[The following is a manuscript of my sermon delivered on Sunday morning, the 4th of March, 2018. Look for the video on our Vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
This morning we will continue looking at how Jesus described Himself in a series of “I am” statements. Our hope in doing so is that we might better understand how to become more like Him, become more Christ-like.
We have seen that Jesus was willing to help any and all others, that He provided for their needs both physical and spiritual, and that He brought vision to a blind and dark world. Today, let’s look at a parable Jesus taught in which He said, “I am the door of the sheep.” Please listen and follow along as I read from the Apostle John’s Gospel account, chapter 10, verses 1 through 10, from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
We have seen that Jesus was willing to help any and all others, that He provided for their needs both physical and spiritual, and that He brought vision to a blind and dark world. Today, let’s look at a parable Jesus taught in which He said, “I am the door of the sheep.” Please listen and follow along as I read from the Apostle John’s Gospel account, chapter 10, verses 1 through 10, from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
--John 10:1-10 (NKJV)
Let us pray… Father God, we are trying to learn how to be more like Your Son Jesus. He set the example for us in how He lived and what He taught. Thank You for sending Your Son to give us access to Your word and Your kingdom. Speak to us now, Father, that we may hear and understand how to be more Christ-like and thus more righteous in Your eyes. In the blessed name of Your Son Jesus we pray. Amen.
19th century Scottish revival leader, Dr. Andrew Bonar, told of how, in the Highlands of Scotland, sheep would often wander off into the rocks and get into places that they couldn't get out of. The grass on these mountains is very sweet and the sheep like it, and they will jump down ten or twelve feet to get to it, and then they can't jump back up again, and the shepherd hears them bleating in distress. They may be there for days, until they have eaten all the grass. The shepherd will wait until they are so faint they cannot stand, and then he will put a rope around them and pull that sheep up out of the jaws of death. Dr. Bonar was asked, "Why don't they go down there when the sheep first get stranded?" "Ah," he responded, "if the shepherd did that, the sheep are so very foolish they would dash right back over the precipice to get to the sweet grass again, and be killed."
Isn’t this pretty much the way of men? We won’t completely go back to God until we have lost everything, until there’s nothing left, not even a friend. Otherwise we just jump right back into whatever hole we’ve dug ourselves. Are we really as foolish as sheep?
Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep”. What is a door? It’s what we use to go in and out, right? It is a means of access. A door can be locked or otherwise blocked off, limiting our access, can’t it? And unless we locked ourselves out, a door is usually blocked to keep unauthorized people out. Jesus says that if someone tries to come into where the sheep are kept other than through the door, then they are thieves intent on stealing or doing harm to the sheep. But the shepherd comes in by the door, and the sheep know his voice as he calls them out, and they follow.
Notice though, that in this passage, Jesus does not call Himself the shepherd, but the door by which the shepherd and sheep go in and out. In fact, He says that anyone who comes in by Him will be saved.
Now when we think of a doorway, it’s usually a rather confining space, where only one or a couple people can pass through at a time. The door into the sheepfold would be no different, allowing only a few sheep to enter side by side. A doorway is narrow. Jesus acknowledged this, as recorded by the Apostle Matthew in his Gospel account, chapter 7, verses 13 and 14, when Jesus said…
Yes, a doorway is narrow, but the way that leads to salvation is narrow and difficult to walk, and there are few who find it. I would even say there are few who try to find it.
Jesus said, “I am the door… enter by the narrow gate”. So there can be no doubt, Jesus puts it all together for us, as saved by John in chapter 14 of his Gospel account, verse 6…
Jesus is our access to God’s kingdom, our only access. If anyone tells you otherwise, then they are like a thief or robber, trying to come in another way. And although the way to the Father may be narrow and difficult to navigate, the door is never locked. Jesus gives access to all who will hear His voice and follow His commands.
The Apostle Paul also speaks of this access, how we have it, and what it provides. In chapter 5 verses 1 and 2 of his letter to the Romans, Paul tells us…
Not only do we enjoy being at peace with God through our Lord Jesus, we also have access through Him – through the door – into the grace in which we now stand, and the hope and glory that is yet to come.
Jesus is our door, the narrow gate that leads to heaven. Paul reminds us of this again, in his letter to the church in Ephesus, but carries it further and I think provides us with a very broad hint of how we should respond. Listen to what Paul tells us in chapter 2 of his Epistle to the Ephesians, verses 17, 18, and 19…
Jesus came and preached peace to us when we were as far off as one can get – separated from God by our sin and disobedience. Through Jesus we enjoy one Spirit – the Spirit of God. Through Jesus we now have access to our Father God.
And then comes what I believe is the kicker, the part I think shows us how to be more Christ-like. Because of the access Jesus gives us to the Father, we are no longer strangers or foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and full members of the household of God! To me, that says that as full members of God’s household, we should also offer access to His household to others we encounter in our daily walk!
Now I’m not saying we can be the door, as Jesus is. Believing in us won’t do anyone any good. Jesus is the only way to the Father. But we can help others find the door. We can help the lost find their way back to the narrow gate. We can toss down the rope and pull them back from the precipice and show them the straight and narrow way that leads to the access Jesus provides! We are not the door, but we can show them the path to the door and hold it open for them.
Jesus said, “I am willing… I am the bread of life… I am the light of the world… I am the door”. Be willing to help all others, loving unconditionally, sacrificially, expecting nothing in return, just like Jesus did. Help provide for the physical needs of others so that their spiritual needs might also be met. Shine the light of God’s truth so that all might see. And take them by the hand and lead them to the door so they too might be saved. In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, Your laws seem so simple, yet since the fall of Adam, it is just not in our nature to be able to abide by them. We disobey You by our actions, our thoughts, our feelings. Forgive us, please Father, for our disobediences and sins. Forgive us when we take for granted all You provide. Thank You for Your great mercy and grace.
Please hear us now, Father, as we silently speak to You straight from our hearts, thanking You for Your many blessings, promising to turn from our sin, seeking Your mercy and forgiveness…
Lord Jesus, we were all afar off, separated from God by our sin. You came and opened a doorway for us back to God. You came and pulled us from our pit of despair and offered us hope. You give free and open access to the Father, but that way is open only through You. Help us, please Lord, to stay on that straight and narrow path. Help us be willing to serve You by seeing to the physical and spiritual needs of others and by sharing Your Gospel and the truth of God with them. And please help us show them the way to the door You hold open, so that they too might be saved.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Lord Jesus Christ, our Master and our Savior, the one true Son of God, in whom we place all our hope, all our trust, all our faith. Amen.
19th century Scottish revival leader, Dr. Andrew Bonar, told of how, in the Highlands of Scotland, sheep would often wander off into the rocks and get into places that they couldn't get out of. The grass on these mountains is very sweet and the sheep like it, and they will jump down ten or twelve feet to get to it, and then they can't jump back up again, and the shepherd hears them bleating in distress. They may be there for days, until they have eaten all the grass. The shepherd will wait until they are so faint they cannot stand, and then he will put a rope around them and pull that sheep up out of the jaws of death. Dr. Bonar was asked, "Why don't they go down there when the sheep first get stranded?" "Ah," he responded, "if the shepherd did that, the sheep are so very foolish they would dash right back over the precipice to get to the sweet grass again, and be killed."
Isn’t this pretty much the way of men? We won’t completely go back to God until we have lost everything, until there’s nothing left, not even a friend. Otherwise we just jump right back into whatever hole we’ve dug ourselves. Are we really as foolish as sheep?
Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep”. What is a door? It’s what we use to go in and out, right? It is a means of access. A door can be locked or otherwise blocked off, limiting our access, can’t it? And unless we locked ourselves out, a door is usually blocked to keep unauthorized people out. Jesus says that if someone tries to come into where the sheep are kept other than through the door, then they are thieves intent on stealing or doing harm to the sheep. But the shepherd comes in by the door, and the sheep know his voice as he calls them out, and they follow.
Notice though, that in this passage, Jesus does not call Himself the shepherd, but the door by which the shepherd and sheep go in and out. In fact, He says that anyone who comes in by Him will be saved.
Now when we think of a doorway, it’s usually a rather confining space, where only one or a couple people can pass through at a time. The door into the sheepfold would be no different, allowing only a few sheep to enter side by side. A doorway is narrow. Jesus acknowledged this, as recorded by the Apostle Matthew in his Gospel account, chapter 7, verses 13 and 14, when Jesus said…
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."--Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJV)
Jesus said, “I am the door… enter by the narrow gate”. So there can be no doubt, Jesus puts it all together for us, as saved by John in chapter 14 of his Gospel account, verse 6…
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
--John 14:6 (NKJV)
The Apostle Paul also speaks of this access, how we have it, and what it provides. In chapter 5 verses 1 and 2 of his letter to the Romans, Paul tells us…
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.--Romans 5:1-2 (NKJV)
Jesus is our door, the narrow gate that leads to heaven. Paul reminds us of this again, in his letter to the church in Ephesus, but carries it further and I think provides us with a very broad hint of how we should respond. Listen to what Paul tells us in chapter 2 of his Epistle to the Ephesians, verses 17, 18, and 19…
17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.--Ephesians 2:17-19 (NKJV)
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God...
And then comes what I believe is the kicker, the part I think shows us how to be more Christ-like. Because of the access Jesus gives us to the Father, we are no longer strangers or foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and full members of the household of God! To me, that says that as full members of God’s household, we should also offer access to His household to others we encounter in our daily walk!
Now I’m not saying we can be the door, as Jesus is. Believing in us won’t do anyone any good. Jesus is the only way to the Father. But we can help others find the door. We can help the lost find their way back to the narrow gate. We can toss down the rope and pull them back from the precipice and show them the straight and narrow way that leads to the access Jesus provides! We are not the door, but we can show them the path to the door and hold it open for them.
Jesus said, “I am willing… I am the bread of life… I am the light of the world… I am the door”. Be willing to help all others, loving unconditionally, sacrificially, expecting nothing in return, just like Jesus did. Help provide for the physical needs of others so that their spiritual needs might also be met. Shine the light of God’s truth so that all might see. And take them by the hand and lead them to the door so they too might be saved. In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, Your laws seem so simple, yet since the fall of Adam, it is just not in our nature to be able to abide by them. We disobey You by our actions, our thoughts, our feelings. Forgive us, please Father, for our disobediences and sins. Forgive us when we take for granted all You provide. Thank You for Your great mercy and grace.
Please hear us now, Father, as we silently speak to You straight from our hearts, thanking You for Your many blessings, promising to turn from our sin, seeking Your mercy and forgiveness…
Lord Jesus, we were all afar off, separated from God by our sin. You came and opened a doorway for us back to God. You came and pulled us from our pit of despair and offered us hope. You give free and open access to the Father, but that way is open only through You. Help us, please Lord, to stay on that straight and narrow path. Help us be willing to serve You by seeing to the physical and spiritual needs of others and by sharing Your Gospel and the truth of God with them. And please help us show them the way to the door You hold open, so that they too might be saved.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Lord Jesus Christ, our Master and our Savior, the one true Son of God, in whom we place all our hope, all our trust, all our faith. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment