John 10:22-30, Revelation 7:9-17, with Psalm 23 The question in both of these passages is “Who are God’s sheep?” In John 10 Jesus tells the Jews that they don’t believe since they do not belong to his sheep. He then lists the qualities of the sheep who do belong. They hear his voice and follow him. In return he will give them eternal life – they will never perish. He assures his sheep that no one can snatch them from out of the Father’s hand. He then declares that he and the Father are one. Revelation 7 tells about a great multitude standing before Christ, the Lamb clothed in white who state that salvation (being one’s sheep) belongs to God and to the Lamb (Christ). After the angels praise God, the elder asks who are these people dressed in white and where do they come from? The answer is those who have been saved by washing their robes white in the blood of the lamb. This Lamb is not only the one who brought salvation but is their shepherd who will guide his sheep, those who belon...
John 13:31-35, Revelation 21:1-6 Some of Jesus’ last words to his disciples is to tell them they can’t go where he is to go but he leaves them a commandment to love one another. He qualifies this by adding “how I have loved you.” Why? “By this everyone will know you are my disciples.” This is what we are to do until we go to heaven and are glorified. In Revelation 21 Christ sits on his throne telling how the home of God – the new heaven and earth is with mortals. God will dwell with them and wipe every tear from their eyes since mourning, crying, and pain will be no more since death will be no more. Jesus last words are, “I am making all things new. It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, beginning and end.” To those who thirst for him he will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life – eternal life. Though we live on the old earth now with its pain, suffering, and tears Christ promises us a new heaven and earth where pain and tears will be gone. Until then the Holy...
John 14:23-29, Acts 16: 9-5 Jesus talks about how those who love him keep his word. Jesus clarifies about this word that we hear saying it is not his but from the Father. The other part of the Trinity will be involved when Jesus leaves -it is the Holy Spirit. Called the Advocate, the Holy Spirit will teach them everything and remind them of all the words of the Father that Jesus has said to them. This Advocate will also remind them of the peace Jesus left them with, not peace as the world gives, so they are not to be afraid. Eagerly listening to the Spirit is the apostle Paul who in our Acts passage has a vision of a Macedonian man pleading him to come and help the people there. So doing and keeping God’s word, Paul sets sail for Macedonia. He finds there a group of women at a place of prayer. He speaks the gospel to them and one woman, Lydia opened her heart to listen eagerly to what Paul said. In response she and her household were baptized and she lets Paul and his traveling com...
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