If You Had Been Here

“If You Had Been Here . . .”

March 25, 2012 Chester FBC Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker

Introduction:

A Jesus had for the first time confirmed publically He was Messiah about four months before He was crucified on a cross.

1 John 10.22-24

a Festival of Dedication (Chanukah) is celebrated in Kislev (our December).

aa Season was winter. (Cold, much like Illinois in early December)

bb After this message, Jesus doesn’t really give any open calls for Israel to be saved (He spends the next four months with His disciples)

*There will come a time when you can do more, serve no more, witness no more . . .winter comes. If you’re going to do anything for the Kingdom of God, do it now.

*There comes a time for those of you who have never accepted Jesus as Savior, a winter comes for that too. (Jer. 8.20)

bb Portico of Solomon (Eastside of the Temple, tradition says that it was the only part of Solomon’s Temple not destroyed by Nebecanezzar or sacked by the Romans; at minimum it was constructed using material from Solomon’s Temple.)

b The porch/portico was as far as a Gentile (non-Jew) could go on the Temple Mount without violating Jewish law.

aa Historian Josephus writes that there signs everywhere warning gentiles, strangers, foreigners not to go beyond that point. (The letters were painted blood red against a white limestone)

bb In the late 1800's one of these signs was unearthed with the inscription:

No foreigner is to go beyond the Balustrade and the plaza of the Temple Zone. Whoever is caught doing so will have himself to blame for his death which will follow.

c It was under this porch, surrounded by Jews and undoubtably gentiles as well, these signs everywhere, that Jesus had just said, I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. John 10:14-16 (NASB)

aa Jesus came preaching to the Jew first, His people/people of promise/the blessing of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, The Apple of His Eye.

bb I believe when we bless Israel, we bless God’s heart (On Easter Sunday I’m going to give you an opportunity to bless orphans in Beit’Shein, Israel, also do this during Pentecost & Tabernacles)

cc His message wasn’t just to the Jew, it was to us Gentiles as well.

2 The Good Shepherd is bringing His Jewish sheep & His Gentile sheep to make one fold.

a Paul describes this in Ephesians 2.

aa 11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called " Uncircumcision" by the so-called " Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, -Eph 2:11-16 (NASB)

bb for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. -Eph 2:18-22 (NASB)

b The blessing that God gave Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob has been made accessible to us through the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua Mashiah, Jesus Christ.

c Jesus brought two herds together to make one flock; two men together to make one new man . . . what is most important isn’t the flock, or the new man . . . but the Lamb of God! It’s all about Jesus!

3 Jesus publically affirms His role as Messiah on the front porch of the Temple!