What do you think of who a good shepherd is? Many so called shepherd have played life kinder that God to the end that the devil is blamed for every form affliction. They cause their flock to perceive affliction as a failure on the part of an individual and constant labeling of the devil as a liar. No wonder there is binding and refusing the power of the devil at every cost. However, learning from the sermon delivered by pastor Conrad Mbewe on the passage below, Jesus demonstrated to us that true shepherd must hold on to truth and tell it as it is no matter how painful the results. Text: John 16:19-22 “Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me? 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” Friends, Jesus Christ knowing he was going to leave them through crucifixion, had to prepare his disciples for the bad news. What did this bad news mean? Note two things: firstly; The disciples had left their vocation to follow Jesus for the gospel, then to be told that he is he is leaving did not make sense. Secondly Christ was understood to be their emancipator from the colonial rule of the Romans and then all of the sudden he says he is leaving it must have been devastating and bad news. Friends, Good shepherd will always tell out the news as even when it is bad news. The departure of Christ was by crucifixion on the cross. He did not mince his words and start binding the power of the devil, but willing suffered and went to the cross and died. However, our current men of God and bad shepherd will never tell you the shocking news to their flock. Instead they keep on teaching them to reject the power of the devil by constant accusing him of being a liar. Christ was not like that: How? True shepherd tells the truth in its reality. The bad news of the disciples was that he was going. Christianity tells the truth and not all truth is nice. Note the response in vs17, In a little while you will see me no more…’ What did Jesus mean? Christ did explain to them about his crucifixion but they could not fully understanding. John 16: 25 Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. NIV . now will tell them plainly than riddles. Secondly they did likely quite accept what he was saying; it’s what might be termed in our current vocabulary as self denial. Humanly speaking we refuse to accept the reality of the bad news. Life has its ups and downs. What do we learn from Christ’s answering of questions? 1. By coming into our questions vs19. “Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me? Jesus wants us to take our problems to him 2. By acknowledging the pains we are going through vs 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. Jesus understands our pains and this is a reality but only for a season. Question is; is this; what we are hearing from the prophets today. It’s all about wealth, health and prosperity for the children of God, anything short of this must be bound and reject in Jesus name. 3. By using the ordinary illustration Vs 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. Jesus wants us to understand that afflictions will come our way in one way or the other. it is meant for us before we climb to the top. A true shepherd must use analogy so as to make people appreciate. The pain makes one strong and puts him into better position to minister to Gods children. 4. By assuring us that we will have a joy that cannot be taken away. vs22. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” When God comes to strengthen us we kick at ourselves, but when the morning comes our joy will far exceed the sorrows. Appeal: we must be truthful and humble enough to get back to the scripture and be true. God has not promised all to be plain sailing life; there will be difficulties and trouble, etc. We need to face reality and speak truth unto one another. This prepares us to die well prepared and God honoring death. Biblical Christianity will teach that there will be pain and sorrow but we must take it to God in prayer. This is what I have learnt about reality of life as a Christian. Thanks for God’s servant and Pastor Conrad Mbewe.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 19:48:46 +0000
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