Preaching from the Past "My Sheep hear my voice". "Ye believe not because ye are not of my sheep". (John chapter 10)

One would have imagined that, as He came clothed with divine efficiency, as He came with divine credentials, as He spake as never man spake, no one should have been able to have resisted the wisdom with which He spake; on would imagine they should have been so struck with the demonstration of the Spirit, that with one consent they all should own that He was "that prophet that was to be raised up like unto Moses". But, you seldom find our Lord preaching a sermon, but something or other that He said has cavilled at; nay, their enmity frequently broke through all good manners. They often, therefore, interrupted Him whilst He was preaching, which shows the enmity of their hearts long before God permitted it to be in their power to shed His innocent blood.

If we look no further than this chapter where He presents Himself as the Good Shepherd, one that laid down His life for His sheep, we see the best return he had was to be looked upon as possessed or distracted; for we are told that "there was a division, therefore, again among them for these sayings, and many of the said: 'He has a devil, why hear ye Him?'"

And in the 24th verse we are told: "Then came the Jews round about Him and said unto Him: 'How long dost thou make us doubt?'" The came round about Him when they saw Him walking in Solomon's porch. "Now", they say, "we will have Him; we will attack Him; we will get Him in the middle of us and see what sort of man He is; we will see if we cannot conquer Him". And they came to Him … "How long dost thou make us to doubt? I wish you would speak a little plainer, sir, and let us not have any more of your parables. Pray, let us know who you are, let us have it from your own mouth; if thou be the Christ, tell us plainly".

Says He: "I appeal to my works and doctrine, and if you will not infer from them that I am the Messiah, I have no further argument. BUT; He adds, "ye believe not BECAUSE YE ARE NOT OF MY SHEEP. MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE AND THEY FOLLOW ME".

It is very remarkable, there are but two sorts of people mentioned in scripture; it does not say the Baptists and the Independents, or the Methodists and Presbyterians; NO, Jesus divides the whole world into but two classes, sheep and goats. The Lord gives us to see which of these classes we belong.

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This Page Title – Preaching from the Past – George Whitefield on John 10 The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 40 – placed on line January 2003 Wicket Gate contact address – Mr Cliff Westcombe cw@wicketgate.co.uk If you wish to be notified when each new edition goes on line please send an e-mail to the above address Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk Labelled with ICRA