The Caldwell Commentaries Podcast

Luke 10:1-24

In Luke chapter 10 (begun with this lesson), we learn that whether Christians are in the harvest field (i.e. the seventy disciples sent forth as Christ's messengers and laborers), or on the highways of life (i.e. "the Good Samaritan" of 10:25-37), or in the home (i.e. Martha and Mary in 10:38-42), our highest and greatest privilege is to be doing the will of God.

Prior to sending forth seventy disciples (not the 12 Apostles), in pairs, to the villages and cities of Judea and Perea, the Lord Jesus commissioned them with what is called His "Ordination Sermon" (Luke 10:1-16).  Their task would not be easy; the harvest was great, but the laborers are few, He said, as He also warned them they would be "as lambs among wolves" (10:2, 3).  They were to rely on God to supply their provisions.  They needed to realize the urgency of their work and not get side-tracked.  They were to go forth as ambassadors of peace, bringing the message of how to have peace with God through belief in the Prince of Peach, Jesus Christ. 

The Lord gave these men the miraculous power to heal the sick and deliver the demonically possessed.  Christ's words to "The Seventy" reveal that there are degrees of punishment in Hell.  Listen to hear!  He also told them that He had watched as Satan fell out of Heaven!  Listen to learn!  He warns strongly about the danger of pride, and told them that the thing for which they should most rejoice was not their earthly successes, but that their names were written in Heaven!

In this lesson, we learn of the only time in Scripture where Jesus is said to have "rejoiced"!   WHAT caused that rejoicing in His spirit?  Hopefully, you want to know so you can be part of that which brings Him the greatest joy!  Need to listen, however, to find out what it is!

This is the continuation of the Lord's very comforting "Good Shepherd Sermon" of John chapter 7.   We discussed Him in the last lesson as "The Scriptural and the Saving Shepherd," and, in this lesson, He presents Himself as "The Sacrificial Shepherd" (giving more predictions of His voluntary death - and resurrection), "The Solitary Shepherd" (who brings both Jew and Gentile into one fold, under one Shepherd), and as "The Submissive Shepherd" (always obedient to His Father's will).

Of all the animals in the world to choose from, why did the Lord choose sheep to symbolize those who belong to Him (believers)?  Listen and find out!   Also, did you know that in the Old Testament there were five individual shepherds who, by some aspect of their lives, point to (foreshadowed) Jesus Christ, "The Good Shepherd"?  Fascinating - find out who there were and what they pictured about Him.  Also, there was a sixth shepherd, called "the idol shepherd" (see Zechariah 11:16, 17), which is a prophecy regarding the Antichrist!  How appropriate that he is the SIXTH (think of 666)!  Christ Jesus is the SEVENTH Shepherd - again very appropriate since SEVEN is the Biblical number for perfection and completion, and He is the Perfectly GOOD Shepherd!  A lot is given to think about in this great sermon by Him!

John 10:1-10

John chapter 10 is one of the most beloved chapters of the Bible for believers in Christ. This is the first part of the Lord's "Good Shepherd Sermon," which presents Jesus Christ in His tender role as the good, gentle, and caring Shepherd of His flock.  There is a deep sense of security to the believer who reads this chapter and realizes he has a Shepherd Who knows him so intimately and loves him so unreservedly, that He was even willing to sacrifice His life for him.

This sermon grew out of the Lord's confrontation with the Jewish religious rulers following the excommunication of the formerly blind beggar (blind from birth), who Jesus healed.  Having just spoken about being the Light of the world and telling the Jews they were spiritually blind, He now changed His use of metaphors from that of light and darkness and sight and blindness (John 9) to that of shepherd and sheep. Something very interesting you want to learn from this lesson is who is represented by the sheepfold, the House of Israel or the Church.  Also, who is represented by the thieves and robbers?  Who is represented by the porter?  You may be very surprised at the answers!

We have a five-point outline for this lesson. The first three outline divisions are discussed in this lesson and the last two are in the lesson to follow (Lesson #95b).  They are: (1) The Scriptural Shepherd (learn about the two kinds of sheepfolds in Israel at the time of Christ, as well as the three "doors" that are found in verses 1 to 6.  Also, does the sheepfold symbolize).

This continues our look at the glorious biblical account of the first man to directly suffer for Christ's sake, the beggar who was born blind and healed on a Sabbath by the Lord Jesus.  He was callously excommunicated from Judaism by the cold-hearted, anti-Jesus Sanhedrin Council of Israel!  However, the Good Shepherd found him after he was "cast out" by Israel's false shepherds, and led him into the eternal fold! That which man meant for evil, God used for good!

The first thing the man did when Christ revealed Himself and the man believed on Him was to fall down and worship Him!  And Jesus did NOT stop him!  He accepted the worship because He is God!

John 9:8-41

The man born blind, healed by Christ in this chapter, represents the spiritual condition of the unsaved person (we give six ways this is true).  The Lord's merciful dealings with the poor, blind beggar present a 7-step picture of the work of God in salvation (we present them in this lesson).

To this point in the narrative of Christ's healing of the blind beggar of John chapter 9, the man has received his sight - which was a unprecedented miracle!  Nobody had EVER healed a man who was BORN blind!  In this second part of this study on "The Light Gives Sight," we look at the process that then led to the far greater miracle, which was the opening of the man's spiritual eyes; the "eyes of his heart".  

The religious rulers were (of course) not pleased that the man could see for the first time in his life!  They were "upset" that he was healed on the Sabbath!  Thus, they begin a ridiculously cruel interrogation of the situation (hoping to discredit Jesus for breaking Sabbath Law).  First, they interrogate the former blind beggar, then his neighbors, then his cowardly parents, and then the beggar again!  The more they show forth their cold hearts and legalistic foolishness, the stronger the man's faith in Jesus becomes!  He goes from being astonished at their unbelief, to making a logical assessment of the situation (9:31), to having assurance in Christ being "of God" (9:32, 33)!

The remainder of this account is found in the next lesson (#94b).