Article for April 21, 2024
John 10:16b–18 16bSo there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
We are supposed to be, and I believe we are all part of, one flock. Jesus sees this better than we do as He chose to lay down His life for all people. That is Jesus died for the believer and the unbeliever in hopes that we will all believe. There are the lost sheep, and Jesus came to find the lost sheep and Jesus came to expand His flock to the ends of the earth.
As Jesus tells us in John 3:17 the Father did not send His son into the world to condemn the world but rather to save the world. We should know by now just how serious Jesus was and still is about saving us. And for this the Father loves Him who chose to die for our sins.
Jesus has the power and authority to lay His life down and to raise it up AGAIN. This alone should let everyone know that Jesus is God and God cannot be made to do anything that is not in His will. This should also tell us we have a God who loves us so much that He lays down His life for our sins, and raises His life for our salvation renewed and now being in His will we become sinless. Oh, the day I die is the day I start to live.
Acts 4:10 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit speaks about the truth that sets us free. This Jesus Christ whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead. Do you believe yet? This one who you thought you could kill was raised from the dead and lives! What does this tell you about our God. He is powerful, He has been and always will be!
Look for yourself, it is the power of Jesus Christ that comes from the will of God that heals those who are crippled, ill, or demonized. Maybe you should pray that God heals you too. You are a child of God, then know God wants all of His children to obey the gospel. Else you should know that God will punish those who do not obey the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8)
It is amazing that our world has not changed and has not progressed away from prejudice. Or maybe it is not amazing but rather sad. We find ways to cut each other down, but never look towards helping each other up. We are still ruled by those who seek power, and we still do much for riches over others. Are we more advanced in our behavior?
Acts 4:11–12 11This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Let us look at the foundation and cornerstone we should be standing upon. It is Jesus Christ our Lord, that is, we constantly need to put into action the commands our Lord set before us. Love God and love one another. We are so good at hating. We condemn one another even when we try to share the gospel. And we even pat ourselves on the back for it.
We have a foundation and cornerstone to stand on and we should cement ourselves to it. You might ask how we are to cement ourselves to Jesus Christ the cornerstone? By witnessing His words and living His words. Jesus the foundation of our beliefs and cornerstone of the church commands us to love God and one another.
Now the command is to love God and one another and this is the means of obeying the gospel. Love is not condoning but is helping. Love is not pointing your finger or pinning a metal on your chest. Love is about caring as Jesus Christ cared for us. That is, as Jesus walked the earth helping and healing, we should do the same. Not that we are all healers of the sick and the crippled, but that we can lift each other up and help one another heal from our sins.
John 10:14–16a 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16aAnd I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.
Jesus laid down His life for us and paid the ransom due for our sins. We should know the suffering and humility that our God, our Savior Jesus Christ endured for us. We have a savior who came as man even though He is God.
Jesus suffered as man but resurrected as God/man to show us the forgiveness of sins leads to eternal life with our God, with our savior Jesus Christ. And the promise is not just eternal life with Him, it is with eternal joy, absent of sin and sadness, and full of wholeness in life for all believers. Amen.