March 2024 ~ Matt Mitchell

Sunday, March 31, 2024

"I Am The Good Shepherd" [Matt's Messages]

3/31/2024 10:45:00 AM Life in Jesus' Name, Matt's Messages, Resurrection, The Gospel of John 0 comments

“I Am The Good Shepherd”

Life in Jesus’ Name - The Gospel of John

Resurrection Sunday :: Lanse Evangelical Free Church

March 31, 2024 :: John 10:14-21

What did He say to get that kind of a reaction?

What did Jesus say to get the people around Him thinking that He must be insane? That he was stark raving mad. That He must have a demon inside of Him!

Verse 19 says, “At these words the Jews were again divided.”

Some thought that Jesus made a lot of sense and was a great miracle-worker. He had just given sight to a man who had been born blind.

But others heard these words that Jesus said about Himself and thought, “This guy is ‘Cukoo for Cocopuffs.’ This guy is not playing with a full deck. This guy is bonkers.”

What did Jesus say to get that kind of a reaction?

This is what He said. It’s in verse 14.

“I am the good shepherd.”

Now, obviously, that might sound weird but not crazy to us today.

Jesus likened Himself to a shepherd, a person who takes care of sheep. Jesus already said that in verse 11. We looked it together last Sunday.

And He meant it as a criticism of the religious leaders of His day. They were supposed to be good shepherds, taking good care of God’s good flock (the people of God), but they were miserable failures and had done a horrific job of it.

Jesus likened their shepherding to being a hired hand who doesn’t care one whit about the sheep. They wouldn’t lift a finger to help the sheep if the flock was attacked. They’d just run away.

And that’s on their best day. On other days, they were like thieves and robbers who steal, kill, and destroy the sheep. Steal, kill, and destroy.

They were bad shepherds, but Jesus said that He was the Good Shepherd.

Now that word translated “good” doesn’t just mean “good.” Like 3 stars out of 5. “Not bad.” That’s not good enough.

The Greek word can also be translated, “beautiful” or “noble” or “true.”

It’s hard to get across, but it’s more like the “Perfect Shepherd.” Or the “Wonderful Shepherd.” Or the “Real Deal Shepherd.” “The Shepherd Par Excellence.”

Maybe, “The Goodest Shepherd?”

Is that a word? It is now!

This is the Shepherd that fulfills and embodies all of what a shepherd is supposed to be. “10/10 No Notes.”

If you’ve ever read the Twenty-third Psalm, “The LORD is my Shepherd / I shall not be in want,” and you see how King David felt about His Shepherd, that’s what Jesus is claiming to be here for His people.

Because if He’s the Shepherd, then we are the sheep.

Today, Landen, Treiton, Keagan, Maria, and Katie are all going to get up on this platform and declare that they are Jesus’ sheep and that Jesus is their Good Shepherd.

It takes some humility to admit you are like a sheep. Because, as we said last Sunday and as I shared with the Egg Hunt families yesterday, sheep are kind of dumb. They are clueless and helpless and needy. It takes humility to admit that you are a sheep and you need someone to care for you, provide for you, protect you, lead you, and guide you and keep you from true harm.

But it’s true, right? We are needy, as people. We are spiritually helpless. We are clueless and need a good Shepherd to guide us.

And that’s what Jesus says that He is.

Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.”

And in this passage (verses 14-17), Jesus says three big things about what that means for us, that He is the good shepherd. How He takes shepherding to a whole new level. Here’s the first one:

#1. THE GOOD SHEPHERD KNOWS HIS SHEEP.

We heard that last Sunday, too, up in verse 3, 4, and 5. Jesus said that His sheep will hear His voice as He calls to them by name, and that they won’t follow a stranger’s voice.

Now look how He says in verse 14 and 15: “‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me–just as the Father knows me and I know the Father...”

Isn’t that wonderful?! Jesus says that He knows His sheep. That means personally. He doesn’t just know that He has some sheep on a hillside somewhere. He knows our names. He knows our lives. He knows our hearts. He knows our hurts. He knows our joys. He knows our sorrows. He knows our needs.

He knows our sins.

If you are Jesus’ sheep, then Jesus knows you. He knows you intimately. And He knows what’s going on in your life that is hard right now. He knows what you’re struggling with. He is your good shepherd.

In that day, a lot sheep were kept for wool. Some were for sacrifice and some for mutton, but most were just for wool. So the sheep might live a long time and have the same shepherd that knew them inside and out for their whole life.

If you are Jesus’ sheep, then Jesus knows you.

And you know Jesus! This is an invitation to become intimately acquainted with your Savior, with your Shepherd. To know Jesus.

And look at how deeply we can know Him! Verse 15 says, “just as the Father knows me and I know the Father!” That’s an unbelievable amount of knowing! That we could know Jesus in some way like God the Father knows God the Son and God the Son knows God the Father. That is just mind-blowing!

The Good Shepherd knows His sheep.

He knows Landen, Treiton, Keagan, Maria, and Katie.

And today, they proclaim that they know Him!

Do you know Him?

Jesus is the good shepherd.

#2. THE GOOD SHEPHERD LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP.

He doesn’t just know them. He loves them. And here’s how much He loves them. He sacrifices Himself for them. Look at verse 15.

“‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me–just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

Now, that is taking shepherding to a whole other level. And you can begin to see why it sounds a little crazy. Because a sheep is worth far less than a shepherd. Shepherds could take some risks to protect the flock. They were valuable. But if the choice is save the sheep or save your life, “Goodbye, Sheepie!”

But Jesus says that as our Good Shepherd, He plans to “lay down” his life “for the sheep.”

What’s He talking about? He’s talking about the Cross. He’s talking about how He was going to be nailed to a piece of wood and hung up on pole. And struggle to breathe for three hours and then die.

Why? He was laying down His life for His sheep.

The Bible says that, He “was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:5-6 NIVO).

The Good Shepherd saves His sheep by laying down His life for them, in the place of His sheep.

That’s what brings us into life!

Last week, Jesus said that He is “the Gate,” that is, He is the way into life, eternal life, life to the fullest.

And we get that life by believing in Him, by putting our trust in Him as our way in.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son [who laid down His life for the sheep], that whoever [sheep] believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16 NIVO).

Is that you? Jesus is on the hunt for new sheep to be in His sheepfold. Look at verse 16.

“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” [That’s Him! See also Ezekiel 34 for more on that promise!]

I love this verse, because you and I are in it. Jesus is talking about us.

"I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. [Meaning of the Jews. Jesus has other sheep that are Gentiles. That are not the group in front of Him that day.] I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."

There’s a sheep pen over here in Israel in the year 0033 or whatever. And there’s another over here in central Pennsylvania in the year 2024.

And Jesus says, “I’m not content with just these sheep. I’m looking for a bigger flock. Other sheep. “I must bring them also.”

That’s us! Like I told the families at the Egg Hunt, Jesus isn’t just searching for eggs. He’s looking for lost sheep to bring them into His sheepfold and give them life to full. And He will rejoice over them when they come. “Rejoice with me!”

Verse 16. “They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

Today, Landen, Treiton, Keagan, Maria, and Katie, are proclaiming that they have listened to Jesus’ voice and been brought into His one sheepfold.

How about you?

He has laid down His life for you! And the Father loves Him for it. Look at verse 17.

“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life...”

Now, that doesn’t mean it’s the only reason why the Father loves the Son. He loves the Son just because He’s the Son.

But He is such a good Son! The Father always looks at Jesus and says, “Oh how pleased I am with my beloved Son!

Look how obedient He is!

Look how submissive He is!

Look how He accomplishes His mission!

I am so pleased with Him.

Look at Him lay down His life for those sheep we love!"

Sometimes we can get the idea that the Father and the Son were in conflict with one another about our salvation. Like the Father hated us but the Son stepped in the way to save us from His meanness. But that’s not quite right. Remember John 3:16 says that God so loved the world that He gave His Son. He sent His Son. They were working in perfect unity to save us from the just wrath of God. And so at the very same time as the Son in His humanity was feeling the hot righteous anger of God poured out upon Him on the Cross, the Father was also saying, “That’s my boy!”

“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life–only to take it up again.”

Now that is taking shepherding to yet another level!

It’s one thing for a shepherd to take a risk for a sheep.

It’s another thing for a shepherd to die for a sheep.

But this shepherd says that He is going to come back from the dead for His sheep!

#3. THE GOOD SHEPHERD TAKES UP HIS LIFE AGAIN FOR HIS SHEEP.

Here’s the idea: A dead shepherd is not a good shepherd.

What good is it to have a dead shepherd? If the shepherd is dead, where does that leave the flock? The sheep are in trouble if the shepherd is dead.

How would Psalm 23 read?

“My shepherd is dead. I will never have what I need.

I can’t find the green pastures. I can’t find the quiet waters.

My soul is destroyed.

I’m lost. I can’t find the paths of righteousness.

I’m all alone in the valley of the shadow of death.

I fear every evil.

I have no comfort.

I have no blessings.

I can’t eat. My enemies are after me.

My head is cracked and dry.

My cup is empty.

Surely evil and disloyal hatred will chase me all of the days of my life, and I’m headed to Hell forever.

Because my shepherd is dead.”

That’s what would happen to us if Jesus stayed dead.

But Jesus said that He would lay down His life “only to take it up again.” That could be translated, “so that” He would take it up again. He died in such a way as to earn a victorious resurrection. Jesus claimed that He had the authority to do this.

No one was doing it to Him. V.18 “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord [willingly]. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Yes, the Jews put Him to death. Yes, the Romans put Him to death. Yes, it was our sin that held Him there. But in the end, it was His choice and no other human’s. He had the right to lay it down and the right to take it up again.

And He did both! On the third day, He rose again.

Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!

He is no longer a dead shepherd. He is a living shepherd. An unstoppably living shepherd. He has conquered death.

The choir sang, “Death is conquered! We are free! Christ has won the victory!”

The kids sang, “Alive! Alive!”

Our good shepherd is alive again and forever.

That, I think, is what they thought was crazy. That this guy was claiming to be the kind of good shepherd that not only dies for His sheep but comes back to life. “At these words the Jews were again divided. Many of them said, ‘He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?’ But others said, ‘These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?’”

What do you think? Which side are you on? Do you think He’s crazy? Or are you listening to Him?

Landen, Treiton, Keagan, Maria, and Katie have decided that they believe that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who knows them, laid down His life for them, and took up His life again for them, so they have listened to His voice and come into His one flock, by faith.

Praise God!

***

Messages in this Series

01. "That You May Believe" - John 20:30-31
02. "In The Beginning Was the Word" - John 1:1-18
03. "John's Testimony" - John 1:19-34
04. "Come and See" - John 1:35-51
05. "The First of His Miraculous Signs" - John 2:1-11
06. "This Temple" - John 2:12-25
07. "You Must Be Born Again" - John 3:1-15
08. "God So Loved The World" - John 3:16-21
09. "Above All" - John 3:22-36
10. "Living Water" - John 4:1-26
11. "Ripe for the Harvest" - John 4:27-42
12. "Your Son Will Live" - John 4:43-54
13. "Pick Up Your Mat and Walk" - John 5:1-18
14. "To Your Amazement" - John 5:19-30
15. "Testimony About Me" - John 5:31-47
Christmas Eve Bonus: "The Astonishing Gift" - John 3:16 Again
Christmas Eve Bonus: "We Have Seen His Glory" - John 1:1-18 Again
16. "Enough Bread" - John 6:1-15
17. "You Are Looking for Me" - John 6:16-36
18. "I Am the Bread of Life" - John 6:35-71
Vision Meeting Bonus: "As I Have Loved You" - John 13:34-35
19. "At the Feast" - John 7:1-52
20. "I Am the Light of the World" - John 8:12-30
21. "Your Father" - John 8:31-59
22. "Now I See" - John 9:1-41
23. "I Am The Gate" - John 10:1-13

“I Am The Gate” [Matt's Messages]

3/24/2024 12:06:00 PM Life in Jesus' Name, Matt's Messages, The Gospel of John 0 comments

“I Am The Gate”

Life in Jesus’ Name - The Gospel of John

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

March 24, 2024 :: John 10:1-13

“Therefore Jesus said again, ‘I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.’”

That’s verse 7. And it’s where we get our title for this morning, and it’s the third big “I Am” statement in the Gospel of John where Jesus tells us Who He truly is.

In chapter 6, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” (Jn. 6:35 NIVO)

In chapter 8, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn. 8:12 NIVO) Bread of life. Light of life.

Here in verse 7, Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.”

It’s been a while since I talked about our sabbatical last summer.

You might remember this picture from my report. That’s not Israel. That’s Scotland. I haven’t been to Israel.

Last summer in the UK, I become much more familiar with the ways of sheep and with gates.

There are sheep just everywhere in Great Britain. It seemed to me like we were never more than 10 miles from sheep no matter where were in the United Kingdom except for maybe London, and I wouldn’t be surprised to find sheep there, too!

There was just always sheep nearby. And because of that, there were gates just about everywhere, too.

This one is on the south shore of England. You can barely see the English Channel through the opening.

Sheep have to be fenced in because sheep are dumb. They are wonderful animals, cute, and great for wool (the wonder-fiber that my wife adores), but they are dumb. They are helpless. They have to be cared for.

My favorite thing I ever learned about sheep, and the thing I almost always share when teaching about shepherds is that some sheep are so helpless they can get lost in an open garage. They wander in through that big opening, and then they can’t figure out how to get out.

But that also means that sheep can’t be trusted to NOT go where they are NOT supposed to go. They will wander out of just about any opening.

So unless you want sheep drowning in the English channel, you put this gate there to keep them on that side of the fence.

Here’s a picture of that gate from the other way.

There are gates all over Great Britain. You can walk and walk and walk on what they call “permissive paths” across fields and coastlines and all kinds of places, but every so often you reach a gate, and you have to open it and go through and make sure it latches behind you.

Or the sheep get out.

Or predators get in to attack the sheep.

There is life and safety on the right side of the fence. And that’s why gates are so important. They are gates for life. Gates to life.

And Jesus says, “I am the gate for the sheep.”

Now, in that illustration, you and I are the sheep. And that is not especially flattering for us. When Jesus calls us sheep, He’s not saying that we are cute and cuddly and good for wool.

He’s saying that we are helpless and needy and kind of dumb on our own.

We need help. We need care. We need a shepherd.

And the Lord has promised to send a Shepherd. If we had time this morning, I would read to you the whole of Ezekiel 34 where God promises to send a Shepherd for His people from the line of David. In that passage, the LORD pronounces “woe” on the leaders who had shepherded Israel so horribly up to that time.

Do you remember when He said something like that Jeremiah chapter 23? We studied it back in 2022. “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” (Jer. 23:1 NIVO).

And then in Ezekiel 34 and Jeremiah 23, God promises to send a good shepherd, a great Shepherd, “a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land” (Jer. 23:5 NIVO).

“I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd” (Ezek. 34:23 NIVO).

We are sheep. We need a Shepherd. God has promised to supply a Shepherd from the line of David.

And God has kept His promise!

That’s what we are going to see this week and next in John chapter 10, verses 1 through 21. This week, were only going to get up through verse 13.

Chapter 10 flows right out of chapter 9. There is no break. It is apparently the same day, the same time, the same event as chapter 9.

Do you remember what happened in chapter 9? Jesus has been fighting with the Pharisees (verbally) in public for several chapters now. And He has claimed to be the Light of the World. And He makes good on that claim by healing the eyes of a man who had been born blind.

But now He sees.

Jesus put a mud-pack on his eyes and sent him to wash in the pool of Siloam, and he was healed! Remember that from last time?

And the Pharisees were so happy for that man! They were just overjoyed and began to worship and follow Jesus. No that’s not what happened. Jesus did this miracle on a Sabbath, and they were rip-roaring mad about it. They tossed the guy out on his ear. And they called Jesus “a sinner.”

And Jesus called them “blind.” These leaders claimed to really see but they were really blind.

Jesus’ last words to the Pharisees in chapter 9 were, “Your guilt remains.”

And then He just starts speaking again in what we call chapter 10. Remember John didn’t put these chapter numbers here. They’re just addresses, points on the map, so that we can find things in the Bible.

Jesus is apparently still talking to and about these very same people when He says (V.1), “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.”

Now, in this section (vv.1-6), Jesus is drawing a sharp contrast between the so-called shepherds of Israel and the shepherd that God’s people truly needed. Verse 6 calls it a “figure of speech.” It’s an extended illustration.

The sheep are God’s people, and they need led and cared for.

And there are genuine shepherds out there and fake shepherds. Shepherds who may look the part. But they are illegitimate and bad for the sheep.

In verse 1, they get into the sheep pen in the wrong way. They skip the gate. The climb over the wall. They sneak in.

Jesus is talking about the Pharisees! Can you see how they would be getting all red in the face as he says this?! They are “thieves and robbers.” They come by stealth and do violence. They are out for themselves and don’t really care about the flock.

But the true shepherd is genuine. He comes the right way. He has the right credentials. Verse 3. He shows His ID at the gate.

“The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”

Now there were two main kinds of sheep pens in the Middle East at that time. One is the smaller one out in the fields. We’ll talk more about that in a minute. The other is the large one in a courtyard enclosure in a more populated area. They could be big enough that several flocks could share the space together for a time. I think that’s the one that we see here.

The gatekeeper opens up for the real shepherd, and He steps in and calls His own sheep by their own names. And He leads them out. He doesn’t drive them out. He leads them out. Verse 4.

“When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

I have three points to share this morning all about being Jesus’ sheep. And here’s the first one.

#1. FOLLOW JESUS ALONE AND BE TRULY KNOWN.

He hasn’t said it yet in so many words, but the real shepherd here is Jesus.

His sheep know it. They listen to His voice. They know His voice. In fact, verse 5, “But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.”

True sheep ultimately don’t get duped by false shepherds.

So Jesus was putting the Pharisees on notice. They were not going to get to keep Jesus’ people. His true sheep would hear His voice and follow Him alone.

Just the like the (formerly) blind man.

He could now see through the Pharisees and their pretensions. Remember how almost snarky he got with them?

"Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.” (Jn. 9:30 NIVO)

“Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?" (Jn. 9:27 NIVO)

Jesus says, “Expect more of that snark, guys. My sheep will never follow a stranger. In fact, they will run away from you.”

And here’s what we are supposed to do–run to Jesus and follow Him.

Are you doing that? Are you a living as a follower of Jesus Christ? Are you living as a disciple?

In the four chair illustration that Pastor Joel Zaborowski gave us last week, are you growing in chair number two?

Jesus says that His sheep follow Him (v.4). That means that they do what He says. Are you doing what Jesus says? Are you being obedient to His commands? Are you living in line with His teaching?

Are you following your own Shepherd? Or are you trying to go on your own? Or are you listening to another voice? There are a lot of voices out there trying to be your shepherd. Listen to Jesus voice and follow Him alone.

And you will be known.

That’s my favorite part of these first six verses. It’s what it says in verse 3. It’s not just that we know Him and His voice, but He knows us. V.3

“He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."

By name! There is such a close relationship between the genuine shepherd and His own sheep that He doesn’t shove the ones that are his out the door. He just speaks to them, and they cock their ear. He just calls their name, and they come follow Him.

You are known.

But if you think about, He doesn’t just know their names. He probably named them Himself. He gave them their names. That’s the level of intimacy they have. They answer to the name that He has given them. You are known. And you are loved. And you are cared for.

Next week, we’ll see how deeply known we are. Just glance at verses 14 and 15! Do you know how known you are? Do you know how beloved you are to the Shepherd Jesus? He knows everything about you, including the worst things about you, and He still loves you.

In fact, He calls your name and calls you to follow Him alone.

Verse 6 says, “Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.”

We’re pretty used to that by now in the gospel of John. At some point later it started to make sense to them. So, in verse 7, Jesus switches the metaphor a little bit, and here we come to our title for today’s message once again. Verse 7.

“Therefore Jesus said again, ‘I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.”

#2. ENTER THROUGH JESUS ALONE AND BE TRULY SAVED.

Now, which is it? Is Jesus a shepherd or a gate? (Some of your versions have “door”. The “door” of sheep pen is often called a “gate.”)

Is Jesus a shepherd or a gate? Well, it’s both, right?

In the first six verses, He was the genuine shepherd. And the gate was opened for Him. But now in this part of his illustration, He says that He is the gate for the sheep Himself. He Himself is the access point to the safety and security of the sheep pen.

Jesus has a way of making everything about Himself, doesn’t He? That’s probably because everything IS about Him when you get down to it, isn’t it?

Interestingly, there was a way in that culture where a person could be both a shepherd and a gate.

And that is a situation like this.

When the wall of the sheep pen was broken down.

[This was a wall in the Lake District in England. Near to Beatrix Potter’s house where she wrote the “Peter Rabbit” stories for children.]

Or when it was designed that way. In Israel in that day, some of the sheep pens out in the countryside were small circles or squares with a five or six foot opening at one end. And the shepherd, after he had gotten his wooly charges into the circle would then lay down over the opening himself.

And nobody was getting out without Him and nobody was getting into those sheep without going through Him.

He was the door.

He was the doorway.

He was the gate.

And if you had gone through Him and were inside, then you were safe.

V.9 again. “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.”

Jesus saying that there is only one access point to salvation, and that He is it.

He’s going to say something very similar in chapter 14. With another “I am” statement. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6 NIVO).

In other words, “I am the gate.”

And that might sound narrow, and it is, but it is also free to everyone. And it is the way to salvation. He is the way to salvation.

Have you entered through Jesus? In the four chair illustration from Pastor Joel last week, have you gone from chair one to chair two? Don’t stay on chair number one! And there is only way to get to chair number two. And it’s by trusting in Jesus and what He did for you on Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. At the Cross and the Empty Tomb.

Enter through Jesus alone and be truly saved.

On that first Palm Sunday, as they waved their branches the crowds were shouting, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!” which is a quote from Psalm 118, verse 26.

Just a few verses before that Psalm 118 says this (vv.19-21):

“Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation” (Ps. 118:19-21 NIVO).

Enter through Jesus alone and be truly saved.

And have true life. I love that word “saved” in verse 9, but I’m maybe even more excited about that word “pasture.” That means, grass, right? It means that sheep will have what the sheep needs for life.

Pasture is food. It’s provision. It’s sustenance. It’s satisfaction. It’s life. It’s the good life. Right? Look at verse 10. Jesus contrasts once again.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

That’s a good verse to memorize. There are so many good verses in John to memorize!

Jesus says that the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. Who is the thief?

It doesn’t say. I always think of it as Satan because that sounds like his mission. I think that’s right. But in the context, the thieves are these false shepherds, the ones who came before Jesus who made such a mess of it for God’s people. They were actually on Satan’s mission. So the “thief” is anyone who would try to attack and destroy God’s people. Steal. Kill. Destroy.

But Jesus’ mission was the exact opposite.

“I have come that [my sheep] may have life, and have it to the full.”

In abundance.

#3. BELIEVE IN JESUS ALONE AND BE TRULY ALIVE.

These sheep have it good. They have all of the pasture that they can ask for. They have every blessing. They have grace upon grace. They have life. True life.

And we have learned that that life comes from believing in Jesus.

John 20:31, These things “...are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Jesus is the bread of life.

Jesus gives us the light of life.

Jesus is the gate that leads to life.

Abundant life. The best life. Eternal life. Eternal joy. Eternal blessedness. All because of Jesus.

We could not find this life on our own. We are sheep. Helpless and dumb. But Jesus has come to give us this life so that we can begin to enjoy it now and then enjoy it forever, to the full.

Isn’t that wonderful? Aren’t you so thankful for the abundant life that Jesus has given you? We only have it in part now. We still live surrounded by death and carry around a little death inside of us.

But death does not have the final word for us.

Because of Jesus, life is the final word for us!

Everything we said earlier when we quoted Psalm 23 has come true for us in ways that maybe King David couldn’t have even imagined!

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. [That’s pasture! That’s abundant life!] Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Ps. 23:5-6 NIVO).

The Prayer Meeting looked at Psalm 23 on Wednesday, and we talked about those words “follow me” in Psalm 23.

They mean “pursuit.” Like when you’re driving too fast and you start to see those red and blue lights flashing behind you. But it’s not the cops pursuing you. It’s “goodness” and covenant “love” chasing after you all of the days of your life and then forevermore!

Jesus “the Gate” has come that you may have life and have it to the full! Believe in Jesus alone and be truly alive.

Because this is what it took for us to have this abundant life:

Jesus had to lay down His.

Verse 11. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd...” (vv.11-14a).

Again, Jesus contrasts Himself with the Pharisees and the other Jewish Religious Leaders.

Here he doesn’t call them thieves and robbers, but He says that they are like “hired hands” who are just self-interested. They aren’t really invested in the sheep. When the wolf comes (who also wants to steal, kill, and destroy), they hit the road. They don’t care about sheep.

But Jesus does.

Oh my, does Jesus care about His sheep!

Now He comes out and says it loud and clear and two times, “I am the good shepherd.”

That’s the fourth of the great “I Am” declarations in the Gospel of John. This chapter has two of them! “I am the gate,” and “I am the good shepherd.”

Which is so good, we’re going to come back and finish this section on Resurrection Sunday.

He’s “good” not just in contrast to “bad” but good in the sense of “perfect” or “best.” He’s everything that a Shepherd should be and could be. He is the fulfillment of Psalm 23 and Isaiah 40 and Jeremiah 23 and Ezekiel 34. He is great David’s greatest son. And He is God’s Son.

He is the Good Shepherd. The Shepherd like no other. The Shepherd par excellence!

We are sheep. We helpless. We are needy. We are dumb. We needed a Shepherd, and praise God, He sent us the best one!

And we know that because He said so and because He acted on it, too.

“The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

What?! What kind of a shepherd does that?!

That’s not like any kind of normal shepherd. A normal shepherd might take some risks. They work really hard for their flock.

But if it’s a choice between a sheep and a shepherd? Goodbye, "Sheepie."

But not with us. Not this kind of sheep. Not you and me.

Not only does this Shepherd know us, including all of our failings and sin.

But this Shepherd loved us enough to lay down His life for us.

“[H]e was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him [our Good Shepherd, the Gate] the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:5-6 NIVO).

Be Jesus’ Sheep.

***

“Now I See” [Matt's Messages]

3/10/2024 04:38:00 PM Life in Jesus' Name, Matt's Messages, The Gospel of John 1 comment

“Now I See”

Life in Jesus’ Name - The Gospel of John

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

March 10, 2024 :: John 9:1-41

This is a delightful story. It’s just so beautiful and powerful. It's an incredibly familiar story and beloved, for good reason.

There’s an amazing miracle, a sign. And there’s humorous interaction, lots of it. It makes you laugh. And there is deep truth about Who Jesus truly is. It’s a delightful story, vividly told. And it’s true!

Let’s get into it together. John chapter 9, verse 1. Jesus has escaped the clutches of the Pharisees. After calling them children of the devil and claiming Himself to be pre-existent and self-existent, Jesus has slipped away from the temple grounds. Verse 1.

“As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’”

If you don’t already know the story, you can already guess where it’s headed. Jesus encounters a man with congenital blindness. This guy could not see anything and never could see anything.

We don’t know his name. We are never told his name! But we are told that he has never seen anything. Life has always been dark for him. He’s never seen his mom or his dad. He’s never seen a tree or a building or the sea or the sun. He was born that way. He has eyes, but they don't work. They have never worked. He has never seen anything. Which is not the way it’s supposed to be. It’s not the way things were when God made the world.

So this man’s condition raises a theological question for Jesus’ disciples. They ask Jesus in v.2, “Rabbi [our teacher], who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

How would you answer that one? How would you answer their theological question? Is it a good one?

I think it’s right to make some kind of connection between disease and sin, between disability and sin. There has to be some connection. Because blindness was not intended from the beginning.

But is the connection one-to-one? Does it have to be this man’s sin or his parent’s sin that caused this congenital blindness? No. The disciples are thinking like the friends of Job. I just read Job this week, and Job’s friends are convinced that Job is suffering because of specific sins in his life, and it’s just not true. Yes, suffering and disease and disability have entered the world because of our sin, but not every instance of suffering or disease or disability is the direct result of our particular sin or anyone’s particular sin!

Jesus’ answer to their theological question is (v.3), “Neither!”

“‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

There’s more to it but not less! His parents didn’t sin so that he was blind. And he certainly didn’t sin in the womb so that God punished him with blindness–that’s not how it works.

If you are suffering from some disease or disability, don't let anyone put a guilt trip on you by telling you that your illness or handicap is because of some unconfessed sin in your life. That is not always true. This man had a whole other reason for being blind. Specifically, that God's glory, God's activity would be displayed in his life. God has a higher purpose for this suffering, for this disability. God’s going to do something with it.

Instead of laying on shame, Jesus builds anticipation of glory. Jesus is going to do something big in this man’s life. Verse 4.

“As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’”

Does that sound familiar? That’s our memory verse isn’t it?

Let’s say it together again: “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (Jn. 8:12 NIVO)

Jesus says in verse 4, “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me.” I think He means that as long as He is present on Earth, He and His disciples have a divine mission to accomplish. That word “sent” is very important to Jesus in the Gospel of John. How many times has He said it already? The Father sent the Son! “Night is coming, when no one can work.” I think that probably means the crucifixion and the time of burial, when His terrible work had been accomplished.

“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Jesus is convinced that He is the light of the world. Jesus claims that He is the light of the world. And now Jesus intends to prove it. Look at verse 6.

“Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. ‘Go,’ he told him, ‘wash in the Pool of Siloam’ (this word means Sent).”

There’s that word “sent” again! This time Jesus is doing the sending of a man to the pool named Sent.

First, he spit on the ground and made some mud with His saliva. That’s the Creator of the World in the flesh making a mud-cake out of the Earth He created and smearing it on the never-seeing eyes of this man. Why? I’m not sure. Maybe there’s some kind of point about creation there. I don’t know. But it has the effect of separating the man from Jesus. Jesus actually drops out of the story here until the very end of the chapter.

We follow the blind man walking through Jerusalem with mud on his face heading towards this Pool of Siloam. That the same pool that they would fill the Golden Flagon with water at the Feast of Tabernacles that we talked about in chapter 7. This man stumbles over there and washes his face. Verse 7.

“So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.”

Can you imagine?!

Remember, he has never seen anything before in his life! And now he can.

Suddenly, he knows what people really look like. What water looks like. Can you imagine? As he's brushing the water from the pool of Siloam from his eyes, he catches his own reflection in the pool. He feels his face and watches his fingers touch what he sees. He can see for the first time! He lifts his head and can see Jerusalem–people bustling by on their business. He can see! Everything has changed for his man. Everything.

Do you think that Jesus is the Light of the World?

So, what was this guy’s job, up till now? Up till now, he was a beggar. In that culture and that state of technology in that day, that’s about all he could do. But now he doesn’t have to beg. And his old friends and neighbors don’t hardly recognize him. Look at verse 8.

“His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, ‘Isn't this the same man who used to sit and beg?’ Some claimed that he was. Others said, ‘No, he only looks like him.’ But he himself insisted, ‘I am the man.’”

He looks like the guy. But that guy was blind.

And the guy is like, “No, I’m that guy.” And they’re like, “What?” Verse 10.

“‘How then were your eyes opened?’ they demanded. He replied, ‘The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.’”

This guy is going to have to tell this story over and over again for the rest of his life. But he’ll gladly do it. Because now he can see!

Verse 12. “‘Where is this man?’ they asked him. ‘I don't know,’ he said. They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind.”

Wait. What? All of a sudden it seems like something bad has happened. This man is taken to the Pharisees for what feels like an interrogation. The greatest thing has happened to him, and now it feels like he’s in trouble. What’s going on? Verse 14.

“Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man's eyes was a Sabbath.”

Oh. Aha. We've seen this movie before, haven't we [chapter 5]? These guys are going to get upset that Jesus “worked” on a Sabbath by making up a mud-cake. And they're missing that Jesus gave this man sight!

And this guy is saying to himself, “Oh, so that's what a Pharisee looks like.” He’s just so happy to see anything. But they are not happy. Verse 15.

“Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. ‘He put mud on my eyes,’ the man replied, ‘and I washed, and now I see.’”

That’s our sermon title, by the way: “Now I See.”

And I’ve got two big points of application to go with that title. Here’s number one:

#1. TELL PEOPLE WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR YOU.

Tell your story. Give your testimony. If Jesus has done something big in your life, tell others about it.

For this guy, he had been given new sight. Brand new sight! He had never had sight before, and Jesus gave it to him. And then people asked what happened, he just told them.

Now, when you do that, it doesn’t mean that people will believe it. They may not even like it. These guys didn’t believe it or like it. Look at verse 16.

“Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man [meaning Jesus] is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.’ But others asked, ‘How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?’ So they were divided. [Not everybody responds the same way to the same story.] Finally they turned again to the blind man, ‘What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.’ The man replied, ‘He is a prophet.’”

And he was right.

We know that he was more than a prophet, but He was a prophet, and in fact, He was The Prophet Moses promised in Deuteronomy 18. Remember that from December? Jesus is a Man from God.

All this guy is doing is sharing what Jesus did for him and what he then thinks of Jesus because of it.

That’s simple, isn’t it? Can you do that? Can you tell somebody what Jesus has done for you? I know that you weren’t born blind and then Jesus smeared mud on your eyes and sent you across town to wash and now you can see. But has Jesus done something in your life? Can you tell somebody?

The Pharisees are not happy that this man can now see. In fact, they don’t believe that he was ever actually blind in the first place. They don’t want to believe. So they interrogate his parents.

The ones that the disciples thought must have sinned so that he was blind in the first place. Their son can see, but now it feels like they’re in trouble. They are subpoenaed into presence of the Pharisees. Verse 18.

“The Jews still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man's parents. ‘Is this your son?’ they asked. ‘Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?’

‘We know he is our son,’ the parents answered, ‘and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don't know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.’”

They don’t sound happy, do they? No, they sound scared. Here’s why. Verse 22.

“His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for already the Jews had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, ‘He is of age; ask him.’”

They are scared. They don’t want to be cut off from their religious community. They don’t want to get into trouble because of Jesus. So they don’t tell people what Jesus has done for them. Jesus has healed their son’s eyes, and they won’t say it.

They probably aren’t lying, per se, because they weren’t there so they don’t “know” firsthand, but they’ve probably already heard the story from their boy. And they aren’t willing to repeat it.

Beloved, let’s not be like them. Let’s not be afraid to tell people what Jesus has done for us.

So often I have chickened out. Of all the characters in this story, these two parents are the people I identify with the most, at least at first. I’m often afraid to get into trouble for Jesus.

Now, I don’t mean get into trouble and blame Jesus for things He never asked us to do. And I also don’t mean that we should go around look to make trouble for Jesus. We’re actually supposed to live quiet lives. But I do mean we should be ready to get into trouble just because we’re talking about what Jesus did for us. And if we never do get into trouble, then we should ask ourselves if we are, in fact, being faithful to Jesus.

So, that’s the last we hear from his parents. They are done with them. But they aren’t done with the man who can now see. Look at verse 24.

“A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. ‘Give glory to God,’ they said. ‘We know this man is a sinner.’ He replied, ‘Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!’”

One of the most famous lines in all of church history. And it even made it into the hymn “Amazing Grace.”

"Was blind but now I see."

Why? Because Jesus is the Light of the World!

This guy doesn’t even know what Jesus looks like! He doesn’t know if Jesus is a sinner. He just knows one thing. And he tells them what he knows, “I was blind but now I see.” It’s the facts.

This is the best kind of evangelism. Just giving your personal testimony. It’s so powerful because it’s personal. And it’s just saying what Jesus has done for you. It’s hard to argue with.

Though, some will try. Verse 26

“Then they asked him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’ [This is getting a little ridiculous.] He answered, ‘I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?’”

I love that! I think he’s getting the picture that they really hate that he can now see and that Jesus is responsible. There’s no way to wiggle out of the obvious conclusion, Jesus is the Christ. This guy is ready to join up and follow Jesus. And find life in Jesus’ name (20:31).

And it’s the last thing that they want to do. But all they can think of to do is throw personal abuse. Verse 28.

“Then they hurled insults at him and said, ‘You are this fellow's disciple! We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from.’ The man answered, ‘Now that is remarkable! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. [Like me!] If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.’”

“So I think, I think, He must be from God. Because now I see.”

He is downright snarky, isn’t he? We don’t have to get snarky. But we do need to become bold. Who could you tell this week what Jesus has done for you? Who needs to hear it?

There are people in your life that need to hear your story. Don’t keep it from them out of fear of what they will do with it. Just be faithful to share it. Maybe it’s somebody that you’ve invited to the Wild Game Dinner?

Jesus is the Light of the World, who brought the “light of life” into your life.

Tell somebody. Tell manybodies. Tell everybody.

“I was blind but now I see.”

And don’t worry about how they will react. They might get saved! Or they might toss you out on your ear. Verse 34.

“To this they replied, ‘You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!’ And they threw him out.”

But Jesus never will (John 6:37). In fact, when rejected by the world, Jesus will always find us.

“Jesus said that if I am lost

He will come to me

And He showed me on the cross

He will come to me

For the Lord is good and faithful

He will keep us day and night

We can always run to Jesus

Jesus, strong and kind.” - CityAlight

Look at verse 35. “Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ ‘Who is he, sir?’ the man asked. ‘Tell me so that I may believe in him.’

Jesus said, ‘You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.’ Then the man said, ‘Lord, I believe,’ and he worshiped him.”

That’s point number two and last:

#2. BELIEVE IN AND WORSHIP JESUS AS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

I love that Jesus found this man! He has gained everything and lost everything. He gained his sight and lost his synagogue.

Just by being bold. But He didn’t lose Jesus. Jesus came for him. And says, “Do you believe in the Son of Man.” That’s another way of saying, “The Messiah.” “The Christ.” “The King of the Kingdom of God.”

Do you believe in Him? That’s a great question, that He is asking us, too. And the guy is trying to put this all together. “Who is he, sir? Tell me that I may believe in him.” “I want to!”

Jesus says, “You have now seen him.” Isn’t that something? He had never seen anything, and now He is looking at the Son of Man! He is looking at the Light of the World!

He’s heard this voice before. This is the guy with the mud. This is Jesus. “Lord, I believe” and he worshiped him. He worshiped this man.

By the way, you should not worship a man unless He is the God-Man. Unless He is “The I Am,” like we saw last week.

But it was good and right to worship Jesus, and that’s what we are doing this morning.

And that’s what the Pharisees refused to do. They refused to believe, and they refused to worship Jesus, and it will mean their condemnation. Look at verse 39.

“Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.’”

Wait. I thought He didn’t come for judgment. John 3:17, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Right! But what if they do not believe? What if they will not believe? Then they will perish. They will enter into the judgment. They will be condemned.

Jesus does divide people. He came into the world “so that the [physically and spiritually] blind will see and those who [physically see but refuse to spiritually] see will become blind.”

And, oh boy, the Pharisees didn’t like to hear that. V.40

“Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, ‘What? Are we blind too?’ [We’re the Pharisees, man!] Jesus said, ‘If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.’”

In other words, “Yes.” The Pharisees, devoted and religious as they came, were the ones, in this story, who were truly blind. Because they refused to admit it.

Here’s the principle:

You have to truly see your blindness before you can truly see the Light.

You have to admit that you are a sinner to have a Savior. These Pharisees would not admit that they were lost. So they couldn’t be found. They would not admit that they were blind. So, they couldn’t say, “Now I See.” Friends, let’s not be like them.

Let’s repent of our stubborn spiritual blindness and believe and worship Jesus as the Light of the World.

***

“Your Father” [Matt's Messages]

3/03/2024 12:52:00 PM Life in Jesus' Name, Matt's Messages, The Gospel of John 0 comments

“Your Father”

Life in Jesus’ Name - The Gospel of John

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

March 3, 2024 :: John 8:31-59

Last week, we lit the Christ Candle from Christmas Eve and studied together our Lord’s astonishing claim in chapter 8, verse 12. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12 NIVO).

And we believe that, amen? And so did many of the people who heard Him say it that day (v.30).

But not all of them. And some of those who believed it at first stopped believing it at last. Because of Who was their true father.

Hold onto Jesus and His truth, and you will be set free.

The goal of this sermon today is freedom, spiritual freedom. You could hear the grand promises that Jesus made about spiritual freedom when Keagan read those first few verses to us.

“Set free...free indeed.”

Those are beautiful, powerful words! And John says that they were spoken to some Jews who had “believed” in Jesus, at least provisionally, initially. Jesus gave them this promise. Look at verses 31 and 32.

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

Doesn’t that just sound wonderful?! “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

The problem is that many of the Jews who were listening to Him that day did not believe that they needed to be set free. We said last week that this entire chapter, chapter 8, of the Gospel of John is one big fight with the Pharisees. Jesus claimed to be the Light of the World, and they vigorously disputed that claim. They fought against Him. And they go back and forth and back and forth in a verbal battle of words. By the end of the chapter, both Jesus and the Pharisees will have said some really strong things! Some knock-down-drag-out fighting words to and about each other.

Here, Jesus offers to set them free if they will hold to His teaching. We’ll talk more about what that means in a little bit, but they dispute that they need to be set free in the first place. Because of who their father is. Look at verse 33. “They answered him, ‘We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?’”

I’ve entitled this message, “Your Father,” because that’s a phrase that Jesus keeps using in this fight with the Pharisees. There’s this tug of war through the whole rest of the chapter about the true parentage, the true spiritual paternity of these people who are fighting with Jesus. And they, right back at Him, make claims about Jesus’ parentage.

The question keeps coming up, “Who Is Truly Your Father?” Where do you really come from? What is your true DNA?

Well, the Jews were descendants of Abraham, right? They had “Father Abraham’s” DNA. They were Abraham’s “seed,” Abraham’s offspring.

And they were proud of it! In verse 33, they say that because of Abraham, they had never been anyone’s slave. Which they could not have meant politically. Because since Abraham, they had been slaves of Egypt, and the Philistines, and the Assyrians, and the Babylonians [remember Jeremiah!] and the Medes and the Persians, and the Greeks, and now the Romans.

But they thought that because Abraham was their father, they were spiritually free! “We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

We call that being “self-deceived.” We all hate to be told that we are enslaved to something, but Jesus could see it clearly. They were enslaved to sin. V.34

“Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (vv.34-36). Now, that’s a wonderful promise. But they weren’t sure that they needed it.

Jesus says that “everyone who sins is a slave to sin” that means that everyone who gets caught up in sin gets entangled in it. And that’s true for everyone, not just Gentiles. It was true for the Jews, too.

Sinning looks like freedom at first, but it actually is slavery. The sins that tempt you and me? They look like freedom at first.

That first grumble.

That first lustful look.

That first small sneaky theft.

That first juicy piece of gossip.

That first little lie.

It all seems like freedom. But it’s never just the first one. “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” And, therefore, we need to be set free.

Here’s the kind of freedom that verse 32 is talking about. It’s not political freedom, as much as that is a good thing when we can enjoy it.

It’s spiritual freedom.

It’s freedom from sin.

It’s freedom from Satan.

It’s freedom from self.

It’s freedom from shame.

And Jesus offers to give it to us.

Because He is the Son. He’s never been enslaved and so He can give this freedom freely.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

And that’s the whole point of this message, and the whole point of this book. That’s why Jesus came. He is the Son! He came to save. He came to set the captives free. Amen?

That’s what Jesus was doing on the Cross and what we will be celebrating at His Table today.

But these people did not believe that they needed saving or that Jesus could save them. In fact, they wanted to kill Him, not follow Him! Look at verse 37.

“I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

There’s our sermon title: “Your father.”

“You say that you come from Abraham, but you don’t act like it. I think you have a different daddy than Father Abraham.”

“Nu uh!” they say. Verse 39. “‘Abraham is our father,’ they answered. ‘If you were Abraham's children,’ said Jesus, ‘then you would do the things Abraham did. As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the things your own father does.’”

I’ve tried to summarize this whole section in three parts, each with its own major application. Each point is what Jesus was saying to these people about their father. Here’s the first one:

#1. YOUR (PHYSICAL) FATHER BELIEVED AND OBEYED.

Yes, Abraham was their physical father, but was He their spiritual father? Well, how did Abraham act? How did Abraham behave? Anybody remember what we said the major lesson of Abraham’s life was back when studied the book of Genesis in 2003?

Abraham had faith.

Abraham listened to God.

Abraham believed God.

Abraham obeyed God.

Hear, believe, obey.

Now, let’s look at the Pharisees.

Are they like Abraham? No, they are not.

You know, we have this saying, “Like Father, like child,” right? Children naturally reproduce their parent’s qualities. But these people weren’t reproducing Abraham’s qualities. “If you were Abraham's children, then you would do the things Abraham did.”

Abraham heard, believed, obeyed. “You have set out to kill me, ‘a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.’" “I don’t think that Abraham is your true daddy.”

So what should we do in light of this point?

Stay tuned into the truth of Jesus.

Hold onto Jesus and His truth, and you will be set free. Be like Abraham and hear, believe, and obey. And continue to hear, believe, and obey. That’s the point that Jesus was making in our very first verse, verse 31.

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

It’s not just if you say you believe up front, but if you “hold” to it. If you stick with it. The word here is “remain” or the old English word is “abide.” To live in it. If you live in Jesus’ teaching, then you really are His disciples. That’s how Abraham lived! He heard, believed, obeyed. He “held” to the truth.

At Stay Sharp this week, the theme was “Always Making Disciples,” and we learned what a disciple is. It’s more than just someone who says that they believe in Jesus. It’s someone who actually believes in Jesus! It’s a follower of Jesus. A learner of Jesus.

Our teacher, Greg Strand, used the word “apprentice.” That’s someone who conforms themselves to someone else. They tune their attention onto their master and conform their lives to their instruction. “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

This summer our Challenge Crew is set to travel to Kansas City to grow as disciples there. All of the teaching will be centered on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

And as they learn that truth and conform themselves to it, they will be set free. I’m so excited for them!

But these people that Jesus was fighting with were not acting like their physical father, Father Abraham. Jesus says they were acting like they had some other father.

V.41 again, “You are doing the things your own father does.”

Now, those are fighting words!

If it wasn’t Jesus, I’d say that this is almost like a daytime talk show where you have these people up on stage arguing about paternity tests. Did you ever watch one of those? Don’t. It’s not worth your time. But it’s like people saying, “I think that he’s your child.” Or “she’s not my child.” And they’re arguing on camera about where these kids are coming from.

Jesus is arguing about where these children are coming from, but He’s not in the dark, and He’s not saying it for sick and sordid entertainment. He’s saying it to get the truth out.

But they don’t want to hear the truth. Verse 41.

“‘We are not illegitimate children,’ they protested. ‘The only Father we have is God himself.’”

That’s upping the ante, isn’t it? They’re going above Abraham now. “The only Father we have is God himself.” Ok! Verse 42. “Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me.”

You guys aren’t God’s children! God’s children love God’s Son. Because God sent His Son for them. God’s Children love God’s Son. In fact, that’s how they become God’s children!

Chapter 1, verse 12 said, “to all who received him [they welcomed Him, they took Him in, they loved Him], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

God’s children love God’s Son, and these folks wanted to kill Him.

God is not their father. Someone else must be. Look at verse 43.

“Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!” (vv.43-45).

Here’s point number two, directed at these people Jesus was fighting with:

#2. YOUR (SPIRITUAL) FATHER KILLED AND LIED.

Your spiritual father lied and killed. Your spiritual father is the devil! Those are strong words, aren’t they? Jesus knows their true parentage. They are children of the devil even though they are incredibly religious.

Remember that! Jesus is not impressed by religiosity. It’s often just a front for depravity. We don’t just listen to someone’s pious sounding words. We look at their actions. Because behavior betrays identity. How we act shows what we truly believe. And how we act reveals who we truly are and whose we really are. According to Jesus, these folks were the devil’s own children.

“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him” (v.44a).

Notice, “not holding to the truth.” That’s the opposite of “hold to Jesus’ teaching.” They were the opposite of Jesus’ true disciples. In fact, they wanted to kill Jesus. They wanted to carry out the devil’s desire to kill Jesus.

He’s always been a murderer. From when he tempted Adam and Eve to introduce death to the human race. And when he tempted Cain to murder his brother Abel. From the very beginning, he’s been killing.

And he’s been lying. Jesus says it five different ways! The devil is...“not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Tell us what you think, Jesus!

Does the devil speak the truth? No, he does not.

So if we believe him, then it’s the opposite of verse 32, right? “Then you will know only lies, and the lies will leave you enslaved.”

Here’s the major application point for this one. It’s obvious but hard to do:

Tune out the devil’s lies.

He is completely untrustworthy. You can’t believe anything he says. He often mixes in enough truth into his propaganda to make it sound plausible, and attractive. But it’s all deception. All smoke and mirrors and bait and switch. Tune out the devil’s lies.

How do you know which ones are which? Well, that’s why we have this book. We’re supposed to compare and contrast everything we see and hear and are offered against what Jesus has taught us. And then we hold fast to Jesus’ teaching and we jettison anything that doesn’t accord with it.

This week at Stay Sharp, Greg Strand took us through a bunch of things in contemporary life where the devil is trying to sell us a bill of goods.

And he taught us some about how to navigate between them, steering towards God’s truth in light of God’s Word.

I remember a few years ago, I was driving down the road, and I turned on my radio, and it was stuck between like two different radio stations. And one of them was a Christian station with a song about Jesus being the way, the truth, and the life, and the other was a song from another station about how meaningless life is.

And I just left it right there on a the dial for a little bit and thought about the contrast.

That’s a picture of life for us right now, isn’t it? I’m not talking about radio station you listen to. I’m talking about what Father you listen to. Because the Father of Jesus is telling you the truth (and Jesus is that truth), and the Father of Lies is doing what he always does. Which one are you tuning in?

Last month about this time I drove out to visit Isaac, and I used my GPS on my phone and I have a little thing that I plug in and can play my podcasts and GPS over the radio. But when I got into Indianapolis, the radio stations there started to bleed in, and drown out the GPS directions to get to Isaac’s house.

“If you hold to my teaching, you are my really my disciples.” Stay tuned into the truth of Jesus and tune out the devil’s lies. And you will show who is truly your father. Verse 46.

“Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.’”

“You aren’t tuning in because you don’t want to tune in. You aren’t tuning in because you are not God’s children.”

Jesus was sinless. Jesus was guiltless. He did not deserve to die. They only reason why they wanted Him to die was because they were children of The Killer. And they have their fingers in their ears. That’s why they come back more name calling. Instead of repenting, they double-down. Verse 48.

“The Jews answered him, ‘Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?’ ‘I am not possessed by a demon,’ said Jesus, ‘but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death’” (vv.48-51). What a wonderful promise!

Now, of course, He doesn’t mean physical death. He means spiritual death. He means John 3:16, “will not perish but have eternal life.” He means John 5:24, “crossed over from death to life.” He means John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” He means John 8:12, “Will have the light of life.”

All you have to do is believe and keep believing.

Keep His word in your heart. “Hold to His teaching.” “Know the truth, and the truth will set you free” from spiritual death!

Have you put your faith and trust in Jesus’ word? If you have not yet, I invite you to do so now.

“I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

Of course, the Pharisees misunderstand that, like they have been misunderstanding everything in this war of words. V.52

“At this the Jews exclaimed, ‘Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?’” (vv.52-53).

They assume that Jesus would agree that He is not greater than Abraham who died. But the truth is that He is greater than Father Abraham. V.54

“Jesus replied, ‘If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.’” (vv.54-56).

Point number three and last. What Jesus was saying to these people:

#3. YOUR (PHYSICAL) FATHER REJOICED FOR JESUS’ DAY.

Jesus claims that His Father (God the Father) is glorifying Jesus. That’s a huge claim! But it’s true. And if He said anything else, He’d be lying like the Pharisees (or like the devil). But Jesus also says that their father, Father Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus’ day. He says that Abraham saw it and was glad. What does that mean?

Remember God gave Father Abraham some great big promises: Offspring, Land, and Blessing? Lots of blessing. Blessing the whole wide world!

And Father Abraham looked down the road toward the fulfillment of all of those promises, and he rejoiced in faith that those promises were all going to come true.

And we know how those promises are all going to come true–in Jesus!

And that would be big enough, right? Father Abraham looked ahead to see the fulfillment of these promise and we know that that fulfillment is named “Jesus.”

But the Pharisees scoff and Jesus goes even bigger. Verse 57.

“‘You are not yet fifty years old,’ the Jews said to him, ‘and you have seen Abraham!’ ‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’”

Whoa. What just happened? Jesus cranked the dial past 11 million. He uses that those words we’ve already seen a bunch of times “ego eimi” (I am) with something after it like I am the bread of life or I am the light of the world. Or what could be taken to mean, “I am he.” or “I am the one I claimed to be.”

And here He unmistakably just takes it by itself to decribe Himself.

“I am.”

“Before Abraham was born, I am!”

That sounds weird to us, but it sound blasphemous to them. This is the first thing they did not misunderstand in this war of words. Look what they did in verse 59. “At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.”

It still was not yet His time, His hour. But they understood what Jesus was saying. He was using the words from the burning bush (Exodus 3:14).

“I am that I am.”

Jesus was claiming to be pre-existent. “Before Abraham was.” And Jesus was claiming to be self-existent. “I am.” Jesus was claiming to be God.

Application:

Worship Jesus as the I Am.

They tried to kill Him; we should bow before Him. Jesus is God! He is pre-existent. He is self-existent.

He is was. He is is. He is will be.

He is worthy of all of our worship for all eternity.

He is God the Son, and He sets His people free.