John 10 (3)
The Choice we make
- Read John 10:22-30.
Back when Gladys had her cancer, I remember going with her to the doctor and sitting in the backroom, waiting for the doctor to come in. As we waited, I got up and walked around the room, looking at the posters of human anatomy. It is amazing how the body is put together, with all of the skeletal parts, and how the muscles and tendons attach, and looking at how the blood vessels, and arteries and such feed everything. I remember looking at those pictures and thinking to myself, there is no way a person can be surrounded by these pictures everyday and not know that there is a Creator. There is no way you can be surrounded by all of those pictures, and see how everything fits together and works together and how everything has to be exactly how it is in order to work, and to believe it could all happen by accident. As King David said, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
So when the doctor came in I remember asking him, “You’re a believer aren’t you?” He said, “Yes. Why?” I told him, because there is no way you could be surrounded by all of these drawings day in and day out and not know there is a creator.”
I was reminded of that conversation as I recently sat in another doctors office and looked at a drawing of the shoulder, hanging on his door. I looked at all of the muscles and how this one pulled the shoulder this way, and that one pulls it another way, and another muscle makes it move another way, all with the cushioning burse sack of fluid in there to keep it from rubbing and wearing out.
My GP, Dr. Quinn, recently retired. Relatively young still, I asked why? He said he wanted to spend more time working in his church.
But then, I recently visited with a pastor friend in Sanford. As we were visiting I commented on a political sign in the yard across the street from his. He told me, “That neighbor isn’t very friendly. He’s a doctor at Central Florida Regional Hospital and has different women in and out of his house all the time.”
Doctors, presented with the same information. Having had to have studied a lot of the same material while in school, with very different outcomes and lifestyles. What’s the difference? It is what we choose to see. It is what we choose to hear.
In this passage, some in the crowd tell Jesus, “If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
Now, it is true that Jesus didn’t often refer to Himself as the Messiah. The people there were looking for a political messiah. One that would free them from the Romans. He didn’t want to give them any false hope or false expectations, so He didn’t often refer to Himself as the Messiah, but He did on occasion. According to John 4:26, Jesus told the Samaritan woman that He was the Messiah. In John 9:37 He told the man born blind that He was the Son of God.
Yes, Jesus demonstrated that He was the Messiah through:
I. HIS WORDS
1. Think of His “I AM statements”.
In the Old Testament, God revealed His name to Moses: “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:14). So, in Judaism, “I AM” is unquestionably understood as a name for God. Whenever Jesus made an “I am” statement in which He claimed attributes of deity, He was identifying Himself as God.
1) “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51). In this chapter, Jesus establishes a pattern that continues through John’s gospel—Jesus makes a statement about who He is, and He backs it up with something He does. In this case, Jesus states that He is the bread of life just after He had fed the 5,000 in the wilderness. At the same time, He contrasts what He can do with what Moses had done for their ancestors: “Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die” (verses 49–50).
2) “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; 9:5). This second of Jesus’ “I am” statements in John’s gospel comes right before He heals a man born blind. Jesus not only says He is the light; He proves it. Jesus’ words and actions echo Genesis 1:3, “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
3) “I am the door” (John 10:7 and 9, ESV). This “I am” statement stresses that no one can enter the kingdom of heaven by any other means than Christ Himself. Jesus’ words in this passage are couched in the imagery of a sheepfold. He is the one and only way to enter the fold. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber” (verse 1, ESV).
4) “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14). With this “I am” statement, Jesus portrays His great love and care. He is the One who willingly protects His flock even to the point of death (verses 11 and 15). When Jesus called Himself the good shepherd, He unmistakably took for Himself one of God’s titles in the Old Testament: “The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1).
These I AM statements were made before this confrontation. Later He also said:
5) “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Jesus made this “I am” statement immediately before raising Lazarus from the dead. Again, we see that Jesus’ teaching was not just empty talk; when He made a claim, He substantiated it with action. He holds “the keys of death and the grave” (Revelation 1:18, NLT). In raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus showed how He can fulfill Yahweh’s promise to ancient Israel: “[God’s] dead shall live; their bodies shall rise” (Isaiah 26:19, ESV). Apart from Jesus, there is neither resurrection nor eternal life.
6) “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). This powerful “I am” statement of Christ’s is packed with meaning. Jesus is not merely one way among many ways to God; He is the only way. Scripture said that “The very essence of [God’s] words is truth” (Psalm 119:160, NLT), and here is Jesus proclaiming that He is the truth—confirming His identity as the Word of God (see John 1:1, 14). And Jesus alone is the source of life; He is the Creator and Sustainer of all life and the Giver of eternal life.
7) “I am the true vine” (John 15:1, 5). The final metaphorical “I am” statement in the Gospel of John emphasizes the sustaining power of Christ. We are the branches, and He is the vine. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it is joined in vital union with the vine, only those who are joined to Christ and receive their power from Him produce fruit in the Christian life.
Oh, and remember when Jesus confronted the Pharisees in John 8:58? There He said, “Jesus responds to a complaint by the Pharisees. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus says, “before Abraham was born, I am!” The verbs Jesus uses are in stark contrast with each other: Abraham was, but I am. There is no doubt that the Jews understood Jesus’ claim to be the eternal God incarnate, because they took up stones to kill Him (verse 59).
Through Jesus’ “I AM” statements they understood Who and What Jesus claimed to be.
2. Think of His teachings.
Remember the Sermon on the Mount? Remember how He would demonstrate His authority.
You have heard that it was said, “Do not Murder”, but I tell you, anyone who is angry with his brother shall be subject to judgment.
You have heard that it was said, ““You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
You have heard that it was said, “ Whoever divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce. But I tell you, everyone who divorces his wife, except in a case of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery.
“Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord. But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: Let your yes be yes and your no, no.
“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer.
Who but the Messiah would claim to have the authority to supplement, or amend, or fulfill Old Testament Law?
Jesus’ words and teachings testified to Who He was. And think of His Works.
II. HIS WORKS
- John 10:25
The works that I do in My Father’s name testify about Me.
There are 6 great miracles recorded in the Gospel of John before this encounter.
1. Changing water into wine in Cana. John tells us that this was the first great sign Jesus performed and as a result of it his disciples believed on Him.
2. The second great sign was healing the nobleman’s son in John 4.
- Read John 4:46-54
3. The paralyzed man
- Read John 5:5-16
4. The feeding of the 5,000. I assure you, word of that miracle had gotten around.
5. Walking on the water - Don’t you think the disciples had told a few people about that?
6. Healing the man born blind. This occurred in John 9.
Jesus put some mud on the man’s eyes and told him to go and wash. He did and came back seeing. The Pharisees questioned the man, and then kicked him out because he testified about Jesus and gave glory to God!
Jesus fulfilled what Isaiah had prophesied centuries before when he said in:
> Isaiah 53:5-6 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy,
People saw the things Jesus was doing. They heard His teachings and they understood. In:
> Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdom that has been given to him, and how are these miracles performed by his hands?
You see, the teaching of Jesus and the miracles of Jesus testified about Who He was. There were signs all over the place, and the folks questioning Jesus in our passage for today chose to ignore them.
The problem is not a lack of understanding. The problem is not a a lack of signs.
You’re going down the road doing 65 in a 45 and a police officer stops you. He asks, “Do you know how fast you were going?” While you fumble around trying to decide how to answer, he tells you. You were doing 65. The speed limit here is 45.
Oh, really? You mean that sign back there? That sign is too far back. If ya’ll really wanted us to do 45 you should have a sign posted every 100 feet. There aren’t enough signs.
Do you think the officer is going to let you off with that kind of an argument? No!. He’s going to write you a ticket for being stupid.
Can you imagine if they really did that? Can you imagine being able to do that? Write people stupid tickets? And don’t look around to see who would write the first one to.
Jesus did more than enough signs, and taught more than enough to convince folks that He is the Messiah. The problem was not a lack of understanding, it was a lack of desire. They didn’t want to understand. They didn’t want to admit they knew what He was saying, because by admitting that, they would be admitting that they knew they were wrong and that they knew they should be following the Lord.
Do you remember the Garden of Eden? Adam and Eve were living in paradise. God told them they could eat of any tree in the garden except one. He, Adam and Eve stood in the middle of the Garden by that tree and God said, You can eat anything north of this tree. You can eat anything east of this tree. You can eat anything south of this tree. You can eat anything west of this tree, but don’t eat anything off of this tree.
Later, according to 1 Timothy 2:14, Eve was deceived, she was tricked, by the Devil. Adam was not.
> 1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed.
Eve sinned because she was deceived. Adam sinned because he wanted to. There was always something in him that resented being told he couldn’t do something. There was something in him that resented being told no.
When God came to the garden, and spoke, Adam spoke first because his sin was greater, and he denied responsibility. When God turned to the woman, she admitted what she had done. “The serpent deceived me and I ate.”
Adam blamed Eve as a secondary and God as the first cause. The one YOU gave me.
It is in our nature to blame others for our disobedience.
So, what is our response?
III. OUR RESPONSE TO CHRIST’S WORK AND WORDS
1. Make sure you are a sheep in His flock. Make sure you are a Christian.
2. Pray for those in denial.
3. Quit making excuses.
Quit making excuses for where you are in your walk with the Lord. Excuses are like armpits, everybody has 2 and they both stink.
On April 23, 2019, the news reported a story about Sara Hinesley. Sara is a 10-year old 3rd grader who won a hand writing contest that year. What made her winning so remarkable is that Sara doesn’t have any hands. She was born with arms but her arms end at what would be our wrists.
And yet Sara wins a hand writing contest?
My friend, if you want an excuse, the Devil will provide one, but if you choose to trust the Lord, you can change the world.
Do you remember when David fought Goliath? The whole army of Israel, all of those trained, grown men were trembling, scared to death of Goliath. David, a young teenager, full of faith and trusting the Lord, charged that sucker with a sling shot.
Quit making excuses for not being able to do something.
When God first came to speak to Moses in the wilderness, as he was tending his father-in-laws sheep, how did God speak to him? Come on. Someone tell me. How did God speak to him? He spoke to him from a burning bush.
Now, there were bushes all over that wilderness. There were short ones and tall ones; fat ones and skinny ones. There were bushes with many leaves and bushes with few. What was it that set that bush apart from all of the others? It was God in the bush that made it different.
Well, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you too have God in you.
> 1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?
If you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, you too have the Holy Spirit living in you.
> Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Turn to someone near you and tell them, “I can do all things through Christ Who strengtheneth me.
Quit making excuses for where you are in your spiritual walk. Quit making excuses for your spiritual immaturity, and decide to do something about it.
You will search for Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Oh, tell me plainly. Oh my word.
Make sure you are part of His flock. Quit making excuses.
4. Listen for His voice
Jesus said, “My sheep hear Me voice.” And when people hear the Lord it changes their lives. Do you really want to hear? Tell Him. “Lord I want to know You. Lord I want to hear You.” No telling how He may speak to you. It is often thorough the Bible, so as you pray, study. Sometimes it is through people, so make sure you hang out with people who walk with God. And listen.
In the 11th chapter of Hebrews we are told of some of the hero’s of the faith, people who heard God and it changed their lives.
Abel heard and offered a better sacrifice.
Enoch heard and pleased God.
Noah heard and built an ark.
Abraham heard and obeyed.
Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph about things to come.
Joseph gave instructions about his bones.
Moses chose to suffer affliction with his people rather than to enjoy the pleasures of Egypt.
Rahab heard and chose to receive the spies in peace.
Others conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames, turned weakness into strength, became powerful in battle, routed foreign armies, and turned the world upside down.
Make sure you are in His flock. Quit making excuses. Set your heart on hearing God, and trust that you are in His hand.
I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.
Quit telling Jesus to say it plainly. Quit making excuses. Set your heart and hearing God and go change the world.
