He could extend the great invitation to us: ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Mat.11:28-30) Oh Friends, where or when will we ever get a better offer eh? Nowhere and no time! Who else is promising to look after us like a good shepherd, even unto death? Who else is willing and able to relieve us of our burdens and bear them Himself? Who’s royalty, but humble enough to desire to teach us lowly sinners, and refresh our weary spirits? Who else is offering an easy yoke and a light burden Friends? Tell me who else nuh? Nobody but our beloved Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! But that’s not all: ‘And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.’ (vs.16) Sing Hallelujah People! What a caring, thoughtful man! Jesus wanted no one left out from His promise of salvation, that’s why He told the Jews about His other flock, the Gentiles, whom also needed saving. And the Lord is such a great script-writer, that He foreshadowed this from the days of Isaiah. ‘I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.’ (Is.42:6) ‘The Lord God which gathereth the outcast of Israel, saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.’ (Is.56:8) Oh praise the Lord people! And Bruh Paul assures us that the prophecy was fulfilled. ‘For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us…that he might reconcile both unto God, in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.’ (Eph.2:14,16) Wow Friends! What a mighty man was our Saviour Jesus! Slaying the enemy with one fell swoop, by His sacrifice on the cross, bringing both Jews and Gentiles into one body, bound for glorious salvation under His merciful, astute leadership. Now it’s our turn Friends, to go out into all the world and continue His mission, to bring all His children into the one flock. Let’s do it with vim and vigour nuh. Much LOVE!…a true believer…must model themselves…after Jesus…
Oh Friends, by now you’ve realized that I’m fascinated by Jesus’ philosophy and how He shares it. The past couple days we’ve been looking at His remarks in John 10, about the enemy trying to entice the sheep, believers, away, but the sheep staying put, because they only respond to the shepherd’s voice. With Jesus claiming that He was the good shepherd, come not to destroy but to save His sheep and provide abundant life for them. His sheep knows Him and He knows them. Today, he delves a little deeper into the pastoral scenario, by saying, ‘As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father.’ In Mat.11:27, He expands on this: ‘All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the son will reveal him.’ Yes Friends, that’s certainly a tight knit duo. The Father provides the Son with all He needs, they hang out together, and it’s only possible to know the Father, if the Son reveals Him. ‘I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…’ (vs.9) So to get to the Father, we must go through Jesus. ‘And I lay down my life for my sheep.’ Words of awesome sacrificial intent people! That’s why He could extend the great invitation to us: ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Mat.11:28-30) Oh Friends, where or when will we ever get a better offer eh? Nowhere and no time! Who else is promising to look after us like a good shepherd, even unto death? Who else is willing and able to relieve us of our burdens and bear them Himself? Who’s royalty, but humble enough to desire to teach us lowly sinners, and refresh our weary spirits? Who else is offering an easy yoke and a light burden Friends? Tell me who else nuh? Nobody but our beloved Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! But that’s not all: ‘And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.’ (vs.16) Sing Hallelujah People! What a caring, thoughtful man! Jesus wanted no one left out from His promise of salvation, that’s why He told the Jews about His other flock, the Gentiles, whom also needed saving. And the Lord is such a great script-writer, that He foreshadowed this from the days of Isaiah. ‘I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.’ (Is.42:6) ‘The Lord God which gathereth the outcast of Israel, saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.’ (Is.56:8) Oh praise the Lord people! And Bruh Paul assures us that the prophecy was fulfilled. ‘For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us…that he might reconcile both unto God, in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.’ (Eph.2:14,16) Wow Friends! What a mighty man was our Saviour Jesus! Slaying the enemy with one fell swoop, by His sacrifice on the cross, bringing both Jews and Gentiles into one body, bound for glorious salvation under His merciful, astute leadership. Now it’s our turn Friends, to go out into all the world and continue His mission, to bring all His children into the one flock. Let’s do it with vim and vigour nuh. Much LOVE!…a true believer…must model themselves…after Jesus…
SCRIP-BITS 