Pentecost Sunday is about the Holy Spirit. But it is also about the gospel. It is about how the same Holy Spirit who enabled us to receive the gospel empowers us to share it.

The “one flock” is Christ’s church, whose fledgling members were Jesus’ audience for this lesson. The members of His church are His “sheep.” This is a frequent and appropriate metaphor, used in ways both endearing and unflattering.

Jesus Christ is risen, He is risen indeed! Repent and believe and it will change your life forever. You can be forgiven and free. You can be empowered and equipped. You can be surrounded by angels.  ou can truly live, abundantly and eternally, in the kingdom of God, now and forever.

You get sick, you suffer, you endure many trials. And, yes, one day, you are going to die. Jesus loves you. Jesus cares about you. Jesus can make sure your death is not permanent.

Salvation is God’s principle purpose amongst mankind. The embodiment of God’s person and God’s purpose is our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus saves.

Let’s listen to John, very carefully, in what amounts to the last and most meaningful sermon of his life. It is an offer of grace. It is a call to faith. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ, according to John the Baptist.

Leaders and followers, followers and leaders, which one are you? I hope you are willing to be both. But before you can be a follower or a leader, you must be a careful listener to two of the most important words Jesus ever spoke.

Time is of the essence if you really want to “know” the Lord. God makes time for those He loves. Do you make time for God? “Know” in Jesus’ prayer and in both biblical languages means so much more than merely grasping facts. It means grasping a person.

“Maundy” means mandate, or commandment. We name this day of Holy Week not after the foot washing Jesus gave His disciples, not after the last supper Jesus shared with His disciples that turned into the Lord’s Supper, but after the “new commandment” Jesus spoke to His disciples, then and now. 

The Gospel of John was written so that people would believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and become His disciple. There is no theological nor practical distance between becoming a believer and being a disciple. It is a synonymous experience, for a person of true belief is immediately transformed into a true disciple.