After the death of Jesus, while His body lay in the tomb, His soul descended into Hades and, as a result, certain important and permanent changes took place. The death and resurrection of Jesus was cosmic in its effects. It produced results that affected the entire universe from that time forward.

In today’s message, Derek draws aside just a corner of the veil that separates this world from the next and gives us a glimpse into what comes after death. Today, he speaks about the period before Jesus came.

The resurrection was clearly predicted in the Old Testament Scriptures. As well as increasing our understanding of the resurrection, this teaching provides an outstanding example of the amazing accuracy of biblical prophecy.

The resurrection of Jesus, who was our representative, is the sure seal upon God’s offer of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus. It is only the risen Christ, received and confessed by faith, who brings to the sinner pardon, peace, eternal life and victory over sin.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the heart of the Christian message. In fact, without the resurrection there is no Christian message. It all revolves around the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is not a philosophy or a theory. It is a fact of history.

In concluding this week’s teaching, Derek discusses those who the Lord has set as under-shepherds to watch over His flock. The marks of the true shepherds are: they speak God’s Word, they set an example of faith to point people to Christ, and they keep watch over the souls of God’s people.

Going back to the Parable of the Sheepfold in John 10, Derek gives three distinctive marks of those sheep that belong to Jesus. They have entered into the sheepfold by the door—through Jesus’ death and resurrection—through His blood. They hear the voice of the shepherd and they follow Him. This speaks of a direct, personal relationship, and also speaks of obedience to the Lord.

In today’s study, Derek looks at the Twenty-third Psalm to bring out the complete provision we have, as sheep of the Great Shepherd, Jesus. Verse by verse Derek goes through this Psalm to show us how we can rest in the security of knowing that our shepherd is watching over and caring for us.

Today Derek identifies the door of the sheepfold, who is Jesus, the only way to enter. Jesus made this clear in the parable, but then He also said that He was the shepherd. Derek takes this paradox, “How can He be both the door and the shepherd?” He reveals that Jesus as the door is Jesus crucified; whereas Jesus as the shepherd is Jesus resurrected.

This week Derek looks at the Parable of the Good Shepherd and His sheepfold. Jesus used this parable in revealing His relationship with His sheep—those who follow Him. Derek explains the identity of the various elements of this parable: namely, that of the shepherd, the sheep, the sheepfold, the doorkeeper, and the owner. See how this parable applies to you.