[The following is a manuscript of my sermon delivered on Sunday morning, the 11th of March, 2018. Look for the video on our Vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
We’re continuing today with Jesus’ “I am” statements, and we’re actually going to pick up right where we left off last week. If you’ll remember, we read where Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep”. At that time I emphasized that Jesus did not say He was the shepherd, but the door by which the shepherd and sheep go in and go out. In this way we see Jesus providing us access, as a door gives us a means of access. In this case, though, Jesus gives us access to our Father God and His kingdom.
But as He continues speaking His parable, Jesus confirms what we’re more used to by saying, “I am the Good Shepherd”. Please listen and follow along as I read from the Apostle John’s Gospel account, chapter 10, verses 11 through 18, from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
But as He continues speaking His parable, Jesus confirms what we’re more used to by saying, “I am the Good Shepherd”. Please listen and follow along as I read from the Apostle John’s Gospel account, chapter 10, verses 11 through 18, from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
--John 10:11-18 (NKJV)
Let us pray… Father God, we are looking at how Your Son Jesus lived, what He did, what He taught, and how He described Himself so that we can try to be more like Him, more Christ-like and more righteous in Your eyes. Thank You, Father, for sending Your Son that we might be saved. Speak to us now, Father, and let us hear and understand Your message and Your word. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
I'm sure you've heard this little anecdote, but it bears repeating. A hen and a hog were walking down the street one day and came upon a church with a sign out front that read, "Help the needy." The hen and the hog thought this to be a great idea. "I know how we can help," said the hen. "We can host a breakfast and give them bacon and eggs!" The hog thought for only a moment before replying, "That's easy for you to say! For you, this would only require a contribution, but for me it would be a total commitment."
Pause for just a bit and think about what Jesus did for you, for me, for each of us here. Did He make a contribution, or a total commitment? And now think about us, what do we do in return? Are we totally committed to Jesus, or just contributors?
It doesn’t take much thought to see that what Jesus was describing in our scripture reading was the difference between a commitment and a contribution. A hireling, someone just paid to do the job, will indeed contribute by watching over the sheep. But when push comes to shove and a deeper commitment is required, the hired hand will say something about this being above their pay-grade and will slip out as fast as possible.
The good shepherd, though, will stay and give whatever it takes, even if it takes everything. That is commitment. Jesus was totally committed to carrying out God’s great plan of salvation on our behalf. What is our level of commitment to Him? He constantly tells us to love one another, but what do we really know of love? In chapter 15 of John’s Gospel account, verses 12 through 14, Jesus says…
Would Jesus consider us His friends? Do we do what He commands?
Consider the Apostle Matthew. As a tax collector, Matthew made easy money. He was despised by all the people for collaborating with the Romans but he relished his world of riches. Then one day Jesus comes by, looks at Matthew, and simply says, "Follow Me." And for one brief moment, Matthew faces a dilemma. An image of all his gold and silver and his house and possessions flashes before his eyes. He looks at Jesus and realizes he's got to make a choice - he can't have both. But there was no comparison. He recognized instantly that he was looking at the true treasure, the real riches. And with that he left everything behind. He made a sacrifice, but it turned out to be no sacrifice at all.
In chapter 9, verses 10 through 13 of his Gospel account, Matthew adds to his report of this scene…
Jesus said to learn what this means: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice”. Jesus often quoted scripture, especially in Matthew’s account. This time He quotes the Old Testament prophet Hosea, who spoke for God in chapter 6 verse 6 when God said…
We know that God is merciful, but are we? Do we show mercy to others, forgiving them of their trespasses against us? Jesus said He came to call the sinners to repentance. We’re sinners, but are we repentant?
Let me sidetrack for a moment and look at how Hosea opened chapter 6 that Jesus quoted from. Hosea begins in verses 1 and 2 by speaking for himself, not God…
First Hosea calls us to repentance, to return to the Lord, just like Jesus does. But doesn’t the rest sound awfully familiar? After two days God will revive us, and on the third day raise us up that we may live in His sight. We confirm this in our Apostles’ Creed: and on the third day He rose again from the dead, He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty! And Hosea promises the same will be our blessing.
Jesus said “I am the Good Shepherd”, and we can see He was talking about being totally committed - to the point of giving His own mortal life to save His sheep. Sacrifice and commitment. He asks nothing less of us.
Matthew recorded another time when Jesus instructed His disciples on how we should live and why, in chapter 16 of his Gospel account, verses 24 and 25…
That’s a form of sacrifice, isn’t it, to deny ourselves of the worldly ways we are so comfortable with? That’s commitment, to do whatever it takes to follow Jesus, including accepting ridicule and persecution from a hostile world.
If we seek to keep, to save, a worldly life – living more for the flesh and its lusts and less for God – then we risk losing any chance of a heavenly life to come. But if we are willing to commit fully to Jesus, to make sacrifices for Him, then our eternal life is secure.
Jesus sacrificed for us. He laid down His mortal life for us. But that is not necessarily the sacrifice He asks of us. He just wants us to give up the worldly life. The Apostle Paul, in the opening of the 12th chapter to his letter to the Romans, begs us to make of ourselves a living sacrifice to our Lord. We don’t need to die, to give up our mortal life. We need to die to the life of the world and make of our lives more meaningful gifts to those in need, both spiritual and physical needs. Jesus asks us to sacrifice our time and resources, to give up those things the world thinks important and become more committed to Him and to His service.
Jesus said, “I am willing… I am the bread of life… I am the light of the world… I am the door… I am the Good Shepherd”. Be willing to help all others, loving unconditionally, sacrificially. Help provide for their physical needs so that their spiritual needs might also be met. Shine the light of God’s truth so that all might see. Take them by the hand and lead them to the door so they too might be saved. And commit fully to Jesus and His service, giving our very all to Him. In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, Your plan for mankind’s salvation required that Your Son lay down His life for us. He had to die so that we might live. Jesus was fully committed to Your plan and He made that great sacrifice. Forgive us, please Father, when we hesitate or even refuse to make sacrifices of our own in service to You and to Jesus. Forgive us of our disobedient nature. Thank You for showing us mercy even when we are not merciful to others, for forgiving us even when we fail to forgive others.
Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, thanking You for Your many blessings, promising to turn from our sin, and asking for Your help to do so…
Lord Jesus, You gave Your life for us that we might have everlasting life. You did so willingly, obeying Your Father, knowing His love. You are the Good Shepherd, giving Your all for Your sheep. Help us, please Lord, to commit ourselves to You and Your service, just as You fully committed to God’s great plan of salvation. Help us to hear and follow Your voice. Help us be willing to give up our worldly ways, to serve You by seeing to the physical and spiritual needs of others, by sharing Your Gospel and the truth of God, by showing them the door that You hold open, and by sacrificing our time and resources to help them in any way we can, 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.
I'm sure you've heard this little anecdote, but it bears repeating. A hen and a hog were walking down the street one day and came upon a church with a sign out front that read, "Help the needy." The hen and the hog thought this to be a great idea. "I know how we can help," said the hen. "We can host a breakfast and give them bacon and eggs!" The hog thought for only a moment before replying, "That's easy for you to say! For you, this would only require a contribution, but for me it would be a total commitment."
Pause for just a bit and think about what Jesus did for you, for me, for each of us here. Did He make a contribution, or a total commitment? And now think about us, what do we do in return? Are we totally committed to Jesus, or just contributors?
It doesn’t take much thought to see that what Jesus was describing in our scripture reading was the difference between a commitment and a contribution. A hireling, someone just paid to do the job, will indeed contribute by watching over the sheep. But when push comes to shove and a deeper commitment is required, the hired hand will say something about this being above their pay-grade and will slip out as fast as possible.
The good shepherd, though, will stay and give whatever it takes, even if it takes everything. That is commitment. Jesus was totally committed to carrying out God’s great plan of salvation on our behalf. What is our level of commitment to Him? He constantly tells us to love one another, but what do we really know of love? In chapter 15 of John’s Gospel account, verses 12 through 14, Jesus says…
12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you."--John 15:12-14 (NKJV)
Consider the Apostle Matthew. As a tax collector, Matthew made easy money. He was despised by all the people for collaborating with the Romans but he relished his world of riches. Then one day Jesus comes by, looks at Matthew, and simply says, "Follow Me." And for one brief moment, Matthew faces a dilemma. An image of all his gold and silver and his house and possessions flashes before his eyes. He looks at Jesus and realizes he's got to make a choice - he can't have both. But there was no comparison. He recognized instantly that he was looking at the true treasure, the real riches. And with that he left everything behind. He made a sacrifice, but it turned out to be no sacrifice at all.
In chapter 9, verses 10 through 13 of his Gospel account, Matthew adds to his report of this scene…
10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”--Matthew 9:10-13 (NKJV)
12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
6 "For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."
--Hosea 6:6 (NKJV)
Let me sidetrack for a moment and look at how Hosea opened chapter 6 that Jesus quoted from. Hosea begins in verses 1 and 2 by speaking for himself, not God…
1 Come, and let us return to the Lord;--Hosea 6:1-2 (NKJV)
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
2 After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight.
Jesus said “I am the Good Shepherd”, and we can see He was talking about being totally committed - to the point of giving His own mortal life to save His sheep. Sacrifice and commitment. He asks nothing less of us.
Matthew recorded another time when Jesus instructed His disciples on how we should live and why, in chapter 16 of his Gospel account, verses 24 and 25…
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."--Matthew 16:24-25 (NKJV)
If we seek to keep, to save, a worldly life – living more for the flesh and its lusts and less for God – then we risk losing any chance of a heavenly life to come. But if we are willing to commit fully to Jesus, to make sacrifices for Him, then our eternal life is secure.
Jesus sacrificed for us. He laid down His mortal life for us. But that is not necessarily the sacrifice He asks of us. He just wants us to give up the worldly life. The Apostle Paul, in the opening of the 12th chapter to his letter to the Romans, begs us to make of ourselves a living sacrifice to our Lord. We don’t need to die, to give up our mortal life. We need to die to the life of the world and make of our lives more meaningful gifts to those in need, both spiritual and physical needs. Jesus asks us to sacrifice our time and resources, to give up those things the world thinks important and become more committed to Him and to His service.
Jesus said, “I am willing… I am the bread of life… I am the light of the world… I am the door… I am the Good Shepherd”. Be willing to help all others, loving unconditionally, sacrificially. Help provide for their physical needs so that their spiritual needs might also be met. Shine the light of God’s truth so that all might see. Take them by the hand and lead them to the door so they too might be saved. And commit fully to Jesus and His service, giving our very all to Him. In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, Your plan for mankind’s salvation required that Your Son lay down His life for us. He had to die so that we might live. Jesus was fully committed to Your plan and He made that great sacrifice. Forgive us, please Father, when we hesitate or even refuse to make sacrifices of our own in service to You and to Jesus. Forgive us of our disobedient nature. Thank You for showing us mercy even when we are not merciful to others, for forgiving us even when we fail to forgive others.
Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, thanking You for Your many blessings, promising to turn from our sin, and asking for Your help to do so…
Lord Jesus, You gave Your life for us that we might have everlasting life. You did so willingly, obeying Your Father, knowing His love. You are the Good Shepherd, giving Your all for Your sheep. Help us, please Lord, to commit ourselves to You and Your service, just as You fully committed to God’s great plan of salvation. Help us to hear and follow Your voice. Help us be willing to give up our worldly ways, to serve You by seeing to the physical and spiritual needs of others, by sharing Your Gospel and the truth of God, by showing them the door that You hold open, and by sacrificing our time and resources to help them in any way we can, 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.
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