E-pistle for July 30, 2010
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E-pistle
Dr. Dan Hite, President FreeWay Foundation July 30, 2010
The good shepherd gives abundant life
(John 10:1-42)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on Jesus' teachings about the Good Shepherd
1. Jesus contrasted robbers, who tried to enter the sheepfold some
other way, with the Shepherd, Who entered by the door, vv. 1-5.
2. Jesus claimed to be the door into the sheepfold; He contrasted His
loving motives with the evil purposes of the thief, vv. 7-10.
3. Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd, contrasting His love for
the sheep with the money-motivated "hirelings" (Jewish religious
leaders, also characterized as strangers, thieves, and robbers);
He spoke of other sheep joining God's flock and He prophesied
His coming voluntary death, vv. 11-18.
4. Jesus condemned the Jewish religious leaders who refused to believe
in Him; He taught that His sheep know and follow Him, and that they
receive eternal life and security; finally, He claimed to be God, vv. 25-30.
II. Meditation: on the words of Jesus which aroused violent opposition
1. He claimed to be the door . . . the only entrance into the kingdom of
heaven, v. 7; John 14:6.
2. He claimed to be the Good Shepherd, a Messianic title, vv. 11, 14; see also
Psalm 23 and Isaiah 40:11.
3. He claimed that other sheep (Gentiles) would join the believing Jews as part
of the flock of God's chosen people, vv. 16, 26; Galatians 3:7, 11, 13-14, 16, 29.
4. He claimed to be one with the Father . . . Son of God, vv. 30, 36; John 14:8-9.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications seen here
1. Jesus is both the Shepherd and the door into the fold. He guides and provides,
and He is the one and only sure way to God, Acts 4:12.
2. The doorkeeper (v. 3) into heaven is God the Father (not Saint Peter); the Father
will open the door only when He hears the Shepherd's voice.
3. The sheep are believers (Jews and Gentiles) who hear Jesus call them by name
(v. 3) (Isaiah 40:25-26; Matthew 10:19-31), who follow Him with assurance and
confidence (v. 4), and who will not follow a stranger (vv. 5, 14).
4. The thief (robber; stranger – vv. 1, 5, 8, 10) is Satan who comes to: 1) steal-our
joy, 2) kill – our witness, and 3) destroy – our influence for good . . . but Jesus
comes to give believers abundant life (both a quantity and a quality) v. 10.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd, Who knows my name; obey when
He calls me to follow Him.
2. Thank the Good Shepherd for His "green pasture, still waters, rod and staff,
restoring my soul, and anointing of my head," Psalm 23.
3. Worship the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who loved me and died for my
sins, and Who arose in victory and ascended into glory.
4. Rejoice in the overflowing, abundant life that I have in Christ in this life and
in the next; praise Him for defeating Satan, who comes to steal, kill, and
destroy my life and testimony.
Lazarus: "One whom god helps"
(John 11:1-57)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the man named Lazarus
1. Lazarus (short for Eliazer) lived in Bethany with his sisters Mary
and Martha. When he became gravely ill, the sisters sent word
to Jesus, vv. 1-3.
2. Within the brief time Jesus delayed, Lazarus died and was buried;
but after four days, he was resurrected by Jesus, vv. 17, 43.
3. Lazarus became a local celebrity, and he was targeted for death
along with Jesus, John 12:9-10.
4. Many people saw the resurrected Lazarus, and believed that Jesus
was the Messiah, John 12:11, 17.
II. Meditation: on Jesus' plan to resurrect His friend, Lazarus
1. Jesus originally told the disciples that Lazarus' sickness was NOT
unto death, v. 4.
2. Later, Jesus said plainly, "Lazarus is dead," v. 14.
3. From the beginning, Jesus knew that Lazarus would die . . . that's
why He delayed. He also knew that He would restore Lazarus to life.
So, from Jesus' viewpoint, the sickness was not unto death.
4. Jesus' purpose in allowing Lazarus to die and be resurrected was to
glorify the Father and the Son of God, vv. 4, 40. In this context of
amazement and praise over Lazarus' resurrection, the people of
Jerusalem proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah . . . at the triumphal entry
on Palm Sunday, John 12:12-15.
III. Revelation: on the spiritual implications seen here
1. Jesus sees the entire future; from His viewpoint, true believers never
die, vv. 25-26.
2. All miracles have the primary purpose of glorifying God.
3. Persons whom God has miraculously touched are targets of persecution
by Satan and his followers.
4. No matter how famous a God-blessed celebrity may become, he always
should point the praise and worship toward Christ, the source of the
miraculous power. "To God be the glory!"
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Rest in the security that God knows and controls my future.
2. See beyond the immediate benefits of God's miracles (to bring help
and hope to hurting persons), to understand God's ultimate purpose
. . . to bring glory to Himself.
3. Expect opposition and persecution always to accompany God's blessing.
4. Not seek any glory for myself . . . I have nothing except what God has
given me through His grace, I Corinthians 4:7.
"If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't jump
with them, I'd be at the bottom to catch them."
-- Unknown
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