Scripture:
John 10:17-21 NKJV
[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.” [19] Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. [20] And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?” [21] Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Observation:
I absolutely love the bible. It’s like my breath of life. Every answer i have needed in the last several years, the Holy Spirit has pointed out to me in the bible. Its amazing, and in my mind truly supernatural. The life of Jesus is the model of how we are to act and react. Its the design on how we are to conduct ourselves. Now granted none of us are Jesus and at times will fall short but if there is ever a question on how we are supposed to do something we can never go wrong by looking at how Jesus handled a similar situation and conducting ourselves in that manner. As I was thinking over some events that took place and how it all unfolded. My heart was drawn to this scripture. Now honestly there is a lot in these few short verses and I wanted to add a lot more but I felt like what is here is enough. Here in John Chapter 10 Jesus is explaining how HE is the good shepherd. He tells all his listeners that HE enters through the gate. That gate HE is referring to is our heart. But what HE was teaching went against how the religious leaders interpreted the Bible. Talking about laying HIS life down and knowing HIS voice. It just contradicted their agenda. There design placed them in a position not only to corner that market of influence, but hold tightly to the financial aspects of buying and selling in the temple as well. They wanted to be looked at as prominent men, and they were willing to say whatever they had to, so that they could maintain their positions. The problem was that they looked religious. But as Jesus had said their hearts were not in a good place. Their desire was to enter through the wallet. So this little peach that took place here in John Chapter 10 was really a slap in the face. MY sheep know MY voice, I enter through the gate of their heart, I’M not here to take anything from them, I’M here to give up something for them. It was a lot for the religious leaders and those who wanted to corner the influence market to comprehend. They sought after the higher up in the society. Training and trusting them with the work of the ministry. While those who wore camel hair coats and full of the Holy Spirit were cast into the woods like wild men. Their only option was to run HIM down with words. As HE stood their telling them that HE was there to lay down HIS life for HIS sheep. Which was a concept they could not understand because their desire was to build their lives up on the backs of the sheep. Talking was their only weapon. “HE is demon possessed, why do you listen to HIM?” As they watched more and more people come to know Jesus as the one who loved them. Others still said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” I do have to say this is not the only place in the bible where the religious church people spoke harshly about Jesus. It’s all throughout the gospels. “HE eats with sinners, dose HE knew the manner of women who washes HIS feet?” But none of that took HIS attention off of HIS purpose. HE is here to change the world, and although they wanted to dethrone the KING of KING’S and the LORD of LORD’S. Nothing they said would be able to take away what GOD had already ordained. HIS influence would shape the world, and mark time for the rest of eternity. HIS time on earth was pivotal. My point is this yes they talked about Jesus they said things that were not true about HIM and all it did was expose the darkness that was in their hearts. It showed that selfishness and self centeredness were at the root of who they are. As HIS ministry increased and HIS influence grew. The talk got more and more. Until they decided that putting HIM to death was the only way to shut HIM down. Little did they know that their decision to do so would only set a catastrophic fire that still burns today. A fire that sets captives free and breaks chains of addiction still to this very day. HE did not remain silent when it came to who they were inside. HE made sure people know they were blind guides, white washed tombs full of dead man’s bones. As HE tipped over tables in the temple because they had turned it into a place of business. Instead of a house of prayer. HIS radical ways drew more influence then the religious leaders wanted HIM to have. Dying for the people was the only option. It was the end of what HE was saying right here in the scripture we got the opportunity to read this morning.
Application:
I heard something yesterday that really kind of upset me. Not so much because of what was said, ti be honest. It’s was more about the condition of the hearts of those who said it. I wanted to make light of it. But as I processed through it. What was brought to my mind is…. that those who are talking need prayer. Obviously something is not right inside them, and it doesn’t matter what is said, because GOD knows the path HE has me on and the lives that are effected as a result. Rumors and gossip are listed in the bible as things that will prevent people from going to heaven. I know its not a popular stand. But look it up. Its right there in GOD’S word the bible says you will know them by their fruits. First Corinthians chapter 6 verses 9 and 10, and Galatians chapters 5 verses 19 through 21. It is spelled out pretty clear. Now I believe in Galatians it continues to say something like “and such “WERE” some of you. But you have been washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the LORD Jesus and by the Spirit of GOD those words, washed, sanctified, and justified are all in the past tense. The same thing is said in the verses the follow the passage in 1 Corinthians. A relationship with Jesus Christ changes you. It changes your heart. Where you don’t want to live a selfish self-centered life. It makes you want the best for everyone around you. Now I know its easy to do. Gossip is tempting. Its easy to talk about someone instead of paying attention to the condition of our own heart. Those who choose to talk about others and run them down are truly missing something inside of them. They are missing a love for people. A love for their neighbor that’s just like the love they have for themselves. Now here is the difference making a mistake is one thing but living in that mistake is truly another. If you find yourself running someone down by talking behind their back stop repent. That word means to change the way you do things. Start lifting your brothers and sisters up. Start speaking life, and not death. I want us all in heaven even those who want to run me down behind my back. I want them all to know the KING of KING’S and LORD of LORD’S, and I’m not sitting here saying that they don’t. But what I am saying is the Bible tells us to let not corrupt talk come from us but only what is good for building others up….. as the great theologian Joe dirt would say, “now that’s where I want to be found when Jesus comes back. I love you all even those who talk behind my back. I will be praying for all of you as I go through this day.
Prayer:
Father, we know that you have a plan, and people will talk about what they don’t understand. You are so much bigger than that. You tell us to pray for our enemy and bless those who persecute us. So that’s what we want to take the time to do this morning. Father we lift up the hearts of those who don’t understand us. We pray that we can show them the love that Christ showed us as we take every blow let them see you in us. Because we know that its not life on this earth that matters. Its the life that happens after all this is over that we live for. We thank you for showing us your love, and only hope we can do the same for all those who are crying out to see you. Their cries may not be evident to them but we see the hole that is in the heart and if we need to turn the other cheek let us do so. Because we know its not our fight, Its yours, and it can not be won with conventional weapons. We fight from our knees. We want to be found living those who are broken. Lifting up the hurting, and feeding our enemy praying for those who don’t truly understand what it is that you teach. Your son took every blow, and as they hammered the nails HE opened not HIS mouth, because HE knew that your plan was so much greater than they could ever understand. As HIS life slipped away on the cross. HIS desire was for them to be forgiven. That’s where we want to be. All we can do is thank you for the peace that you have placed inside of us, knowing that you see all, know all, and are in all. What a mighty GOD you are and we are grateful to serve you. Its in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.