Friday, February 22, 2019

2019.02.22 Hopewell @Home ▫ John 9:35-10:6

Questions for Littles: Who seeks whom in John 9:35? What does He ask him? What does he ask Him back (John 9:36)? In what two ways has Jesus revealed Himself to the man (John 9:37)? How does the man respond (John 9:38)? Whom does Jesus judge in what ways (John 9:39)? How do the Pharisees immediately put themselves on the wrong side of that equation (John 9:40)? According to Jesus, what keeps them from being forgiven (John 9:41)? What are they missing by believing that they are not needy (John 10:1)? What does their missing of the door reveal them to be? Who did humble Himself to be the shepherd (John 10:2)? Who connects the Shepherd and the sheep (John 10:3)? How is it that the sheep come to follow the Shepherd (John 10:3-4)? Whom won’t the true sheep follow (John 10:5)? How was this conversation demonstrating its own point (John 10:6)?
In the Gospel reading this week, we find again how deadly pride is. The man who has been healed from blindness freely admits his own ignorance of Christ, and the Lord Jesus gently directs him to Himself. The Pharisees are sure that they are not needy of anything, and the Lord Jesus declares that this is the very reason that their sin will remain.

Of course, the Lord Jesus is not needy at all. Philippians 2 puts it this way, “He did not consider equality with God something at which He would have to grasp.” However, He who is God Himself was willing to humble Himself. This is how He used His authority (as we will find out in next week’s passage): to lay His life down for the sheep.

Satan had tempted Christ to come into His kingdom through another means than the cross. Just bow down and receive all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. But the way up (name exalted above all names) is the way down (humbled Himself to the point of death on the cross), and the Doorkeeper opened to Him. God gave Christ His sheep. His own. Whom He calls by name. Whom He leads out. Whom He makes to know His voice.

Ultimately, our pride will kill us, unless we are His sheep, whom the Father gives to Him, and to whom He speaks with His shepherding voice. Let us cry out to Him to be merciful to us, with this all-powerful, saving mercy!
How do you remember and express that you are continually needy of Christ?
Suggested songs: ARP130 “Lord, From the Depths to You I Cried” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”

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