KPPI (Praise and Divine Healing Service) online took place again on Monday, September 14, 2020 through the Live Streaming program on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. The Word of God was delivered by Rev. Jacob B. Sumbayak, taken from John 10: 7-18 about the good Shepherd.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd

God’s Word in John 10 verse 8 says that all those who came before Jesus, were thieves and robbers, and the sheep did not listen to them. What thieves do is to steal and kill and destroy. That is the devil. He will steal, kill and eventually bring men to hell.

But Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Jesus does not only give life, but also to live in abundance. Abundance should not be imagined as wealth, but a life in peace, joy, and having of meaningful life in God.

Verse 11 says, “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” So if he is not a good shepherd, but a hireling, then he will run away when there is an attack. Because a hireling does not feel obligated to take care of his sheep. But a good shepherd not only defends, but also dares to give his life for his sheep.

Further in verse 14 it is said that a good shepherd knows his sheep very well. Jesus knows us very well, Jesus knows your name, knows the struggles or problems you face. Jesus knows you very personally. Even until the hairs on your head are numbered by Him. He knows exactly the number of your hair while you yourselves do not know it. That is why Jesus said, ” I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”

Jesus Laid His Life for His Sheep

It says in verses 17-18: “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No 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.”

What is the meaning of this? It doesn’t mean that Jesus did not have the power to avoid the crucifixion, but He didn’t do that. Instead He laid down His life for us. If He really wanted to avoid of being crucified, Jesus could have escaped when He was about to be arrested.

We can learn this from John 18: 5-6. It was when fully armed soldiers came to arrest Jesus. When Jesus said “I am He,” all the people who were full armed fell backwards. How powerful Jesus was and is, just by saying that everyone fell down. If He was finally arrested, it was because Jesus did surrender Himself.

In Matthew 26:53 it says, “Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? “

Jesus could have called twelve legions  of angels to help Him. If one legion was more than 6,000 people during the time of Emperor Augustus, then these 12 legions of angels means that Jesus can call more than 80,000 angels to help Him. But He didn’t do it, because Jesus had to suffer on the cross to fulfill what was written in the Scriptures about Him. He really wanted to give His life to save us.

Brothers and sisters, those 80,000 angels are very, very powerful. Just one angel is extraordinary. In the Old Testament when King Hezekiah was surrounded by enemies, King Hezekiah and Prophet Isaiah prayed, and God sent an angel. In just one night, this one angel killed 185,000 enemies of the Israelites. (Isaiah 37:36). So how powerful is Jesus. Jesus really wanted to lay down His life for us. Who can summon an army of angels except God Himself? He wanted to lay down His life so that His sheep would be saved. He knows that only a shepherd can redeem His sheep. It is because of Jesus’ death that our sins are forgiven. It is because of Jesus’ death that we can be saved. Whoever believes in Him will be saved.

John 3:16 says: “Because God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that everyone who believes in him may not perish, but may have eternal life”.

What did Jesus do in His redemption on the cross? Isaiah 53: 5 explains: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” We are saved because we are redeemed by Jesus. He is the Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep. Even for the sheep in the other sheepfold, it means that Jesus loves all people and all nations. Jesus loves this world. Come to Jesus, accept Him, believe in what He did on the cross. Everyone who believes in Him is empowered to become children of God. (John 1:12).

There is Healing in Jesus

The Word of God we read in Isaiah 53: 5 says, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes. we are healed.”

Jesus was whipped about tens of times. But it is by His stripes that we are healed. Believe in Jesus, He is able to heal. Whatever our illness, whether stroke, paralysis, blindness, myom, or even Covid-19, will be healed. [RS/EM]