The Lord's Day Bible Message Outlines
April 5, 2009
Pastor Dana Johnson
"...it is expedient for us that one
man should die for the people...."
-John
11:50
"nor do you consider that it is
expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and
not that the whole nation should
perish."
1. Today's episode of world opinion is
brought to you by: religious leaders who did not receive and
honor the Son of God.
a. They convened a
closed-door council in opposition to Christ.
Psalm 2:1-2 - Why
do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?
2The kings of the earth set themselves, and
the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and
against His Anointed....
b. There was a disturbing absence
of a prayerful and Scriptural investigation of God's
will.
2. Notice their opinion regarding the
signs and miracles of Christ.
a. They did not, like others,
respond in faith.
John 11:45 - Then
many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the
things Jesus did, believed in Him.
b. They thought He was a man, not
the Son of God.
John 11::47 - Then the chief priests and the Pharisees
gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this
Man works many signs.
John 3:1-2 - There was a man of the Pharisees named
Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This 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. Consider their opinion regarding
evangelism: that earthly circumstances control faith.
John 11:48 - "If we
let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and
the Romans will come and take away both our place and
nation."
a. Opponents of Christ think
they can slow the rate of conversions.
John 12:9-11 - Now
a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they
came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also
see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead.
10But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus
to death also, 11because on account of him
many of the Jews went away and believed in
Jesus.
b. As believers, we should remember
that the Gospel is not bound by earthly circumstances;
and that God is in control of salvation.
John 6:44 - "No
one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws
him; and I will raise him up at the last day."
John 10:15 - "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the
Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep."
John 10:27 - "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them,
and they follow Me.
4. Observe their opinion regarding
salvation: that the primary concern is for political and
temporal (not eternal) deliverance.
a. They were afraid of Rome's
judgment, not God's.
John 11:48 - "If
we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him,
and the Romans will come and take away both our place and
nation."
b. They desperately wanted
political freedom, not spiritual.
John 11:48 - "If
we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him,
and the Romans will come and take away both our place and
nation."
c. Their view on the death of
Christ (one for all) sounds, ironically, so close to the
biblical view. Yet, in reality, they completely miss the
redeeming purpose of Christ's death.
John 10:11, 15-18
- "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His
life for the sheep."
15"As the Father knows Me, even so I know the
Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16And other sheep I have which are not of this
fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My
voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
17Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay
down My life that I may take it again. 18No
one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have
power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
This command I have received from My
Father."
(All
Scripture quoted is from the New King James
Version)
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