Gospels-Acts
John 1:29-42
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
Behold the Lamb of God audio (2MB)
I like John the Baptist. He’s such a contrast to the dominant model of the celebrity today. I assume you’ve noticed how important the cult of the celebrity is today. When celebrities speak it’s all about them. It’s just assumed that everyone is interested in what they’re interested in. Whether it’s some prince getting married or a princess having children or Oprah at the Opera house we’re all expected to watch with bated breath for what they’ll do or say next.
John the Baptist was certainly a celebrity. Matthew tells us about him. He appears in the wilderness telling people to repent. He wears “clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.” This is code: John appears dressed like Elijah. His message is like that of the Old Testament prophets - a call to the nation to turn back to God. He’s clearly a celebrity.
John 1:29-51
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- Written by: George Hemmings
Following the First audio (2.6MB)
John 1:29-51
If you’ve been with us any time over the last three months, you’ll know we’ve been looking at John’s gospel. As we’ve done so we’ve been particularly focused on the signs of God’s kingdom. They’ve been right through John. They’ve been signs of the coming of God’s kingdom and the glory of his King, Jesus. And today’s passage is no different. It’s full of signs of who Jesus is, and what he’ll do. The signs are there in all the names and titles that are used of Jesus. I wonder how many you saw as we read through? I counted at least nine. They’re signs that Jesus is pretty extra-ordinary!
But this morning I don’t want to look at any of those signs. Instead, as we come to the end of our time in John, I want us to look at the people who first saw those signs. To ask, what kind of people were they? And how did they respond? Can they teach us anything?
John 10:1-18 I am the Good Shepherd
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
I am the Good Shepherd
“I am the Good Shepherd” has a sort of comforting feel about it doesn’t it? But when Jesus says it in this passage his listeners may not have had the same response. They would have realised that he was saying something very significant; in fact, making a claim that no-one should dare to make.
Now I imagine you know that sheep and shepherds in the Old Testament were a well-known metaphor for the people of God.
For example, in a couple of weeks we’ll be reminded again of those words from Isaiah: “All we like sheep have gone astray. We’ve all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah was referring to the nation of Israel as he wrote those words, though we understand that they apply to us as well.
Today we often refer to Christian ministers as pastors. Ministers even refer to their congregation as their flock. So it’s still a common metaphor for God’s people.
John 10:1-42 Jesus the Good Shepherd
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- Written by: George Hemmings
Jesus the Good Shepherd audio (4.5MB)
John 10:1-42
I wonder how close you’ve ever come to a sheep? Is it only the lamb chops that you ate yesterday on Australia day? Or have you seen one in a painting or on TV? Maybe you’ve touched one at a petting zoo, or a children’s farm? What kind of picture do you have of sheep? I grew up on a small sheep farm in Queensland. If you’ve been up close and personal with sheep you’ll know their fleece isn’t ‘white as snow’, but more grey from all the dirt, burrs and ticks. They’re often messy, smelly, and not particularly smart! In today’s passage Jesus calls us sheep. It’s not quite the compliment! But it’s a good illustration, because sheep are utterly dependent on their shepherd.
John 11:1-45
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- Written by: Chris Appleby
The Raising of Lazarus audio (5MB)
John 11:1-45
How are you at reading the signs? I don’t mean street signs or advertising signs, I mean the signs of God’s kingdom? Over the last few months we’ve been looking at how John draws out sign after sign from Jesus’ life; signs of who Jesus is and signs of what he came to do; signs in fact of God’s kingdom being revealed on earth. And the point of all these signs is to bring us to belief in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God; to show us the way to life. In fact that idea of Jesus bringing life comes out very clearly doesn’t it? We’ve seen how Jesus is the bread of life; how he offers the water of life; how he is the light of life; and today we discover that he’s the resurrection and the life.
But the question is, what does that mean for us? In what sense is he the resurrection and the life for you and me?
Well, let’s see what we find as we look at this passage.
