In part 1 of the Lion and Lamb Ministry Holy Week Messages, we learned that the LORD Jesus Christ is NOT divided, and that He is the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd and the Chief Shepherd. And, NOW we learn that...
JESUS KNEW ALL
“But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all. And needed not that any should testify of man; for he knew what was in man.” John 2:24-25.
To know all is to be omniscient. Let us read the Apostle Peter’s words to the LORD Jesus, “And he (Peter) said unto Him, LORD Thou knowest all things.” John 21:17. Then woman at the well said to the LORD Jesus, “I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.” John 4:25. Note Christ’s reply, “...I that speak unto thee am he.” John 4:26.
That sinful woman learned that day that Christ needed not that any should testify of woman; for He knew what was in woman. Christ saw Nathanael under the fig tree. But because it was NOT with physical eye-sight, Nathanael cried, “Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God.” Christ assured Nathanael that He would see greater things. John 1:46-51. In John 13:1, Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of the world, “Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”
JESUS KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING
“But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.” John 6:64. “For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.” John 13:11.
THE CHIEF SHEPHERD AND SIMON PETER
“This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, LORD; thou knowest that I love thee, He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea LORD; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, LORD, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” John 21:14-17.
Here the chief Shepherd was instructing one of His under-shepherds to feed and tend His lambs and to feed His sheep. The LORD’s Pastors are expected to feed the LORD’s sheep and lambs. Those who are Faithful in this will receive a crown of glory when the chief Shepherd shall appear.
Then the shepherd has another duty; he is to keep the wolves out of the flock. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” Acts 20:28-29. It’s a shame that MANY of today’s Pastors and Preachers are, in fact, the wolves!
The LORD Jesus pictures Himself as the good Shepherd in Luke 15:4, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?”
Then remember the words of the Shepherd-King in Luke 12:32, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Remember, right here the LORD is addressing the Apostles BEFORE His death and resurrection, and BEFORE the direct revelation given to the Apostle Paul concerning the Body of Christ.)
Simon Peter became a Faithful shepherd. He was Faithful unto death. John 21:18-19, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.”
WHAT CHRIST KNEW ABOUT THE WOMAN AT THE WELL
In John 4:5-26 is recorded a most interesting story of a sinful woman of Sychar of Samaria. Before the story, we read in John 4:4, “And he must needs go through Samaria.”
Now we see why He must needs go through Samaria. The Savior was wearied with His journey and He sat at noontime on Jacob’s well. “There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.” John 4:7. The woman was surprised that Jesus should have asked her for a drink “for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” John 4:9, “Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, ‘How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.’” Then the LORD Jesus talked to that poor sinful woman about water that would satisfy her soul. He called it “living water.” John 4:10. “’But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’ The woman saith unto him, ‘Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.’” John 4:14-15.
Here we think of 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a Faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” Note also Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” The LORD Jesus Christ came to be the Shepherd seeking lost sheep. He came into the world to save sinners.
Almost any person will say, “I am a sinner,” because all of us ARE sinners. But only the LORD Himself can convince the individual that he is not only a sinner, but a LOST sinner. The sinner will not be much concerned about salvation until he realizes that he is LOST.
The LORD went right to that woman’s conscience after He had her interest and attention. He will now get right at her sin. “Jesus saith unto her, ‘Go, call thy husband, and come hither.’ The woman answered and said, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said unto her, ‘Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.’ The woman saith unto him, ‘Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.’” John 4:16-19. Another moment or two and she learned that she was in the presence of the Messiah, the Christ.
Note what she did, “The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, ‘Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?’ Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.” John 4:28-30. Note also John 4:39, “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, ‘He told me all that ever I did.’”
She knew that the Messiah could tell all things. Now the Messiah had read her sinful heart. But here we have the confirmation of John 3:17, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” and 2 Cor. 5:19, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
NEITHER DO I CONDEMN THEE: ANOTHER SINNING WOMAN
In John 8:1-11 we have another interesting story of Jesus and a sinful woman, “Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? (Now, right here let me point out the trap. The Law that is referenced for this stoning is found in Levitcus 20:10, and here’s what it says, "And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer AND the adulteress shall surely be put to death." NOT just the woman involved but the man also!)
“This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers, hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, LORD. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
Here we have in action the truth of John 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses, but Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” and John 3:17-18, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he bath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
What did the law say? “Stone her to death.” Christ was without sin. He could have thrown the stone that would have meant the woman’s death. The law was the ministration of condemnation and death. 2 Cor. 3:7-9. Under the law she deserved death. For every one under the law the law meant bondage. “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:19-20.
Jesus Christ came to set the captive free. Christ did not come to throw stones at sinners. He came to judge hypocrites and un-clothe the self-righteous. And, undoubtedly we have noted in the Four Gospels that Christ never said an unkind word to any sinner who was willing to confess and receive pardon.
To another sinful woman, who was very penitent and sought Christ and His pardoning Grace, He said, “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:47-48. That woman learned the truth of Romans 5:20, that “where sin abounded Grace did much more abound.”
Christ never once winked at sin, or condoned sin, or minimized sin in any way. When His enemies wanted to condemn Him, they said, “And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.” Luke 15:2. In reply to this charge, the LORD told one of the greatest stories in all the Bible, the Parable of the Prodigal Son. We shall deal with this in a future message, but for now read Luke 15:20, “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
Now the words of Christ to the prodigal daughter, “She said, No man, LORD. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:11. Carefully note the words, “Go, and sin no more.”
We say that God saves us first from the penalty of sin and then from the practice of sin. “God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin live any longer therein?” “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under Grace? God forbid.” Romans 6:2-15. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1. “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.” 1 John 2:8-9.
We read in Romans 8:1-4, that in Christ Jesus the believer is without condemnation by the Law of the Spirit of life. And in Christ Jesus and by the same law he is enabled to walk in the Spirit and fulfill the righteousness of the law.
ANOTHER COMFORTER
There is perhaps more said in the Gospel of John concerning the Holy Spirit than in all the thirty-nine Books of the Old Testament Scriptures. Before we look into John 14 and John 16 to study something of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, let us note John 7:38-39, “He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
“The Holy Spirit was not yet, because that Jesus was not yet glorified.” Now note John 16:7, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” And again Acts 1:5, “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
Here we have the information that while Christ was on earth, the Holy Spirit did not begin the work He was to do, as outlined in John 14 and John 16. The LORD’s disciples had not yet been baptized in the Holy Spirit when Christ was with them in His resurrection body. Most assuredly the disciples of the LORD Jesus entered into a new experience on the day of Pentecost. About four years before that time some of them had heard John the Baptist say, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Matthew 3:11.
We learn in John 17:25 that the world knows not the Father. We learn in John 1:10 that the world knows not the Son. And we learn in John 14:17 that the world knows not the Holy Spirit. We quote John 14:16-17, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
In Galatians 3:14 and Ephesians 1:13, we learn that the believing sinner receives the Holy Spirit by believing the Gospel, by receiving Christ, by going by Faith to the cross of Calvary. As eternal life is the free gift of God, so is the Holy Spirit. Note Galatians 3:2-3, “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of Faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”
We read this statement in Romans 5:5, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Then again in 2 Cor. 1:21-22, “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” Here we learn that the Holy Spirit is God’s gift. The believer does NOT have to labor for, or agonize for the Holy Spirit any more than he has to work for Salvation, which God declared “not of works,” “it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8-9.
We also learn that the believer is ANOINTED! The word “Christ” means “anointed.” The moment the believing sinner receives Christ, he is an anointed one with Christ. And note in 1 John 2:27, “But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth IN you.”
If the Holy Spirit is not in the individual’s heart, he is not saved, he is not a Christian. Strictly speaking it is doubtful if it is Scriptural to ask for a fresh or new anointing. It is altogether unscriptural to teach that in this reign of Grace the believer receives the Holy Spirit with him when saved and in him when he is sanctified by a second definite Divine work.
Sinners saved by the Gospel of the Grace of God TODAY do not have to wait three minutes. The very moment the believing sinner accepts Christ he is sealed by and with the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:14 and Ephesians 4:30). He is blessed at the same time with ALL spiritual blessings in the heavenlies (Ephesians 1:3). How foolish for a believer to be looking for a second blessing when he has been blessed with ALL spiritual blessings in Christ.
The problem is that so many of God’s Children barely read the scriptures and don’t know how to use what they’ve received!
The Comforter was to come from the Father to abide in and with the disciples of Christ forever. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26. “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.” John 15:26-27.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was on earth to bear witness of the Father. The Holy Spirit was to come to bear witness of the Son to testify of Him. He was to teach the disciples ALL things and to bring to their remembrance the things Christ had spoken to them in John’s Gospel and the others. But undoubtedly the deep things, recorded in John, were less understood by the apostles than His utterances in the Gospels.
Note again John 16:12-14, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall NOT speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify ME: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.”
Here we can learn the important work of the Holy Spirit and how helpless would have been the disciples of Christ without Him. Let us note something more of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in Acts and the Epistles:
“And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” Acts 5:32.
“As they ministered to the LORD, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” Acts 13:2.
“Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.” Acts 20:23.
“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” Romans 8:23.
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Romans 8:14-17.
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13.
“What! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry
Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
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