Day 10 & 11 – John 10 – 11

Busy Week folks so I am a little behind in posting. I hope some of you are enjoying walking through John though. Love you!

HIGHLIGHTS

John 10:27 – 30 ²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”

John 11:1 – 7 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ² (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) ³ So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” ⁴ When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” ⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, ⁷ and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

EXPLAIN

John 10 – Jesus reveals Himself earlier as the Good Shepherd, and we are referred to as His sheep (a pretty familiar image used in scripture). Jesus said his sheep listen to his voice. He knows them and they follow him. Jesus gives three simple powerful truths regarding His Sheep: (1) They listen to and know his voice. The true sheep of Christ’s fold come alive to the voice of Jesus. His voice calls to their heart, and they know it is Him. (2) Jesus knows them. He is familiar with and knows His sheep by name. He doesn’t look at us as a nameless, faceless group of sheep, but rather he is intimately acquainted with each of us. We matter to him as individuals. He would love the 99 to go after the one because He loves the one. He loves us, his sheep. (3) His sheep follow Him. A sheep knows it shepherd, knows his voice, and will not follow the voice of another shepherd. His sheep follow Him, His leading and guidance. These verses also reveal a security the sheep have with their shepherd. He gives us eternal life, and we will never perish. No one can snatch us from His hand. Those who are in His hand are eternally secure. His is a No Slip GRIP and he holds on to us tightly. Our faith can rest in His strength and power to save!

John 11 – Jesus heard the news of Lazarus’ illness and waited another couple of days. Jesus said this sickness will not end in death, even though Lazarus would die. Jesus said this would end in the glory of God so the Son might be glorified through this. Jesus wasn’t in a hurry to rush to Lazarus’ side. He waited. Jesus knew Lazarus would die, but at the same time said this sickness would not result in death. How can you say that Jesus? He died. No one knew what Jesus knew. No one fully knew what Jesus could do. This miracle was to reveal that He is the Resurrection and the Life, and that He had power over the grave. It is one thing to be able to heal a sick person, but it is a whole different thing to be able to raise someone back from the dead. This is the ability to turn tragedy into triumph, and death and darkness into deliverance! Jesus was on his own time table for He knew what was possible, and He knew God’s glory would be revealed. God always has the last word, and the last move. When everything looks over and done with, the One who is Resurrection always has another move.

APPLY

John 10 – I want to grow in knowing and hearing the voice of Jesus. I belong to Him, and I am His. He personally knows me by name and cares for me. I can be assured that He cares for His sheep and No one can snatch me out of His hand. I am secure in His grip. I will follow Him.

John 11 – I will have faith that Jesus always has the last word. I can trust the Risen Christ for the work of resurrection even when all seems lost. He can bring life from death, hope into hopelessness, light into the dark. I know it. I have seen and witnessed it time and again. And even if I do not see full justice and resurrection this side of earth, it has been guaranteed in the life to come. He has defeated every enemy I will ever face. No fear.

RESPONSE:

John 10 – Lord, give me ears to hear your voice. I want to tune out every other voice and fully discern the voice of my God. I walk in faith knowing that I am fully known by the Shepherd and He will lead me.

John 11 – Lord I will trust in the Risen Christ for the power of His resurrection in all things. Amen.