We live in a “selfie” world. Unfortunately, that means our culture’s values often stand in opposition to God’s glory. As the old saying goes, “self praise stinks!”
John 10:14-18
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Observations:
- Sacrifice – To give up something valuable
- Willingly – To act upon one’s own accord
Conclusions:
- Jesus willing gave up everything
- The Father gave up Jesus, for you
Application:
- Look away from self
- Look to others
- Look at Christ
Matthew 20:26-28
“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—
…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Isaiah 53:10
“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer…”
Acts 2:22-23
“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”
Acts 4:27-28
“Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.”
Revelation 13:8
“…the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.”
Hebrews 12:1-2
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”