Hope for Today

“Jesus and True Love”

John 12:1-11

Hello friend, I’m J. Mark Horst, your host and this program is Hope for Today. It is produced by Heralds of Hope, an international Gospel media ministry. Each week the Bible teaching broadcasts of Heralds of Hope circle the globe in English and 22 other major languages. Thousands are tuning in each week to receive spiritual nourishment and blessing. We receive many exciting testimonies of people who have come to faith in Jesus by listening to the programs.

If you listen to this program regularly, I’m alerting you to expect some changes to our programming in the next several weeks. At Heralds of Hope, we are a growing and changing ministry. We are expanding our audience, we are adding new personnel, and we are updating our content. Eventually, you will hear a new musical intro to the program as well as some other cosmetic changes. But one thing that won’t change is our commitment to teaching God’s Word!

      If you’re tuning in for the first time today, we are currently being led through the Gospel of John by the teaching of the late, Dr. J. Otis Yoder. He was the founder, first president, and Bible teacher for Hope for Today. He went home to be with the Lord in the year 2003.

But he taught the Bible in such a way that his teaching never goes out of date. And so, we’re rebroadcasting his teaching from the Gospel of John. We are confident that, if you tune in each week, you will be blessed by the clear, simple presentation of biblical truth. And that truth, if you accept it, will change your life now and for eternity.

In just a few moments, Dr. Yoder will come to share his teaching about Jesus. It’s titled, “Jesus and True Love.” But before he does that, let’s pray.

Gracious God our Heavenly Father, we come to you in the precious name of Jesus. It is alone through Him that we have access into your holy presence. His blood, shed on the cross at Calvary, is the only sacrifice that is acceptable to you to wash away our sin.

And now, Father, as Dr. Yoder comes to teach us from the Word, open our hearts to receive your truth. Teach how to love your more truly and completely. This I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

The word love is difficult for us to define. We don’t really know how to express ourselves with respect to love. Let me try.

Love is the response of the heart. Love grows by the association of the object of love with the lover: the closeness of the lover and the object. We do not need to try to think out love, that is, to analyze it scien­tifically or technically, because it is an emotion, an expression and response of the heart more than of the mind.

However, to be proper, love needs control and direction. Because we are made in the image of God our first and basic expression of love should be directed toward God. Even though we cannot see Him, we need to direct our first and basic love toward God. Then we need to direct our love toward our families and neighbors.

You know, Jesus said it once like this, “The first and great commandment is, Thou shalt love the Lord Thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”

The Bible further counsels us in these words, “We love Him because He first loved us.” That means that true love is a sharing experience. Real true love is that love which God has expressed toward us and we may express toward Him.

So I am going to be talking to you about JESUS AND TRUE LOVE from John 12:l-ll. I believe that Mary expresses true love.

1. Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
2. There they made him a supper, and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
3. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
5. Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6. This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
7. Then said Jesus, Let her alone; against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
8. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
9. Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10. But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11. Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.

This experience provides us with several INSIGHTS into the nature of true love. Let’s think about them together a bit.

Love Expresses Devotion.

Take a look at Mary’s gift. It was very costly, we are told. It was precious ointment: a pound of ointment of spikenard very costly. We do not know how expensive this ointment was, but some Bible students have suggested it may well have been that Mary spent all her life time saving to get this precious ointment.

Then she brought it and poured it on Jesus’ feet. This act of Mary was an act of deep love. She expressed her devotion to Jesus by bringing this very expensive ointment and anointing His feet with it and wiping them with her hair.

Love, true love, expresses devotion.

Love Endures Suffering.

Now notice Judas’ reaction. He looked at what Mary did and considered it a terrible waste. He said, “Why was not this sold and the money given to the poor.” He scorned Mary. He ridiculed her. He thought she lacked good judgment.

We are told further why Judas said what he did. It was not that he cared for the poor, but he was greedy. He was a thief. He liked the feel of money in his hands. He wanted more money. So he heaped on Mary suffering.

In my words he was saying she should have known better than waste all this money on this ointment. Mary’s love endured that kind of suffering. Love Enjoys Approval.

Did you notice how Jesus responded to Judas? He rebuked him, we might say. He said, “Let her alone. For the day of my burial, she has kept this.”

Jesus understood Mary’s motive. Judas did not. But Jesus understood why she came and why she had spent her life saving. He understood and He approved her in it.

Then He gave Judas a bit of council, “You have the poor always with you; but me you do not have always.”

Now, I learn another lesson from this: whatever you are going to do for the Lord, you should do now. Some of these other things can wait, but not what you do for Jesus. Jesus approved Mary’s act of love. So Mary’s love enjoyed Jesus’ approval.

Love Encourages Belief.

Many Jews came to the house of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. They came not so much to see Jesus, but to see Lazarus whom the Lord had raised from the dead. Because of this miracle of Lazarus, they came.

Let us also notice that Mary’s love encouraged them to believe. Her expression of devotion surely must have had an influence on those who came and left believing.

When they saw Lazarus, when they saw Mary, they were convinced. Mary’s love encouraged them to believe.

My friend, Jesus and true love should arouse you and me to consider our attitudes. Mary’s love expressed devo­tion, endured ridicule, enjoyed approval and encouraged belief.

Let me tell you, my friend, Jesus is worthy of your true love. Mary illustrates this for us. Why don’t you respond to Him now in true love?

CLOSING

Thank you, Dr. Yoder for showing us these insights into the nature of true love. Mary’s extravagant gift was an expression of her deep love and devotion to the Lord Jesus. How are you showing your love to Him?

Now, if you were blessed by this teaching and would like an audio CD or a printed copy of it, just write and ask for the teaching “Jesus and True Love.” We would be happy to send a copy to you as soon as we receive your request.

The quickest way for you to contact us is to send an e-mail to [email protected]. That e-mail address is [email protected]. Or you may write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching, “Jesus and True Love.” We’d be happy to send one to you.

And when you contact us, you can request our newest publication, Hope Herald. It is a study guide that follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we are studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.

Here’s the contact information again. The quickest way to reach us is by at this address; [email protected]. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember; you can request a free copy of this teaching, “Jesus and True Love.” It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.

And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, twr360.org. That’s twr360.org. Thousands are logging on to the site for spiritual nourishment and blessing. You can join them and be blessed too!

Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Dr. Yoder continues our study from John’s Gospel with an important message titled “Jesus is King.” You won’t want to miss it. And until then, I urge you to keep looking for that blessed HOPE.

Meeting the Seemingly Impossible

John 11:38-46

Hello friend, I’m J. Mark Horst, your host and I welcome you to Hope for Today. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope. We’re an international Gospel media ministry. Each week our Bible teaching broadcasts circle the globe in English and 22 other major languages. Tens of thousands tune in each week for spiritual nourishment and blessing.

If you listen to this program regularly, I’m alerting you to expect some changes to our programming in the next several weeks. At Heralds of Hope, we are a growing and changing ministry. We are expanding our audience, we are adding new personnel, and we are updating our content. Eventually, you will hear a new musical intro to the program as well as some other cosmetic changes. But one thing that won’t change is our commitment to teaching God’s Word!

Why? Because God’s Word is the standard by which all people will be judged. Listen to these verses from Hebrews 9:27 and 28. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”

So, all men will die and face judgment for their deeds. But there will be a difference between the judgment faced by those who know Jesus and those who don’t. Christ-followers will have their works judged that will determine their rewards. In fact, the Hebrew writer says these people are eagerly awaiting Jesus to return. But unbelievers will face eternal judgment because they have rejected Jesus as the only means of salvation. We don’t want that to be your fate and that is why we come to you each week with this Bible teaching program.

If you’ve been tuning in regularly to Hope for Today, you know that we’re studying from John’s Gospel. Our Bible teacher for this series is the late Dr. J. Otis Yoder, founder, and president of Heralds of Hope. Here he is with today’s teaching; “Meeting the Seemingly Impossible.” And our Scripture portion is John 11:38 to 46.

Perhaps you too have had to meet a situation where the way through seemed almost impossible. I have had such situations. But I have learned from the counsel of another, every problem carries the clue to its own solution. It’s like a stone mason. He can tell how to strike the chisel to shape the stone. Just by looking at the stone he knows where to strike it. That is learned by experience and accomplished stone masons do very nice work.

It is so in life. We must seek the solution by a careful examination of the problem. Jesus was especially able to meet the seemingly impossible. So, I want to share with you from John 11:3846 and we will see Jesus MEETING THE SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE.

38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinks: for he hath been dead four days.

40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

Here Jesus met the seemingly impossible. As He did the several STAGES of His plan emerge. These will strengthen our faith in Him.

First there was The Command.

“Take away the stone.” Preparation had to be made for what was about to follow. Therefore, Jesus gave the com­mand to take the stone away. But Martha’s objection opened her heart wide, didn’t it? She said, Lord, it’s too late. “Lord, by this time he stinks.” The decom­position, the rotting of his body had already begun. It’s too late, Lord.

Oh, how many times we object to the clear command of the Lord because we think we know better. So, it was with Martha. But Jesus had given the command to take away the stone and He replied to her, “If thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” Don’t argue. Obey, believe, do what the Lord says. When the command is clear, do not falter. Proceed.

The second stage is The Commitment.

So, they removed the stone. The preparation was made. Not all of it because Jesus made a commitment unto God in His prayer. Notice carefully in the Scripture just how Jesus prayed. Read the prayer again, “Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent

Right there, my friend, is a real commitment on the part of Jesus. His prayer first of all contains thanks­giving to God. Then it contains trust because Jesus said, “I knew that thou doest hear me always”. Then there is a petition for the people. I’m saying this so that the people standing around here may believe.

Oh yes, I am impressed with this second stage of meeting the seemingly impossible. Because, you see, Jesus committed it all to the Father so that when He was facing this seemingly impossible situation, He made it clear that He was trusting in God.

The third stage is The Call.

Now notice the preparation: the stone has been taken away; the prayer has been offered; the commitment has been made. Then the call came to Lazarus, the dead man. The Bible tells us that Jesus called with a loud voice saying, “Lazarus, come forth”. And the dead man came forth. What else could He do. The Creator had called him forth. Because the Creator had called him forth, he responded. And he came, bound with grave clothes, hand, and foot, with a handkerchief about his face. He came like they had placed him there. But he came because the Creator had called him.

Then to the people Jesus said, “Loose him, and let him go.” The result of this was that many believed on Him.

The call came to Lazarus, the dead man. The command to untie him came to those who stood by. But as I pointed out to you, many believed when they saw what Jesus had done. Jesus the Son of God met the seemingly impossible with great power, even overcoming death.

We can trust Him today, as well. These stages tell us He can do as He wills: the command, “Take away the stone”; the commitment, “Father, I thank thee”; the call, “Lazarus, come forth”.

My friend, complete trust in Jesus will help you meet what seems impossible. I am not suggesting that Jesus will raise the dead for you. But, my friend, He is able to see you through what appears totally impossible. I urge you to trust Him.

Oh God, our heavenly Father, with humble thanksgiving we bless Thy Name for all Thy goodness. Oh, help my listeners and me to really trust Jesus as we face what really seems to be impossible because we know…

CLOSING

Most of us have faced situations in life that looked impossible. But our God, Jehovah, the Creator of all, is a God who can do the impossible. What a blessing to be able to call Him our Father and to know that He loves and cares for us in every circumstance of life.

My friend, I hope this teaching has blessed you. If you’d like a copy, either in print or on an audio CD, just contact us and ask for it by the title, “Meeting the Seemingly Impossible.”

The quickest way for you to contact us is to send an e-mail to [email protected]. That e-mail address is [email protected]. Or you may write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember, you can request a printed manuscript or an audio CD of this teaching, “Meeting the Seemingly Impossible.” We’d be happy to send one to you.

And when you contact us, you can request our newest publication, Hope Herald. It is a study guide that follows these radio programs and will help you learn more about what we are studying from John’s Gospel. So, ask for your free copy of Hope Herald today.

Here’s the contact information again. The quickest way to reach us is by at this address; [email protected]. Or write to Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, Pennsylvania 15533. Remember; you can request a free copy of this teaching, “Meeting the Seemingly Impossible.” It’s available in print or on an audio CD. And you can also request a free copy of our newest publication, Hope Herald. It will help you gain more value from our study in John.

And don’t forget our Bible teaching programs are available to you all the time and any time at the website, twr360.org. That’s twr360.org. Thousands are logging on to the site for spiritual nourishment and blessing. You can join them and be blessed too!

Now, I urge you to tune in next week as Dr. Yoder continues our study from John’s Gospel with an important message titled “Facing the Facts.” You won’t want to miss it. And until then, I urge you to keep looking for that blessed HOPE.

What causes misunderstandings? There are several causes. One may be the lack of information, not having all the facts together. Or it may be inability to communicate, that is, not able to tell it like it really is.

There may be another cause for misunderstanding, that of not hearing correctly. I may say a word that you do not quite understand. If you do not understand what I am saying then you may misunderstand what I mean.

How can misunderstanding be corrected? It is quite simple. Gather all the information that you can, sift the facts from the falsehoods, and listen carefully so as to understand.

I believe among the subjects most frequently misunderstood is the nature and mission of Jesus of Nazareth. On that subject, though, hangs the most serious of life’s outcomes.

My dear friend, it is very important that you understand as well as possible who Jesus of Nazareth is and what His mission is. From John 10:31-42 I want to show you how Jesus helps you to CORRECT YOUR MISUNDERSTANDINGS.

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.

41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

42 And many believed on him there.

Here then in these verses we have the DETAILS which clear up most misunderstandings about the person and work of Jesus.

The first Detail:

The Condemnation.

They were about to render an execution without trial. Moses’ law required the execution of a heretic, but not without a hearing. He was to be brought before the elders, and people were to testify of his unsound faith, and after careful examination, then, they were to stone or execute the person.

So, Jesus protested. He said, “Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?” Their reply is very significant, because they said, “For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”

You see, there is one of the misunderstandings that they had because it was not really that at all. They lacked information. One cause for misunderstanding is lack of information. And they lacked information. They thought that Jesus, being a man, was trying to be God. But it’s the other way around. Here was God being man and they were not understanding this at all. So they sought to condemn Him and stone Him without a trial.

Here is the second Detail which helps to clear our understanding of Jesus.

The Vindication.

Jesus made an appeal to the Word of God. He said there was a Scripture where people were called gods. Here is the exact quote: “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” I found it located in Psalm 82:6. The people were called gods. They were mortal, yet they were called the children of God.

Now Jesus raised a very important question on that and vindicated Himself because He said, “Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?”

A part of the problem was that they did not understand the nature of this miracle of God becoming man. I am trying to point out to you that Jesus vindicated His position and His statement, “I and the Father are one.” Because this was the miracle of God becoming man. And they misunderstood that.

Do you understand it? They needed to accept His statement and so must you. He is the sanctified sent One and is indeed the Son of God.

The third Detail follows:

The Verification.

The record continues that Jesus left that part of the country and went over beyond the Jordan where John had been baptizing and many of the people came unto Him and many believed on Him. He found a place where He would not be harassed and where they would not be threatening to stone Him, in the place where John the Baptist had been ministering and most likely where John the Baptist had baptized Jesus. There He found a kind of resort or retreat.

Many of the people came unto Him and from them the response was that everything that John the Baptist said about this man is coming true. John the Baptist performed no miracles, but his prophecies regarding this man are coming true. And many believed on Him there.

When you take it all together, the evidence is convincing. The verification is absolutely established. How can you still hesitate when many today are believing? Letters come from radio listeners in many countries telling us, “I am a believer.”

Why don’t you take that step, too, and become a believer? If you have any misunderstandings about Jesus, consider with care these details: the condemnation without a trial; the vindication and the appeal to God’s Word; the verification that many believed on Him. Surely these can be helpful to you. These details give us certainty of the truth.

Correct your misunderstanding, and learn to know who Jesus is by accepting Him, the Son of God, as your personal Saviour.

How can you be sure of what you really believe? Where does your security lie? Some trust in horses and chariots, the Bible says. Some trust in uncertain riches. Some trust in princes and kings. Some may trust in their intelligence. You see, I was a Bible teacher on a college campus and seminary for twenty-one years and so I know some of the routes that students take. Some trust in their intelligence.

All of these pass with time. But how can we be sure what we trust in will really endure, endure for the times beyond this life? Jesus’ conversation with the people in John 10:22-30 reveals where TRUE SECURITY lies.

22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.

24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

Here in these Bible verses, my friend, are set forth the DIRECTIVES to attain true security. I’m asking you, “Where have you placed your trust?”

The first Directive:

Make a Direct Investigation.

Here is a time and place. We are told that it was the feast of dedication. The Jews still observe that feast, the dedication of the temple 165 years before Christ, or before the common era. It was that time and the place was in the temple, Solomon’s porch. They came to that particular time and place and raised a question with Jesus. They asked, “Who are you? Why don’t you tell us who you are? How long do you make us doubt? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

That word, Christ, is a very important word. It is the English word for the Greek word Christos, which is a translation of the Hebrew word Meshiach, the Messiah. Tell us if you are, in fact, the Messiah. Why do you keep us wondering?

I invite you to make a direct investigation of the record. Jesus said He had told them who He was and He told them He was the Messiah. But still they wanted some additional confirmation. So I am suggesting that you do what they did. You make a direct investigation.

The second Directive:

Be Prepared for a Decisive Evaluation.

Then Jesus said, “I told you and you did not believe. The works that I am doing in my Father’s Name, they bear witness of me.” Now, what did He do? The Bible records thirty-seven miracles of mercy that Jesus performed. Thirty-seven miracles of mercy are recorded in the Gospel records, like healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out the demons, etc. Now, they should bear some testimony as to whom Jesus is, shouldn’t they? Of course.

Besides that, He was teaching the truth. One time the people sent the temple guards to take Jesus and they came back without Him. The people asked, “Why didn’t you bring Him?” And they said, “Well, nobody talks like this man talks.”

You see, He taught the truth. So you must be prepared for a decisive evaluation. And Jesus made it very clear that belief is a certain step. It’s a step of certainty. He said, “You did not believe because you are not of my sheep.”

I tell you. Jesus made a decisive evaluation of these people that were listening to Him. But I’m asking you, “Where do you stand now? What would Jesus say about you? Would He also say about you that you are not a true sheep?”

When you ask, when you make a direct investigation, you must be prepared for the decisive evaluation. Are you a believer?

There is a third Directive:

Receive the Definite Declaration.

Again Jesus refers to the sheep and the shepherd. He said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” There is that intimacy and satisfying relationship. Jesus went on to say, “I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

Think of the security there can be in faith in Jesus. That is where it is, belief in Jesus. That is where security actually comes from. He goes on to say that they are also secure in the Father’s hand because, “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

You see the oneness between these two: the Father and the Son? He said, “Nobody is able to pluck them out of my hand…nobody is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

Once you believe in Jesus Christ as the true Shepherd and the Son of God, then you experience true security. That is the result. So long as your faith remains secure, He will hold you fast. You can be sure of that. You must receive this, however, as a very significant and definite declaration.

You see how true security deals not with the material, but with the heart and its peace. That is only possible in Jesus. So make your investigation. I implore you, I invite you to make a decisive and direct investigation. Study the case and see who Jesus is. But be prepared for His evaluation because He said if you do not believe in Him then you are not a true sheep. And receive His declaration. Once you really believe in Him and know Him as the true Shepherd and become a true sheep, He holds you fast.

Many years ago King David had an experience in the time when the Philistines came in and harassed the people of Israel. He said to three of his brave men, “Oh, how I long for a drink of water from the well at Bethlehem’s gate.” And do you know, those three men broke through the Philistine ranks and brought water to David from the well at Bethlehem’s gate? And do you know what David did? He said he couldn’t drink it. He wouldn’t drink it because this represented blood. They had taken their lives in their hands to get the water from the well at Bethlehem’s gate.

Some people will die for a friend. These three brave men risked their lives for their king. But, who will die for an enemy? Who would even dare to die for one he does not love?

We are told self-preservation, to keep alive, is the first law of human existence. There is a higher law though, SELF-GIVING LOVE. That’s what I want you to think about as we come to the words of Jesus. Three times in John 10:11-18 Jesus tells how He will give His life for the sheep.

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

In this Bible text we find EXPLANATIONS why Jesus died for us or why He would give His life for the sheep in self-giving love.

Explanation number one:

There is One Shepherd.

He is the good Shepherd. He is the trusted Shepherd. He is the faithful Shepherd. The One who is faithful even until death. He said, “I give my life for the sheep.” The others are hirelings, hired to do the job, but they don’t care for the sheep. They only care for themselves. So their central thought is “my life.” I want to be sure that I am protected. So when the wolf comes they run away and leave the sheep to their fate. Jesus said so. He said that’s the way the hireling operates.

But Jesus said He gives His life for the sheep. There’s only one shepherd who would do that and that is the good Shepherd. What a wonderful fact this is, one shepherd. Not many shepherds, my friend, one shepherd. And Jesus said, “I am the good Shepherd.”

There is a second Explanation:

There is One Fold.

Notice how He said there is not separation between the shepherd and the sheep? Strangers, they won’t follow. We learned that before. But there’s no separation between the shepherd, the true Shepherd, and the sheep. There is one fold.

There is also a relationship between the Shepherd and the Father. He spoke of the reason why the Father knows Him and He knows the Father. He said, “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” There is unity of thought between the Father and the Shepherd. And Jesus is that Shepherd, you understand.

Then there is the Shepherd and the fold. All true sheep are in the true Shepherd’s fold. Jesus said, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

Oh, how I rejoice in that, my friend. It doesn’t make any difference where you are reading this. Whether you are in the Far East, or whether you are in South Africa, West Africa, or the Middle East. It doesn’t make any difference where you are. Jesus said there is going to be one fold and one Shepherd. From many countries they come into one fold.

Praise the Lord! Isn’t that wonderful! Jesus said He was going to give His life for the sheep so that there will be one flock, one shepherd, one fold.

Then there is one central truth: the Father’s love. He said, “For this reason the Father loves me because I am going to give my life for the sheep.” This was the Father’s intention from the beginning. This was the Father’s plan from the very start, that the Shepherd would give His life for the sheep.

Then Jesus made a very striking prediction. You’ll find that in verse 18: “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

No matter how you examine the record, it becomes absolutely clear that this prediction that Jesus made came to pass. He gave His life. Oh, it’s true the Roman soldiers crucified Him. But in reality He gave His life because the Bible says from the cross He cried with a loud voice, “It is finished.” Then He gave up His Spirit and said to God the Father, “Into thy hands I commend my Spirit.”

Yes, my friend, Jesus gave His life so that He might take it again. He arose from the dead just like He said He would. He is alive today. Right now He is alive. He is now seated at the right hand of God in heaven so the Bible informs us. There is one truth that He did lay His life down and that He did take it again. What a wonderful fact! The death and the resurrection of Jesus was truly self-giving love.

He said, “I’m going to lay down my life for the sheep.” No one else has ever done what Jesus did. He is the one Shepherd. He is the good Shepherd. And He is the one who is going to bring all His sheep into one fold. It makes no difference where we’re from, if we are true sheep of the true Shepherd we’re all in one fold. This is being done on the basis of one truth, that He gave His life for the sheep.