JESUS IDENTIFIES HIMSELF: THE CHRIST (Outline)
May 23, 2009 --
EASTER 4 --
John 10:22-30
INTRO: Who is Jesus? This is an age-old question. There are many wide-ranging human opinions that try to answer this question. Therein lies the problem. Mankind, by his own wisdom, cannot and will not come to a correct answer. To know Jesus, the Christ, is an act of God’s grace and gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus once asked disciples what they thought of him. "Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven’"(MATTHEW 16:16,17). The Lord God Almighty opened Peter’s ears to hear, his eyes to see, and his heart to believe that Jesus was the Christ. May the Lord God Almighty continue to work powerfully in our lives today. Our theme:
JESUS IDENTIFIES HIMSELF: THE CHRIST.
I. Jesus’ sheep hear his voice.
II. Jesus keeps his sheep safe.
I. JESUS’ SHEEP HEAR HIS VOICE
A. Verses 22,23. Jesus is in Jerusalem at the rebuilt temple of Solomon, outside on the east side.
1. It was outside the temple that many religious discussions took place.
2. Verse 24. The Jews want to know if Jesus is the Christ. They are wondering, searching.
a. Who are the Jews? b. God’s chosen. c. The believers of the day. d. God’s children.
B. Verse 25. Jesus already told these Jews who he was. They did not listen and did not believe.
1. Jesus even performed great miracles. Still they did not see and did not believe.
2. Now comes Jesus’ condemnation, verse 26. These Jews are no longer God’s sheep.
C. Jesus further explains, verse 27. God’s sheep listen. There are other sheep that will listen.
D. How very, very far God’s once chosen people had fallen. It seems strange that such a thing could or even would happen. This example stands as a serious warning for us. We enter this world as the very enemies of God. We are not neutral waiting to become good or bad. We are conceived in sin, spend our life in the womb in sin, and are born as babies of sin. Simply put: we start out bad – born with and into sin. Left on our own we veer off God’s path and drive directly into the ditch of evil. To be far from God is not that hard to understand. "Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people"(EZEKIEL 12:2).
E. At times we close our own ears. We harden our own hearts because of the severe truth of God’s word. Let’s face it, we do not like to hear that we are sinners. We do not want to hear that we sin daily and we sin much. We commit evil against God and our fellow man. We also fail to do that which is good. Our evil thoughts condemn us. Our wicked words condemn us. Sinful actions condemn us. Who wants to hear such things, much less admit to them? This is God’s law that shows us our sin. It is the very truth of God’s word that we cannot escape, though we might try. "To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it" (JEREMIAH 6:10). God’s sheep will listen to his voice.
F. There is no hope or help at all when we are left on our own. But we are not left to our own destruction. Why do you and I listen to the voice of Jesus, our Good Shepherd? God in his mercy opens our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to believe. By grace God drags us out of the ditch of evil and keeps on that road which is straight and narrow. We are God’s sheep who listen to the voice of Jesus. Now this does not happen because of our desire and effort – but purely and simply by the grace, love, and mercy our loving Lord. "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me"(REVELATION 3:19,20). The Lord does rebuke and discipline, unpleasant words. The Lord also wants to live with us and in us. These are the pleasant words of God’s gospel.
JESUS IDENTIFIES HIMSELF: THE CHRIST.
Jesus’ sheep listen to his voice.
II. JESUS KEEPS HIS SHEEP SAFE
A. Jesus makes it clear that these Jews had cut themselves off from God’s grace.
1. Here were the believers in the presence of the Christ, Jesus, but they did not know him.
2. Verses 26, 27. They were no long God’s sheep. God’s sheep know Jesus’ voice and follow.
B. These Jews forgot the great blessing of being one of God’s flock. Verse 28 safe in Jesus’ hand!
1. Jesus provided for their eternal welfare. The Jews were concerned about earthly deliverance.
2. The Jews were not impressed that Jesus would keep them safe. He was only Jesus of Nazareth.
C. Jesus now reveals that he is truly the Christ. Verse 29, the Father’s hand was the hand of Jesus.
1. None could snatch them from the Father’s hand and therefore none from Jesus’ hand.
2. Verse 30. No mistake – Jesus and the Father were one. This ought to be great joy for them.
3. But in the next verses the Jews try to stone Jesus. Jesus was right, they were not his sheep.
D. Man’s opinion does not change Jesus’ identity. Man’s opinion cannot change Jesus’ identity. Man may reject or deny the fact of Jesus’ divinity. But that rejection or denial does not remove any part of Jesus’ divine nature from his being. It is absolutely, positively essential to know, believe, and confess that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, completely and perfectly fulfilled God’s plan of salvation. Mankind is saved because God became man in the form of Jesus, the Christ. "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross" (COLOSSIANS 1:19,20). Only by God’s grace do we believe this. Now we are kept safe for eternity.
E. At times we may not always think about those things that are eternal. As we live and work in this world our mind may become overly involved with only those things earthly. God opens our ears to hear the truth of his living and active word. Our sinful, earthly lives are just that: sinful and earthly. We cannot save ourselves. We only earn for ourselves death. All are righteous acts are like filthy rags. Like the wind our sins sweep us away. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"(ROMANS 6:23). God’s law shows us our sins. Our sins earn death. God’s gospel shows us our Savior. God’s gift is eternal life. Jesus’ sheep are kept safe in Jesus’ hands for eternity.
F. Many, if not all, our current news reports sound very scary, frightening, and ominous. At the top of every hour we hear, “The sky is falling!” These reports are generally always the same. Eventually people will no longer pay attention. As God’s sheep we are always looking for the Lord’s return. Then “the sky will fall” as the Lord Jesus returns on his throne of glory. All too many will not be watching. Many hearts will be hardened. We have the encouragement of the apostle Paul from prison. No matter the outcome of his life Paul realized God would always keep him safe. "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen"(2 TIMOTHY 4:18). Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. Jesus has power and uses his power for our benefit.
CONC.: Christ means anointed. Jesus was anointed as King. Jesus still rules the world and our lives as King for our eternal good. Jesus was anointed as Prophet. Jesus proclaimed the gospel. This same gospel will be proclaimed to the ends of the earth before his return. Jesus was anointed as Priest. Jesus is not only a priest who offered sacrifices but is the Priest who offers himself as the perfect Sacrifice. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, our Messiah, and our Good Shepherd. Only by God’s grace are we God’s sheep who hear Jesus’ voice. As God’s sheep we rejoice that we are always kept safe in the hand of Jesus and the Father. "Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise" (PSALM 79:13). Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
SERVICES: 1:00pm @ NCF Min.(Sat) / 12:00pm @ NCF Medium (Sun) / 9:30am @ Redeemer (Sun)
BIBLE STUDIES: TUES. -- 6:00pm (Min) + 7:30pm (Med) @ NCF / 10:55am @ Redeemer (Sun)
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM
EASTER 4 readings:
ACTS 4:23-33;
1 JOHN 3:1,2;
JOHN 10:11-18;
(PSALM 23)
