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1 Corinthians 11 – Where Jesus instituted the communion service. We certainly want to remember and think often of what Jesus has done for us, and that is part of why we are here this morning.
As we remember Jesus and what he has done, if we really remember him as we should, it brings us to worship him. To worship Him is to follow him.
John 10:11-18 – We remember Jesus not as “a” good shepherd, but as “the” good shepherd, the only savior of mankind.
Jesus cares for the sheep. He makes a huge contrast between himself and the hired hand. The hired hand has no investment, no deep care for the sheep. Jesus on the other hand cares because the sheep are his, and because he loves them.
We have been scattered and lost. We have been troubled with conflict and anxiety and stresses. Jesus is the answer to the troubles and the pain and the hurt and the suffering that we experience here on earth.
Satan is the great and evil influencer in the world, but we make choices and we often make decisions that feed our sinful desires.
Ezekiel 34 – Ezekiel saw lost sheep, and he foretold a shepherd. Ezekiel condemns this who were supposed to be shepherding the flock of Israel and foretells that Jesus would come as a shepherd to care for the sheep.
Luke 15 – The shepherd is the creator, the shepherd is also the redeemer.
1 Corinthians 6:19 – You were bought at a price. Glorify God in your body and your Spirit which are God’s.
The good shepherd sees the scattered sheep and is moved with compassion for them. He pursues them and brings them back into the fold.
The good shepherd was surrendered to the will of the Father. At any point in this process of the trial and the crucifixion Jesus could have said no… but he didn’t, he submitted himself fully to the will of his Father. Jesus knew the again that was ahead, but he chose to continue doing the will of the Father.
Matthew 26:53 – Jesus says he could have called angels to come and set him free. Again he resolutely journeyed on into the storm and agony that he was called to.
Psalms 22 – Jesus suffered terrible agony. We know the story, the hateful words that were said, the mocking, the fists, the crown of thorns, the cross… We remember his suffering. We remember his death.
Romans 5:6-8 – The good shepherd gives his life for his sheep. Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. He gave his life voluntarily for us, for you, for me.
1 Peter 1:18, Hebrews 9:12-14 – The human way of loving is to run until the love runs out. Jesus love didn’t end, his love never runs out, he is love.
1 John 4:9-10 – The love of God is manifest towards us through the gift of God’s Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
We love him because he first loved us.
Thanks to God for his indescribable gift.