THE DESIGN OF JESUS’ DEATH
JOHN 10:1-10
JOHN 10:1-10
Key verse: v. 10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Introduction:
This chapter of John continues the discourse of the Good Shepherd. Comparing people to a shepherd and his sheep was common in the Middle East. Kings and priests called themselves shepherds and their subjects, sheep. Many of the great men of the Old Testament were shepherds (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David). As national leaders, Moses and David were both “shepherds” over Israel.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd who has a particular purpose or design in mind for His sheep. That design was life for those who would receive it by faith in Jesus We shall explore this design in the Scriptures today.
I. THE MINISTRY OF THE GREAT SHEPHERD
A. To give life to the world, John 3:17, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
1. He came to find the lost, Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
2. Jesus came to save the lost, Matthew 18:11, “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”
B. To be a ransom for those enslaved in sin, Matthew 20:28, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
C. To take away the sin of the world, John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
1. To remit (forgive or pardon) those sins, Matthew 26:28, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
2. To forgive those sins by laying down His own life for them, John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
II. THE DESIGN OF THE GREAT SHEPHERD
A. To be the Light of the world, John 8:12, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
B. To be a light to Jew and Gentile, Acts 26:23, “That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.”
1. To the Jew first, Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
2. To the Gentile also, Isaiah 42:1, “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”
C. To introduce the Grace of God through redemption in Jesus Christ, Romans 3:24-25, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”
1. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, John 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
2. We are saved by His grace, Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
a. This grace has appeared to all men, Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”
b. The Gospel of Christ has been preached to the world, 1 Timothy 2:4-6, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”
3. We are justified through His grace, Romans 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”
a. We have peace with God, Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
b. He was delivered for our sins, Romans 4:25, “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”
c. We have been justified in the name of Jesus, 1 Corinthians 6:11, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
CONCLUSION:
The design of the Lord was to die for the sins of the world and save those that would believe on Jesus Christ as their Savior. God’s people continue to preach the Gospel though out the world to every creature.
God has no changed His mind and continues to saved those that will come unto Him for salvation.