Author: Art Davison

THE HIRELING

JOHN 10:11-15

The hireling appears to be a genuine shepherd. He plays the part well, but in reality, he is just a hired servant who has no real interest or investment in the sheep.

The Lord Jesus on the other hand, has a real interest in His sheep having given His life for them. He leads them with great care.

The hireling is in the business for gain and has no care for the sheep. Observe,

I. THE HIRELING IS NOT THE SHEPHERD

A. He appears to be shepherds, Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

B. He speaks as if he was a shepherd, Romans 16:18, “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

1. They speak smooth things, Isaiah 30:10, “Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:”

2. Their message is false, Jeremiah 8:11, “For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.”

II. THE SHEEP ARE NOT THE HIRELING’S

A. The hireling is self-serving and has scattered the sheep, Jeremiah 23:1, “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.”

1. These false shepherds have caused the sheep to go astray, Jeremiah 50:6, “My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.”

2. These shepherds have no care for the sheep, Ezekiel 34:6, “My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.”

B. What makes them false and self-seeking?

1. They are in it for the money, Isaiah 56:11, “Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.”

2. They undertook the shepherd’s office as a trade, 2 Peter 2:15, “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”

3. They serve their own belly, Romans 16:18, “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

III. THE TRUE SHEPHERD

A. Jesus knows and cares for the sheep, John 10:13-14, “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.”

B. We can put our trust in Him, 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

1. He knows our frame, our limitations, Psalm 103:14, “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.”

a. The Lord is full of compassion, Psalm 78:38, “But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. 39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.”

b. The Lord is longsuffering with us, 1 Timothy 1:16, “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

2. He knows the secrets of our heart, Psalm 44:21, “Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.”

a. The Lord knows the good and the bad, Ecclesiastes 12:14, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

b. He sees our ways, Job 31:4-5, “Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? 5 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;”

3. The Good Shepherd knows us so well that He knew that we needed life, John 10:10, “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.”

THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND

JOHN 6:1-15

Introduction:

The miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 is the only sign recorded in all four of the Gospels with the exception of the Resurrection. This in itself makes it significant. The Lord is involved in training the Apostles for the work that they would lead in the future in the churches that would be organized after the Lord’s return to the Father.

I. EVENTS OF THE TIME

A. Herod had killed John the Baptist,

Matthew 14:10, “And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.”

B. The disciples had preached throughout Galilee, Mark 6:7-13, 30-31.

1. The Lord had sent them out by twos, v. 7, “And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;”

2. Two are better than one, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”

3. Jesus gave them power, Mark 16:17, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

C. Curiosity about Jesus.

1. Herod thought that John was raised from the dead, Mark 6:14, 16, “And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. 16But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.”

2. Others thought Jesus was Elijah or one of the prophets, Mark 6:15, “Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.”

a. It is interesting that many thought that Jesus was one of the prophets, Matthew 21:11, “And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”

b. Few recognized Him as the Messiah, Matthew 16:13-14, “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.”

II. THE PLACE

A. The Northeast side of the Sea of Galilee, called elsewhere the lake of Gennesareth, here the sea of Tiberias, John 6:1, “After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.”

B. A great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles, v. 2.

1. Our Lord Jesus, while he went about doing good, lived continually in a crowd, which gave him more trouble than honour.

2. Christ’s miracles drew many after him that were not drawn to him for salvation, John 6:26, “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.”

III. THE MIRACLE

A. Where shall we buy bread for these to eat? v. 5, “When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”

1. The Lord concern and compassion is seen here expecting them all to eat with Him, John 21:12, “Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.”

2. Also this was a small test for Philip because the Lord knew what He would do, v. 6, “And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.”

B. Andrew speaks up with some doubt, vs. 8-9, “One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, 9There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?”

1. Had they forgotten to whom they were speaking? He is Lord of all, Acts 10:36, “The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)”

2. The Lord bless the loaves and fishes, v. 11, “And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.”

C. Gather up what remains, vs. 12-13, “When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.”

1. They filled twelve hand baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, v. 13, “Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.”

2. Here the Lord teaches His disciples that He is more than sufficient for their needs, 2 Corinthians 3:5, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;”

D. The Lord is glorified and recognized, v. 14, “Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.” Deuteronomy 18:15, “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;”

CONCLUSION:

We as Christians forget so easily what the Lord can do in our lives. Even the Apostles had to be reminded of this event later in Mark 8:17-21 what had happened here.

THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK

JOHN 20:1-18

There was no one thing of which the apostles were more concerned to produce substantial proof than the resurrection of their Master. First, because it was that which he himself appealed to as the last and most cogent proof of his being the Messiah. Second, because it was upon this the performance of his undertaking for our redemption and salvation did depend. 1 Corinthians 15:17, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” The evidence of the Lord’s resurrection was shown openly, Acts 10:40, “Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly.”

I. MARY MAGDALENE FINDS THE STONE WAS TAKEN AWAY

A. Much was forgiven Mary Magdalene, therefore she loved much, Luke 7:47, “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”

1. Who was she? Luke 8:2, “And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils.”

2. Seven devils had been cast out of her by the Lord, Mark 16:9, “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.”

B. She was accompanied by Mary the mother of James, Mark 16:1, “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.”

C. Mary Magdalene was apparently the first to get to the cave where Jesus was buried.

1. She had been an observer at the cross and now was the first person at the grave, Matthew 27:55-56, “And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.”

2. She finds it open, v. 1; Mark 16:3, “And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?”

II. PETER AND JOHN ARE INFORMED

V. 2, “Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.”

A. Mary thought someone had stolen the Lord’s body, v. 9, “For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.”

1. The Risen Lord addresses her, v. 13,“And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

2. She does not recognize the Lord, v. 15, “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.”

B. Peter and John run to the sepulchre, vs. 3-4.

1. John outruns Peter to the cave, but does not enter.

2. Peter is the bolder of the two and enters, vs. 6-10.

a. Peter saw (beheld attentively = puzzled) the grave clothes laid out in order, vs. 6-7.

b. John entered and saw (perceived = to grasp mentally) the same thing and knew that the Lord was risen from the dead, v. 8, “Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.”

c. For that reason he commented in v. 9, “For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.”

d. The disciple returned home, v. 10.

III. MARY MAGDALENE IS NOT SATISFIED TO LEAVE

A. She looks into the tomb and sees two angels, vs. 11-13.

1. She is still crying and upset.

2. The angels asked why, v. 13.

B. Jesus speaks to Mary, vs. 14-17.

1. The Lord’s appearance to Mary Magdalene and not to Pilate or Caiaphas, is significant because no Jewish author in the ancient world would have invented a story with a woman as the first witness to this most important event.

2. Furthermore, Jesus may have introduced Himself to Mary first because she had so earnestly sought Him.

a. She was at the cross while He was dying, John 19:25, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.”

b. She went to His tomb early on Sunday morning, v. 1.

C. Mary has a temporary blindness, vs. 15-16.

1. The Lord did allow her to recognize Him at first like those on the Emmaus road, Luke 24:16, “But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.”

2. Jesus said to her, Mary, v. 16.

a. As the Good Shepherd, He calls His sheep by name, John 10:3, “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.”

b. “They know His voice,” John 10:4, “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”

c. Immediately she recognized Him and responded with the cry Rabboni! (which means my Teacher), v. 17.

CONCLUSION:

She may have embraced Him physically, for the Lord responded, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” v. 18.

THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST–Part 2

JOHN 19:16-18

In the first of the two messages on the Death of Jesus Christ we saw that the death of Christ was NATURAL. It was a real death. Jesus “was made flesh” and therefore became capable of suffering death.

His death was also UN-NATURAL, that is, it was abnormal in that He is the Son of God. He had “no sin” and therefore was not under the condemnation of God. Therefore His death was un-natural.

Thirdly, His death was PRETER-NATURAL, that is, it was determined before hand. Revelation 13:8 tells us that the “Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world.”

Now let us consider that THE DEATH OF CHRIST WAS SUPER-NATURAL.

I. IT WAS DIFFERENT FROM EVERY OTHER DEATH.

A. His birth was different from all other births, Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

B. His life was different from all other lives, 1 John 3:5, “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”1 Peter 1:22, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:”

C. His death was different from all other deaths, Luke 23:46, “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” John 19:30, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

II. THE PROOF.

A. Our Lord “laid down his life,” – He was not powerless.

1. Consider His arrest, John 18:4-6, Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

2. The effect was startling, –“they went backward, and fell to the ground.”

3. “These officers were awestruck. They were in the presence of incarnate deity, and were overpowered by a brief consciousness of Divine majesty.”

B. Jesus cried with “a loud voice,” Matthew 27:46, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

1. Observe the words “with a loud voice.” Note Matthew 27:50, “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.”

2. He was not exhausted by what He passed through as many commentators say. God has laid help on Him, Psalms 89:19, “Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.”

C. Jesus had complete SELF-POSSESSION, John 19:28, “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.”

1. Here is evidence that He was in full possession of His mental faculties.

a. His mind was UNCLOUDED.

b. His terrible sufferings had NOT DISTURBED HIS MIND.

c. After six hours on the cross He viewed the ENTIRE SCOPE of the prophetic Word and CHECKED OFF each prophecy.

2. The one prophecy left was that He would drink vinegar mixed with gall, Psalm 69:21, “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.”

C. He bowed His head, John 19:30, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

1. “Previous to this our Lord’s head had been held erect. It was NO IMPOTENT SUFFERER that hung there in a swoon.” Arthur Pink.

2. He had bowed His head consciously, calmly, and reverently.

3. That, among other things, caused the centurion to cry, “Truly this was the Son of God.” Matthew 27:54.

D. The last act of Jesus, Luke 23:46, “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

1. No one ever did this or died thus, John 10:17-18, “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.”

2. No one could take from Him His life. He “gave up” His spirit.

E. The action of the soldiers in regard to the legs of the men on the crosses, John 19:31-33.

1. The two thieves were still alive and their legs were broken, vs. 31-32.

2. However, Jesus was already dead, v. 33, “But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:” Psalm 34:20, “He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.”

a. It is a well-known fact that death by crucifixion though exceedingly painful was usually a slow death.

1) No vital organs are affected.

2) Death may linger on for two or three days before being completely overcome by exhaustion.

b. It was not natural, therefore, that Christ should be dead after only six hours on the cross.

F. The final demonstration of the Supernatural character of the death of Christ, Matthew 27:51-52: “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,”

1. First, the veil of the Temple was rent in twain – from top to bottom to show that the Hand from Heaven had torn it, thus signifying that the way into the Holy place now was open and access to God Himself had been opened.

2. Next, the earth quaked – the entire earth as I understand it, quaked, i.e., the foundations were shaken and the earth rocked on its axis. “And the rocks rent” – the very strength of nature gave way before the greater power of that death.

3. “Finally, ‘the graves were opened,’ showing that the power of Satan, which is death, was there shivered and shattered – all the outward attestations of the value of that atoning death.” —Arthur Pink.

CONCLUSION:

Everything that happened on the cross furnishes proof that the life of Jesus was not “taken from him,” but that He laid it down of Himself.

This, together with the tearing of the veil, the quaking of the earth, the rending of the rocks, and the opening of the graves, all bore unmistakable witness to the supernatural character of His death.

The Death of Christ, then, was UNIQUE, MIRACULOUS and SUPERNATURAL.

THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST–Part 1

JOHN 19:16-18

Introduction:

This is the first of two messages on the Death of Jesus Christ. This study has been a great blessing to me personally. I have never been touched by the Lord as I have been this time during the preparation of these two message about the death of my LORD. I hope that these messages with bless your heart as I have been blessed in their preparation. I must admit that I have leaned heavily on an elder brother for much of the information. He is Arthur Pink and his book entitled The Seven Sayings of the Saviour on the Cross.

Now let us consider the death of Jesus Christ.

I. THE DEATH OF CHRIST WAS NATURAL.

A. It was a REAL death.

1. Jesus is the Son of God, Matthew 3:17, “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

2. His blood that was shed was divine.

B. He became “FLESH” that he might taste death for every man, John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

1. Thus having become incarnate the Lord of glory, He was capable of suffering death, John 10:17-18, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18No 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.

2. So it was that he “tasted death” for every man, Colossians 1:21-22, “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”

C. The evidence that his death was natural…

1. Is seen when he is laid in the tomb, Matthew 27:58-60, “He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.”

2. Jesus remained in the tomb three days, Luke 24:45-46, “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:”

II. THE DEATH OF CHRIST WAS UN-NATURAL.

A. We mean that it was abnormal.

1. Being incarnate He was capable of death, however death had no claim on Him.

2. The reverse was true:

a. He had no sin nature because His blood was from the Heavenly Father, Matthew 1:21, “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”

b. He “did no sin,” 1 Peter 2:22, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:”

c. He had “no sin,” 1 John 3:5, “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”

d. He “knew no sin,” 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Hence, we say, for the Holy One of God to die was un-natural.

III. THE DEATH OF CHRIST WAS PRETERNATURAL.

A. It was DETERMINED BEFOREHAND, Revelations 13:8, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

1. Before Adam was created, the Fall of man was anticipated.

2. Before sin entered the world, God had planned salvation from sin.

B. Christ was FOREORDAINED to be the Savior.

1. A Savior who should suffer the Just for the unjust, 1 Peter 3:18, ”For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”

2. A Savior who should die in order that we might live, 1 John 3:16, “ Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 4:9, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

B. In this we see just how great God’s love is for all mankind, 1 John 4:10, “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.”

CONCLUSION:

The death of Christ has been the greatest blessing ever known to man. By that death man can have forgiveness of his sin and eternal life in the presence of the God of Heaven.