Tag: voice
“I and the Father are One.”
Scripture reading for April 18: John 10
“So the Jews gathered around Him and said to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe.” The works that I do in My Father’s Name bear witness about Me, but you do not believe because you are not among My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are One.”” John 10:24-30
Jesus spoke plainly to the Jewish religious leaders about Who He was and His mission as the Good Shepherd gathering the lost sheep. His powerful statement declaring “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11,14) and declaring Himself the ‘Door’ for the sheep would have spoken powerfully to these who knew the Scriptures of their day. He stated plainly that as the Good Shepherd, He would lay His life down for the sheep. They, as shepherds of God’s flock, were acting as hirelings who did not love the sheep or care for them. Jesus would lay down His life and take it up again because of authority granted by His Father. These statements caused great discussion and division, some accusing Jesus of being demon possessed or insane.
Jesus told the Jews that they had made a choice not to believe. He had told them He was the Good Shepherd promised by Scripture. He had demonstrated this by amazing miracles, recently healing the man blind from birth. He told them that they did not hear His voice as the Good Shepherd or believe because they were not His sheep. Jesus’ sheep know His voice and follow. Jesus gives them eternal life and they will never perish. No one can snatch them from Jesus’ hand because the Father had given them to Him. Jesus and the Father are one!
Have you struggled to hear Jesus’ teaching that He is the Good Shepherd Who calls His sheep to follow Him? From this passage, what steps could you take to hear Him better? What does Jesus mean when He declares that no one can snatch His sheep from His hand? Is this comforting to you?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for allowing me to hear the call of Jesus as my Good Shepherd. I am comforted by His protection and strong hand to hold onto me. Use me to share this Good News of Jesus as our Good Shepherd by sending me out among the wolves to gather Your sheep. Amen.
The Lamb of God
Scripture reading for April 7: John 1
“And the next day He saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of Whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man Who ranks before me, because He was before me.’ I myself did not know Him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that He might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him. I myself did not know Him, but He Who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on Whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit,‘ and I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” John 1:29-34
John the Baptist was a cousin of Jesus Christ and leaped in his mother’s womb when Mary, the pregnant mother of Jesus visited his mother Elizabeth. (Luke 1:39-42) John and Jesus grew up very close in age and in the same family tree. John was called to the ministry of a prophet and spent years in the wilderness of Judea. At the right time, he began to preach repentance to the people of Israel who would come to hear him. Religious leaders came to question him, asking who he was. John denied being the ‘Christ’ or being the prophet Elijah. He quoted Isaiah 40:3 and claimed to be the ‘voice’ crying in the wilderness calling people to repentance. When asked why he was baptizing, John told them of a coming One, Who was greater. He was preparing Israel to receive Him.
The next day, Jesus came to where John was and John announced, “Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!” John proclaimed Jesus as the One Who was greater and would baptize with the Holy Spirit. John twice said that He did not know Him! He stated that the One Who sent him to baptize revealed that when he saw the Spirit descend and remain on the One baptized, that was the Son of God. John had known Jesus as his cousin, but did not know Jesus fully as God’s Son until God Himself revealed this truth to him. So it is with each person even now!
In what way do you know Jesus Christ yourself today? How did God reveal Jesus Christ to you as the Son of God? Have you been baptized in water? Has Jesus baptized you with the Holy Spirit?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for revealing Jesus Christ to each person who You draw to salvation. Through the Gospel, I have received forgiveness and salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. By You grace, use me to share the Gospel of Your Son that others may know Him as their Lamb of God! Amen.
Preparing the way!
Scripture reading for January 3: Matthew 3
“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness; ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.'”. . .”Then Jerusalem and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” Matthew 3:1-3,5-6
The Scriptures of the Jews taught about the coming of the Messiah, a descendant of King David. The Jews had a messianic expectation from the Law of Moses and the prophets. In the days of John the Baptist, the Jewish nation was in servitude to Rome and under foreign domination. Their messianic hopes were not at the forefront of their world-view. After four hundred years of prophetic silence, God sent John as a ‘voice’ crying in the wilderness. He called the people of Israel to repentance and faith. He called them to water baptism, usually reserved for converts to Judaism, as a humble confession of their sins and need of cleansing. This was to prepare them for the coming King, Jesus, and His kingdom,
The scribes and Pharisees, religious leaders, came to observe and criticize John. John called them out for their pride and warned them of their own need to repent to prepare the way for their Messiah. John challenged their world-view and the culture of their religion to break through their pride. God is still working today to reach the religious and prideful.
Are you currently listening to a ‘voice’ God has sent to call you to repentance? What sins are you willing to confess and forsake? Have you been baptized in water in obedience to Jesus Christ? What step of humility can you take to respond to God’s Voice?
Prayer: Father, thank You for sending out Your people as Your ‘Voice’ crying in my wilderness. Thank You for the ultimate ‘Voice,” Jesus Christ, Who plainly is calling me to repentance and faith. Help me to break through my pride and religious culture. Lead me to humility and true repentance. Amen.
Entering the Abundant Life
Scripture reading for November 4th: Ezekiel 28-30; John 10
Key Scriptures: John 10:7-11 “So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
Jesus used the analogy of sheep and a shepherd to illustrate His ministry to His true followers. A “good shepherd” would lay his life down for his sheep. He would stretch himself out over the door of the sheepfold during the night hours, protecting them with his own body. Any sheep entering the fold had to pass under his rod of authority before entering. Any wolf would be beaten back. The good shepherd speaks to his sheep and they know his voice. He leads them to green pastures and by still waters. This analogy brings great understanding and comfort to God’s sheep!
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, You are my Good Shepherd and the Door to eternal life and peace. Speak to me daily and lead me through this wilderness of this world to my eternal home with You.
Ezekiel 28:25 “”Thus says the Lord God: When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and manifest My holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they shall dwell in their own land that I gave to My servant Jacob.””