10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
In criminal trials, all types of evidence is produced, found, studied and gather testimonial evidence and take depositions. Eventually, as the witnesses take the stand, there is something called, "Moose head undeniable, undoubtedly, truth." In a Mafia trial, a former Mafia member said, "If the Moose head could talk, from the wall, you'd understand this so much better. That Moose knows all, I can only tell you what I heard."
As Jesus began His Ministry, the 6 stone water jars contained up to 30 gallons of liquid. These stone water jars didn't move about as whim. Not as a man tossed about waves in his unbelief.
James 1:6-8
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man,
unstable in all his ways.
When the master of the Wedding Feast gave witness, the Mother of Jesus, the servants, KNEW
they had seen an incredible Miracle.
The next event in John's Gospel is John 3
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Looking to the wind, as reliable, can be risky. And really, life brings us new situations all the time. A reminder the situations are in His Hand, Plan and within prayer.
John is saying, like the Road to Emmaus, the understanding of Jesus Christ fully began. Even the elite, like Nicodemus, are showing up to meet Jesus.
The Sheep of the fold. God tells us about this:
Romans 1
20-23
For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived,
ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.
So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
This isn't always about a lack of faith. This is about what to do with.... God.
And answers questions
about 81% of the United States celebrated Easter as the Risen Lord Jesus.
Jesus' Parables have tremendous merit. The Ten Talent Parables. What do we think God will ask of us in Faith? Jesus was very open. He declared God knows we will think He is an unrighteous Judge. But Jesus said, pepper the Lord with your Prayers and Petitions. You can move the hand of God. Always Pray with Hope. Believing all things work together for Good, for those who work for His Purpose. The Ten Parables tell us to believe God enjoys our efforts of faith.
God does not cast us as orphans into the storm.
He equips us. Daily loadeth us with His Benefits.
Ephesians 4
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers
12 To equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
13 Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
15 Instead,
speaking the truth in love,
we will in all things grow up
into Him
who is the head, that is, Christ.
The Mercy of Jesus! He does not expect us to walk on water, just to speak the truth in love.
And Grow. God might say, He uses our strengths and weakness to fulfill His Plan.
Never Forsaken
Father, Abba,
On the days we do not appreciate all of our blessings,
help infuse our blessings into our heart, minds and soul.
Let every blood cell carry gratitude in us
to our Joy
And the Joy of Jesus Christ.
Help us to gather wisdom without shrewdness.
Let us have the joy of gladness in our fellowship without the endless gathering of resources and funds.
Lord, in Your mercy, send help, in these days of gloom and unhappiness. Let those of us having a good season shine the Light of Jesus Christ so gently and brightly the world is eager for Jesus Christ. Let those of us having a season of stress and sorrow, believe gently and bring the Light of Jesus Christ for all of us.
In the Great Love of Jesus,
we all be saved as we put our trust in Him.
Bless You, Father, for Jesus Christ. Amen.
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