February 24, 2019
Scripture:
Leviticus 16:11-14
Hymn 332 - Christ the Saviour of sinners came
Prayer
Psalm 45:1-8
The title this Psalm was given is “A song of loves”. So it’s kind of a love song. Although this is a love Psalm it can apply to us for the Lord and all he’s done for us. We are going to be comparing some of these phrases to Jesus.
Indite means to bubble over. It’s like you’re so excited about something you can’t hold it in. You want to express everything you are feeling.
In one of the hymns we sang this morning it was talking about God’s beauty; not meaning His outward beauty. People can be beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. Your inside beauty is your character and your heart.
Hebrews 2:9
Jesus humbled himself and was obedient. That’s some of his inward beauty.
Jesus talked with grace.
Luke 4:22
As people heard Jesus talk they couldn’t help but hear the grace in His words.
God is worthy of all our praise. He’s done so much for us.
Matt. 28:18
One day Jesus is going to reign over the earth. He will have power over all other authorities. He’s going to to come back to set up his kingdom here and we will be with Him. He has glory because of all He has done. He will be the King of kings.
We get verses 6 and 7 again in Hebrews 1. God will reign in righteousness and will reign forever.
As we think of everything He has done for us we can see that he is worthy. Thinking of them also encourages us and brings us closer to Him.
John 10:9-31
We have a God greater then our minds can understand. This chapter is the unfolding of a truth the Jews never had before. One of the hard things they had to deal with is that the fold (a hedge of laws) is what Jesus was leading them out of to a new place. He was leading them through another door - Himself. In chapter one Jesus as called a lamb which is a sacrifice. Here He is called the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep.
Jesus said that one must enter the door “by Me”. Not by the law or anything anyone can do. It’s only by Him. The Jews were a people God had chosen to only His people. Now He was leading them out of it all and it is for whosoever will. It’s only one step through the door. It’s not a process. It’s one step form the outside to the inside.
Christianity is unique from any other religion. We can know right now what our end will be. We can walk through that door and be saved. We can spend time in the Lord’s presence, be in the word, and serve Him. We will find a portion that satisfies us.
Jesus was offering a life like they had never know. An abundant life. It gives satisfaction, life beyond death, and it’s eternal. When He was telling them about it, it hadn’t happened yet, but He said He was going to do it so it was as good as done.
The hireling might be a picture of the Pharisees. In one way they were supposed to be shepherding the people. They were the opposite of David who protected his sheep. David was a very good shepherd and he was the one who said, “the Lord is my Shepherd”.
Darby puts verse 14, 15, and 16 as, “I am the good shepherd; I know those that are mine, and am know of those that are mine, as that Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have sheep which are not of this fold: those also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one flock, one shepherd”.
Jesus’ attachment with His sheep is like that between Him and His Father. There is one flock - not several different religions. The Lord sees only one. We are all part of that flock.
Hymn 113 Only a step to Jesus!
Prayer