Today’s sermon on John 10:11-21 is now on the web. You can listen to it here.
We only managed to cover aspect #4 of the death of Christ that makes Jesus supremely excellent as the good shepherd – a global sacrifice. Jesus died for the world, Jew and Gentile alike, people without distinction, from every tribe, tongue, nation, and people group.
Here is the quote from John Piper and the story from him about Peter Cameron Scott, founder of the Africa Inland Mission, that I shared to illustrate the powerful motivation that v. 16 is to global and local evangelization:
He had tried twice to serve in Africa but had to come home both times with malaria. The third attempt was especially joyful because he was joined by his brother John. But the joy evaporated as John fell victim to the fever. Scott buried his brother all by himself, and at the grave rededicated himself to preach the gospel. But again his health broke and he had to return to England utterly discouraged.
But in London something wonderful happened. We read about it in Ruth Tucker’s From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya.
He needed a fresh source of inspiration and he found it at a tomb in Westminster Abbey that held the remains of a man who had inspired so many others in their missionary service to Africa. The spirit of David Livingstone seemed to be prodding Scott onward as he knelt reverently and read the inscription,
OTHER SHEEP I HAVE WHICH ARE NOT OF THIS FOLD; THEM ALSO I MUST BRING.
He would return to Africa and lay down his life, if need be, for the cause for which this great man had lived and died.
Lord willing, next Sunday we will finish the discourse with a look at the last two aspects of the death of Christ that make Him so very good a shepherd of His sheep!
On Saturdays we come to the V’s in our call list/prayer directory with only two entries.
curtheffelfinger.com 