“Unlike the shepherd,” Jesus continues, “The hired worker has no vested interest in the sheep he watches over for the wages he makes. The hireling runs for his life when he sees any wolf coming near him and the sheep. He abandons the sheep in a lickety-split and allows the wolf to catch one and scatter the rest.” John 10:12 EFP
This passage comes close to home. It is, after all, referring to those who receive remuneration for their trouble of watching over the flock. I trust he is not making a blanket statement on all hirelings. But the point hits the mark, with me and all those who have been placed in a position of caring for the well-being of a flock that does not belong to us.
I cannot overlook that basic realty—the flock to which I have been assigned is not mine. Not one of the sheep belongs to me. I am simply an overseer for the sheep of my master. It is true that since they do not belong to me I can choose to tuck and run whenever danger approaches. I cannot see myself doing that. There is, however, a nuance I cannot overlook: there are things that only the Good Shepherd can do. In this case, only his unique and holy sacrifice qualifies him to be the Good Shepherd, not just another good one amongst many.
I wonder at times whether I have the deep commitment to the safekeeping of my church family. I get a small taste of what God deals with daily with all of us—His children. I am a wily and wild character, but He loves me still the same and longs for the day when I will be what he has created me to be. I do too.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
John 10:11
“I Am the Good Shepherd,’ Jesus declares, “and as such I surrender my life for all the sheep.” John 10:11 EFP
As I was paraphrasing this text I considered a couple of alternate wordings along the way. It is, after all, a very simple statement. Simple, but powerful. I couldn’t see myself changing the words “good shepherd”, so I left those alone. I did consider changing the “the” preceding “sheep” for a “my.” After all, the premise of the narrative seems to establish a contrast between the sheep who recognize his voice and those who do not. It makes sense, but only for a moment.
The evidence is too strong against making this a possessive pronoun in this context. Beginning with the classic verse in John 3:16, the foundational statement that God loved the world and that Jesus laid down his life for all (John 6:51). Jesus, is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). The world. The sheep. As attractive as it might seem to limit it to his or my sheep, it is not correct. Jesus surrendered his life for the sheep, even those who would end up leaving him, by choice, or ignorance. He died for all of us. He died for me.
The “good” in “Good Shepherd” does not seem to have the depth it deserves when I consider he died for all the sheep, not only for those who would accept him. That means even the less-than-bright-sheep who are led astray or sequestered by the enemy due to self-initiated folly, are still the object of his eternal passion to seek and save. I have not always responded to the voice of the Good Shepherd. I have been led astray many a time by lures of various shapes and sizes. I have tasted the bitterness of their aftermath. But the Shepherd remains good to me when my soul bleats for help or moans from the muck and mire of my own design. His heart still longs and seeks after me.
As I was paraphrasing this text I considered a couple of alternate wordings along the way. It is, after all, a very simple statement. Simple, but powerful. I couldn’t see myself changing the words “good shepherd”, so I left those alone. I did consider changing the “the” preceding “sheep” for a “my.” After all, the premise of the narrative seems to establish a contrast between the sheep who recognize his voice and those who do not. It makes sense, but only for a moment.
The evidence is too strong against making this a possessive pronoun in this context. Beginning with the classic verse in John 3:16, the foundational statement that God loved the world and that Jesus laid down his life for all (John 6:51). Jesus, is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). The world. The sheep. As attractive as it might seem to limit it to his or my sheep, it is not correct. Jesus surrendered his life for the sheep, even those who would end up leaving him, by choice, or ignorance. He died for all of us. He died for me.
The “good” in “Good Shepherd” does not seem to have the depth it deserves when I consider he died for all the sheep, not only for those who would accept him. That means even the less-than-bright-sheep who are led astray or sequestered by the enemy due to self-initiated folly, are still the object of his eternal passion to seek and save. I have not always responded to the voice of the Good Shepherd. I have been led astray many a time by lures of various shapes and sizes. I have tasted the bitterness of their aftermath. But the Shepherd remains good to me when my soul bleats for help or moans from the muck and mire of my own design. His heart still longs and seeks after me.
John 10:10
“The bottom line is that the thief has no interest in the well-being of the sheep,” Jesus clarifies. “The robber comes for no other reason than to steal, kill, and destroy the sheep. On the other hand, I am here to offer them life—my life. In fact, not only life, but a life beyond their wildest dreams.” John 10:10 EFP
Jesus once again his expands on his discussion by couching his point as a contrast between two extremes. On the one hand there is larceny, death, and destruction. On the other, there is extreme life.
If Jesus is the genuine Shepherd, who is the pretender? It is quite clear that regardless of the garb they may wear, beneath the cloak is the dagger of the archenemy Satan. He has no interest in my well-being. I am deeply familiar with that reality. His interest is my enslavement, leading to my death, and ultimate destruction. He uses deception, decoration, and distraction to gain my attention and to lure me to the destiny with death he has devised for me. Misery loves company.
But it is not the dread of the Devil that will save me—it is my thirst for life and my desire to drink deeply from the living waters made available by the lover of my soul. God uses love to draw me closer and closer to his will. Satan lures me with things that appeal to my self-centeredness and selfishness. Love is not in his equation. My hearing must be in tune with God’s loving melody. Lord, don’t allow your voice to be drowned out by the surrounding chatter that clamors for attention. I want to hear you!
Jesus once again his expands on his discussion by couching his point as a contrast between two extremes. On the one hand there is larceny, death, and destruction. On the other, there is extreme life.
If Jesus is the genuine Shepherd, who is the pretender? It is quite clear that regardless of the garb they may wear, beneath the cloak is the dagger of the archenemy Satan. He has no interest in my well-being. I am deeply familiar with that reality. His interest is my enslavement, leading to my death, and ultimate destruction. He uses deception, decoration, and distraction to gain my attention and to lure me to the destiny with death he has devised for me. Misery loves company.
But it is not the dread of the Devil that will save me—it is my thirst for life and my desire to drink deeply from the living waters made available by the lover of my soul. God uses love to draw me closer and closer to his will. Satan lures me with things that appeal to my self-centeredness and selfishness. Love is not in his equation. My hearing must be in tune with God’s loving melody. Lord, don’t allow your voice to be drowned out by the surrounding chatter that clamors for attention. I want to hear you!
John10:9
“Remember, I am the Door,” Jesus continues. “Whoever enters through Me will be saved, and will enter and exit repeatedly to enjoy the find green pastures to which I will lead them.” John 10:9 EFP
Jesus returns and expands on his door metaphor. He is the only way in and out, at least He is the only safe way in or out. The thieves obviously enter through other means and their exit strategy involves absconding with the wooly merchandise that does not belong to them.
Jesus is trying to make sure his listeners are clear of their options. Enter through the gate and they will be safe and securely taken care of. There are green pastures awaiting the sheep where the Shepherd is leading me. There is protection from the elements within the safety of the sheepfold where the Shepherd leads the sheep at the end of the day. The option is not as pleasant. If they leave the pen through any other means, even in the arms of another, their fate is not secure.
In my life there are many options available. Some are attractive; some are not. But the bottom line is that unless the option I choose goes through a connection with Jesus Christ, the consequences of following those options offer no guarantees. I must above all be intimately familiar with my Good Shepherd’s voice, and well-acquainted with the way in and out, dare I say “my coming and going.” I need to make sure my coming and going is where it’s supposed to be, and not left to chance. It is not safe to let another person set the tone of my life—I choose or risk the adverse consequences. Lord, give me the wisdom to know the difference—I am, after all, a sheep!
Jesus returns and expands on his door metaphor. He is the only way in and out, at least He is the only safe way in or out. The thieves obviously enter through other means and their exit strategy involves absconding with the wooly merchandise that does not belong to them.
Jesus is trying to make sure his listeners are clear of their options. Enter through the gate and they will be safe and securely taken care of. There are green pastures awaiting the sheep where the Shepherd is leading me. There is protection from the elements within the safety of the sheepfold where the Shepherd leads the sheep at the end of the day. The option is not as pleasant. If they leave the pen through any other means, even in the arms of another, their fate is not secure.
In my life there are many options available. Some are attractive; some are not. But the bottom line is that unless the option I choose goes through a connection with Jesus Christ, the consequences of following those options offer no guarantees. I must above all be intimately familiar with my Good Shepherd’s voice, and well-acquainted with the way in and out, dare I say “my coming and going.” I need to make sure my coming and going is where it’s supposed to be, and not left to chance. It is not safe to let another person set the tone of my life—I choose or risk the adverse consequences. Lord, give me the wisdom to know the difference—I am, after all, a sheep!
John 10:8
“The ones who appeared on the scene prior to me are nothing more than crooks and sheep rustlers,” Jesus adds. “That is why the sheep do not respond to their voices.” John 10:8 EFP
To whom is Jesus referring in this statement? Those who came before him—who are they? False prophets who tried to lure the crowds to certain perdition? The well-established teachers of the law who sit in the seat of instruction and heap on the populace overwhelming rules and regulations? Perhaps, but then it can be argued that the sheep, at least some of them, responded to the allure of the pretenders.
So who are they? Perhaps Jesus’ point is not so much the pretenders’ ability to deceive and succeed in their quest to snatch away the sheep, rather on the fact that “his” sheep do not respond to the beckoning of the seducers. The sheep that know his voice are not deceived. Those that are not well-acquainted to the peculiar tone and tenor of his voice, can be and are led astray.
So, whether the voice the sheep hear comes from an outright charlatan or deceiver it can only be distinguished from the true shepherd’s voice by those who have spent sufficient time under his care. The rest are in mortal danger. This is a word to the wise who consider all voices equal. They are not equal. Jesus’ words once again establish a clear line of demarcation. If I am one of his sheep, I will not respond to the “voices” of the enemy regardless of the garb. The voice may seem attractive and inviting, but the end is death. Lord, let me become deeply familiar to your voice and follow it wherever it leads me.
To whom is Jesus referring in this statement? Those who came before him—who are they? False prophets who tried to lure the crowds to certain perdition? The well-established teachers of the law who sit in the seat of instruction and heap on the populace overwhelming rules and regulations? Perhaps, but then it can be argued that the sheep, at least some of them, responded to the allure of the pretenders.
So who are they? Perhaps Jesus’ point is not so much the pretenders’ ability to deceive and succeed in their quest to snatch away the sheep, rather on the fact that “his” sheep do not respond to the beckoning of the seducers. The sheep that know his voice are not deceived. Those that are not well-acquainted to the peculiar tone and tenor of his voice, can be and are led astray.
So, whether the voice the sheep hear comes from an outright charlatan or deceiver it can only be distinguished from the true shepherd’s voice by those who have spent sufficient time under his care. The rest are in mortal danger. This is a word to the wise who consider all voices equal. They are not equal. Jesus’ words once again establish a clear line of demarcation. If I am one of his sheep, I will not respond to the “voices” of the enemy regardless of the garb. The voice may seem attractive and inviting, but the end is death. Lord, let me become deeply familiar to your voice and follow it wherever it leads me.
John 10:7
Jesus rephrases his words and says, “Let me put it to you this way, I am the door of the sheep as well.” John 10:7 EFP
Prior to this statement Jesus describes himself as the true Shepherd of the sheep. The sheep belong to him—they know him and they are known by him. His voice is familiar to them, so that when he calls them out of the sheepfold they respond by coming out and following him wherever he goes. The pretenders have to use other methods to get access to the sheep—they are prowlers and thieves. So far the analogies are simple and correspond to actual scenarios with which his listeners are familiar.
Then Jesus, as he is apt to do, takes it a step further. He refers to himself as an inanimate object—the door! He does not say he is a door of the sheep; he says he is the door. One door. Not one of many. This is consistent with the claims of Jesus, The word “believe” and its derivatives appear 86 times in the New King James Version of the Book of John alone. Faith in Jesus as the Son of God is central and foundational to the message he is trying to convey.
It is interesting to consider a door as the means by which a person (or animal, in this case) both enters and exits a specific location (a sheepfold, in this setting). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to the world to save it. Salvation comes through him—exclusively (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). It is not a popular view in a world of political correctness and relativism, but it is the claim of Jesus. I am overwhelmed by the thought that a God who can both see and read my heart is also the door through which I enter the Kingdom. But he is also the door that will exclude me if I fail to respond and ultimately reject His voice calling me to follow. He made His choice for me before the world was created. What remains to be seen is if I will make my choice to follow Him.
But one thing remains certain, those who enter will be the ones who respond to His voice, his words—his call to live lives of love and devotion to Him and the people He came to seek and save.
Prior to this statement Jesus describes himself as the true Shepherd of the sheep. The sheep belong to him—they know him and they are known by him. His voice is familiar to them, so that when he calls them out of the sheepfold they respond by coming out and following him wherever he goes. The pretenders have to use other methods to get access to the sheep—they are prowlers and thieves. So far the analogies are simple and correspond to actual scenarios with which his listeners are familiar.
Then Jesus, as he is apt to do, takes it a step further. He refers to himself as an inanimate object—the door! He does not say he is a door of the sheep; he says he is the door. One door. Not one of many. This is consistent with the claims of Jesus, The word “believe” and its derivatives appear 86 times in the New King James Version of the Book of John alone. Faith in Jesus as the Son of God is central and foundational to the message he is trying to convey.
It is interesting to consider a door as the means by which a person (or animal, in this case) both enters and exits a specific location (a sheepfold, in this setting). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to the world to save it. Salvation comes through him—exclusively (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). It is not a popular view in a world of political correctness and relativism, but it is the claim of Jesus. I am overwhelmed by the thought that a God who can both see and read my heart is also the door through which I enter the Kingdom. But he is also the door that will exclude me if I fail to respond and ultimately reject His voice calling me to follow. He made His choice for me before the world was created. What remains to be seen is if I will make my choice to follow Him.
But one thing remains certain, those who enter will be the ones who respond to His voice, his words—his call to live lives of love and devotion to Him and the people He came to seek and save.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
John 10:6
Jesus uses this sheep analogy to convey a spiritual truth. Sadly, the people who need to understand it most, fail to grasp it in the least. John 10:6 EFP
It’s just a simple scene drawn from everyday life in first century Palestine. The story resonates with the listeners. Their minds follow along as they imagine the mental pictures through their minds’ eye. There is a warm sensation that swells in their hearts as they frolic in the familiarity of the facts. Then…nothing.
Jesus’ intent is to draw them to a point of not only connecting, but to the point of understanding. Jesus knows they need to get it. They need what he has to give. He is their only hope of living a genuine and generous lives. But they miss the point. They hear the story. They devour the details. They fasten themselves to the facts. But they leave no closer to the truth than when they began.
Have I been guilty of the same travesty? Do I get caught up in the details and fail to grasp the overarching issues? Do I, who challenge others to consider a different perspective, fail personally to follow my advice, and this become entrenched in the safety of the known instead of a leap of faith into the unknown? I need to understand whatever Jesus is saying to the Pharisees, since it applies just as much to me.
It’s just a simple scene drawn from everyday life in first century Palestine. The story resonates with the listeners. Their minds follow along as they imagine the mental pictures through their minds’ eye. There is a warm sensation that swells in their hearts as they frolic in the familiarity of the facts. Then…nothing.
Jesus’ intent is to draw them to a point of not only connecting, but to the point of understanding. Jesus knows they need to get it. They need what he has to give. He is their only hope of living a genuine and generous lives. But they miss the point. They hear the story. They devour the details. They fasten themselves to the facts. But they leave no closer to the truth than when they began.
Have I been guilty of the same travesty? Do I get caught up in the details and fail to grasp the overarching issues? Do I, who challenge others to consider a different perspective, fail personally to follow my advice, and this become entrenched in the safety of the known instead of a leap of faith into the unknown? I need to understand whatever Jesus is saying to the Pharisees, since it applies just as much to me.
John 10:5
“There is no way my sheep will follow a stranger,” Jesus adds. “On the contrary, they will run away from anyone who does not sound like me. My voice makes all the difference—they either follow or flee!” John 10:5 EFP
This text speaks to me in a very powerful way. Jesus says that his sheep will by no means follow a stranger. His sheep will in fact flee from him or her on the basis of the sound of the voice. They want nothing to do with any voice that does not sound like their shepherd. So how does that work? And why does that not consistently work with me?
The truth is that I want to listen to God. There is no doubt that I recognize that it is better to follow God’s leading than to wander away and do my own thing. And truth be told I follow the voice of my shepherd most of the time. That is small comfort. I do not have time to celebrate the times I let God lead in my life—those moments are obliterated by the times when I follow the stranger’s voice and reap a bounty of bad! Does that mean I am not one of His sheep? Does that mean that I do not know His voice? Or does that mean that the enemy is simply a good impersonator of the “small, still voice”? Am I simply tricked into wandering?
I sense there is a bit of truth in all of these scenarios. Satan is good at luring me in his direction because he is able to disguise marginal things and make them sound good. But I must admit that there is more truth in the fact that I recognize my Shepherd’s voice, but I choose at times to go in another direction. I am led by the other voice into fields of malaise and spiritual malady. I am hounded by spiritual powers that seek my destruction and demise. I am bloodied and battered in rocky roads of compromise and contempt (with emphasis on “tempt”). I am lost and dying.
But then I hear the familiar voice of my Shepherd who has gone out to find me. That is the voice I hear when I am caught in the thickets of life. The voice that lured me now reveals itself with words of condemnation and criticism. I know to whom I belong. I bleat sadly for the salvation I turned my back on. The voice of my Shepherd becomes louder and louder. I cry out and he hears me, he finds me, he binds my bloodied body, he lifts me up and takes me back home. I belong to the Good Shepherd. I do not want to wander anymore!
This text speaks to me in a very powerful way. Jesus says that his sheep will by no means follow a stranger. His sheep will in fact flee from him or her on the basis of the sound of the voice. They want nothing to do with any voice that does not sound like their shepherd. So how does that work? And why does that not consistently work with me?
The truth is that I want to listen to God. There is no doubt that I recognize that it is better to follow God’s leading than to wander away and do my own thing. And truth be told I follow the voice of my shepherd most of the time. That is small comfort. I do not have time to celebrate the times I let God lead in my life—those moments are obliterated by the times when I follow the stranger’s voice and reap a bounty of bad! Does that mean I am not one of His sheep? Does that mean that I do not know His voice? Or does that mean that the enemy is simply a good impersonator of the “small, still voice”? Am I simply tricked into wandering?
I sense there is a bit of truth in all of these scenarios. Satan is good at luring me in his direction because he is able to disguise marginal things and make them sound good. But I must admit that there is more truth in the fact that I recognize my Shepherd’s voice, but I choose at times to go in another direction. I am led by the other voice into fields of malaise and spiritual malady. I am hounded by spiritual powers that seek my destruction and demise. I am bloodied and battered in rocky roads of compromise and contempt (with emphasis on “tempt”). I am lost and dying.
But then I hear the familiar voice of my Shepherd who has gone out to find me. That is the voice I hear when I am caught in the thickets of life. The voice that lured me now reveals itself with words of condemnation and criticism. I know to whom I belong. I bleat sadly for the salvation I turned my back on. The voice of my Shepherd becomes louder and louder. I cry out and he hears me, he finds me, he binds my bloodied body, he lifts me up and takes me back home. I belong to the Good Shepherd. I do not want to wander anymore!
John 10:4
“And once his sheep are beckoned out by the sound of his voice,” Jesus says, “he leads them; his sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.” John 10:4 EFP
Consider the fact that Jesus is still speaking to those who claim God as their spiritual source of truth and the patriarch Abraham as their spiritual progenitor. What does this statement mean? How is it understood by the ones listening who have no interest in what Jesus has to say other than to nab him in some verbal misstep?
His statement makes three basic points about his “sheep”: The sheep are called out by the sound of his voice; once they respond and come to him, he leads them, and; his sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. This is personal. The scene is relational. There is familiarity here. This is not the description of a call to a set of rules and regulations. There is no mention of mental assent or intellectual discipline. These are sheep, after all. Those who oppose him have and follow a strict set of rules and operate within specific religious parameters. Yet, in the end they seek to kill Jesus. Somehow they are comfortable with that incongruence.
The same happens to me when my religious experience is based on what I do and what I know to be true, rather than on who I am and who I know to be true—Jesus Christ. The Gospel is a call to be, not a demand to become by doing. What I do is the result of who I am and who I follow not vice versa. I follow because I know him. I am honed in on his voice. I recognize it. My behavior is set in motion as a result of my following him wherever he leads. If only my life consistently revealed that experience. I have so much growth ahead of me. God is not done with me…not by a long shot! But I will continue to follow him.
Consider the fact that Jesus is still speaking to those who claim God as their spiritual source of truth and the patriarch Abraham as their spiritual progenitor. What does this statement mean? How is it understood by the ones listening who have no interest in what Jesus has to say other than to nab him in some verbal misstep?
His statement makes three basic points about his “sheep”: The sheep are called out by the sound of his voice; once they respond and come to him, he leads them, and; his sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. This is personal. The scene is relational. There is familiarity here. This is not the description of a call to a set of rules and regulations. There is no mention of mental assent or intellectual discipline. These are sheep, after all. Those who oppose him have and follow a strict set of rules and operate within specific religious parameters. Yet, in the end they seek to kill Jesus. Somehow they are comfortable with that incongruence.
The same happens to me when my religious experience is based on what I do and what I know to be true, rather than on who I am and who I know to be true—Jesus Christ. The Gospel is a call to be, not a demand to become by doing. What I do is the result of who I am and who I follow not vice versa. I follow because I know him. I am honed in on his voice. I recognize it. My behavior is set in motion as a result of my following him wherever he leads. If only my life consistently revealed that experience. I have so much growth ahead of me. God is not done with me…not by a long shot! But I will continue to follow him.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
John 10:3
“The gatekeeper opens the gate for the Good Shepherd. The sheep hear his familiar voice when the door opens. He calls the sheep by name and leads them out of the sheepfold.” John 10:3 EFP
What struck me about this text is the fact that the Shepherd does not enter the sheepfold in this narrative. It’s not that there is anything wrong with entering the sheepfold, but the passage is clear that the door is opened and then the Shepherd begins calling his sheep by name from outside the gate. I wonder why this scene is described this way.
Another question: who is the gatekeeper who lets him in? Is it the Holy Spirit who is the key person in opening my life to the transforming power of God? Is there a more mundane explanation, such as a pastor or spiritual mentor that is used by God to open the gateway to my life? But then there’s the corporate motif. The church is the sheepfold. Many sheep are inside. Is this the some symbolic representation of the chosen of God? The point is that the Shepherd begin to call the sheep out by name to follow him. Jesus calls me out of the safety of my spiritual community, or perhaps even away from the comfort of my life as it is, to follow him wherever he leads.
Am I ready to follow wherever he leads? Am I ready to leave behind the security and familiarity of the sheepfold, whatever that is, and follow the Shepherd in faith wherever he goes? He is calling me by name! He wants me to experience the openness and freedom of the world outside the pen. I want to go. I hear my name being called. I look up. Will I follow?
What struck me about this text is the fact that the Shepherd does not enter the sheepfold in this narrative. It’s not that there is anything wrong with entering the sheepfold, but the passage is clear that the door is opened and then the Shepherd begins calling his sheep by name from outside the gate. I wonder why this scene is described this way.
Another question: who is the gatekeeper who lets him in? Is it the Holy Spirit who is the key person in opening my life to the transforming power of God? Is there a more mundane explanation, such as a pastor or spiritual mentor that is used by God to open the gateway to my life? But then there’s the corporate motif. The church is the sheepfold. Many sheep are inside. Is this the some symbolic representation of the chosen of God? The point is that the Shepherd begin to call the sheep out by name to follow him. Jesus calls me out of the safety of my spiritual community, or perhaps even away from the comfort of my life as it is, to follow him wherever he leads.
Am I ready to follow wherever he leads? Am I ready to leave behind the security and familiarity of the sheepfold, whatever that is, and follow the Shepherd in faith wherever he goes? He is calling me by name! He wants me to experience the openness and freedom of the world outside the pen. I want to go. I hear my name being called. I look up. Will I follow?
John 10:2
“On the other hand,” Jesus continues, “the one who cares for the sheep has no reason to sneak in or jump a fence. He comes in through the main gate in full view of all.” John 10:2 EFP
There is something to be said about transparency. No hidden agenda. No switch and bait. No covert operations. Just the truth: clear, concise, and concrete. As in the time of Jesus, those caught in the web of a religiosity that seeks preeminence and preservation rather than a sincere search for truth, mask and muffle the core of their faith to the point that many, if not most, cannot grasp the simplicity of the truth about God.
God never seeks to slide the truth is under a veil of acceptability and a promise of comfort. He knocks and enters through the front door with a call to live lives to the glory of God and to serve his children regardless of standing or status. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is open and inviting. It trumpets terms such as believe, abide, follow, and rest. It also warns the hearer of the realities of being part of the flock of the Good Shepherd. Troubles, trials, temptations, and treachery.
Jesus offers me the truth. The truth he shares is the way to salvation and joy, today and in the future. I believe God is calling me to present that truth to His people in terms that can be understood by all, and point them to the One who enters through the gate in open view and invites me to live an open, transparent, and genuine life—in the footsteps of my Shepherd.
There is something to be said about transparency. No hidden agenda. No switch and bait. No covert operations. Just the truth: clear, concise, and concrete. As in the time of Jesus, those caught in the web of a religiosity that seeks preeminence and preservation rather than a sincere search for truth, mask and muffle the core of their faith to the point that many, if not most, cannot grasp the simplicity of the truth about God.
God never seeks to slide the truth is under a veil of acceptability and a promise of comfort. He knocks and enters through the front door with a call to live lives to the glory of God and to serve his children regardless of standing or status. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is open and inviting. It trumpets terms such as believe, abide, follow, and rest. It also warns the hearer of the realities of being part of the flock of the Good Shepherd. Troubles, trials, temptations, and treachery.
Jesus offers me the truth. The truth he shares is the way to salvation and joy, today and in the future. I believe God is calling me to present that truth to His people in terms that can be understood by all, and point them to the One who enters through the gate in open view and invites me to live an open, transparent, and genuine life—in the footsteps of my Shepherd.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
John 10:1
“What I am about to tell you is true.” Jesus says, “It is quite easy to identify the thief and the burglar. They do not come into the sheepfold through the front gate; they jump a fence or do something sneaky to get in.” John 10:1 EFP
I will go on the assumption that this is Jesus continuing his response to the Pharisees regarding their spiritual blindness. Jesus has just finished telling them they are guilty as sin due to their unwillingness to see what is plain to see regarding his testimony. It is an indictment of their spiritual narrow-mindedness.
But now he takes a different approach in trying to clarify the contrast between his and their approach to ministry. The events just transpired have made it clear that their method to protecting the well-being of the people God leads them to use less-than-honest means. They intimidate, threaten, chastise, malign, and use deceit to gain the upper hand. There is a clear contrast between the way of the Kingdom of God and the way of the kingdom of man.
The end justifies the means is the way of the world. It boils down to the survival of the fittest—which in this case would refer to the people in power. Even religion can serve to be an instrument of deception, control, and enslavement if it is not tempered by the grace of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It becomes nothing more than a human endeavor masked in the garb of goodness and pious platitudes. Movements begun with the highest and purest of motives can degenerate into self-perpetuating and self-serving social systems, devoid of any semblance of the God they claim to represent. God, deliver me from evil!
I will go on the assumption that this is Jesus continuing his response to the Pharisees regarding their spiritual blindness. Jesus has just finished telling them they are guilty as sin due to their unwillingness to see what is plain to see regarding his testimony. It is an indictment of their spiritual narrow-mindedness.
But now he takes a different approach in trying to clarify the contrast between his and their approach to ministry. The events just transpired have made it clear that their method to protecting the well-being of the people God leads them to use less-than-honest means. They intimidate, threaten, chastise, malign, and use deceit to gain the upper hand. There is a clear contrast between the way of the Kingdom of God and the way of the kingdom of man.
The end justifies the means is the way of the world. It boils down to the survival of the fittest—which in this case would refer to the people in power. Even religion can serve to be an instrument of deception, control, and enslavement if it is not tempered by the grace of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It becomes nothing more than a human endeavor masked in the garb of goodness and pious platitudes. Movements begun with the highest and purest of motives can degenerate into self-perpetuating and self-serving social systems, devoid of any semblance of the God they claim to represent. God, deliver me from evil!
John 9:41
“Let me put it to you this way,” Jesus tells them, “It you are truly blind, you would be above reproach in this matter; but the fact that in spite of your question you are convinced you see perfectly…well, in that case, your sin and guilt remain.” John 9:41 EFP
Jesus’ reply is simple and to the point. He does not beat around the bush. There is no better way for him to confront the willful blindness of this group of religious leaders. In short, there is no offense taken if they are actually blind, which they are not. But given the fact they are sighted, then their unwillingness to see is their indictment.
Jesus uses the term “your guilt remains” to address their precarious situation. Their guilt remains because they choose not to see. They choose not to see because they would rather protect their personal interests than allow for the possibility that Jesus is truly who he says he is. By doing so they cling to their sin to the point that they no longer consider it sin, rather they see their actions as righteous, thus they have nothing to confess—and as a consequence their guilt remains.
This is the danger I face daily in my search for truth. I must be willing to be open to what God is telling me through his word. The fact that I have been blessed with precious truths in my community of faith does not mean that I will never learn more or never uncover new insights into the heart of Jesus and about the will of God for me. If I cling to what I have always known because it requires less theological discomfort or doctrinal upheaval, then I may be falling victim to the same ailment of the religious leaders of Jesus’ time. God is leading all those who are willing to be led—to truth. I must continue to search for truth and never reach a point this side of heaven where I feel as if I have arrived at ultimate truth. God is too great to be totally understood by finite human minds. My journey continues until I see God face to face. And then it gets even more exciting!
Jesus’ reply is simple and to the point. He does not beat around the bush. There is no better way for him to confront the willful blindness of this group of religious leaders. In short, there is no offense taken if they are actually blind, which they are not. But given the fact they are sighted, then their unwillingness to see is their indictment.
Jesus uses the term “your guilt remains” to address their precarious situation. Their guilt remains because they choose not to see. They choose not to see because they would rather protect their personal interests than allow for the possibility that Jesus is truly who he says he is. By doing so they cling to their sin to the point that they no longer consider it sin, rather they see their actions as righteous, thus they have nothing to confess—and as a consequence their guilt remains.
This is the danger I face daily in my search for truth. I must be willing to be open to what God is telling me through his word. The fact that I have been blessed with precious truths in my community of faith does not mean that I will never learn more or never uncover new insights into the heart of Jesus and about the will of God for me. If I cling to what I have always known because it requires less theological discomfort or doctrinal upheaval, then I may be falling victim to the same ailment of the religious leaders of Jesus’ time. God is leading all those who are willing to be led—to truth. I must continue to search for truth and never reach a point this side of heaven where I feel as if I have arrived at ultimate truth. God is too great to be totally understood by finite human minds. My journey continues until I see God face to face. And then it gets even more exciting!
John 9:40
It so happens that some of the ever-present Pharisees overhear his words to the man, and they quickly jump into the conversation by asking, “Jesus, are you referring to us when you talk about those who are blind? Are we blind as well?” John 9:40 EFP
Do the Pharisees already know the answer to the question they submit before they hear the answer from Jesus? They are always around. They listen to his messages. They see his miracles. They most likely know the events surrounding the man with whom Jesus is speaking. They know he was blind. They know he now sees.
Then they eavesdrop on Jesus’ conversation with the man regarding blind people who see and sighted people who don’t. Then they hear Jesus say something about making those who can now see become blind. They cannot help themselves! They have to ask, all the while knowing his answer is not going to agree with them. So they ask, “Are we blind as well?” In other words they query, “Are you talking about us?”
Really? Given the recent developments, not to mention the long-standing hostilities between them and Jesus, and their open opposition to his preaching and miracle-making, what did they expect his answer to be? If I choose to oppose an idea or a person through whom this idea is being passed on, I should not be asking if I am blind to that person and his message. But self-deception is a black-hole. It self-perpetuates and self-validates to the point that truth is no longer of import; it is preserving my point of view at all cost. That kind of blindness is more tragic than the lack of eyesight. Lord, don’t let self-interest be my motivation in my lifelong search for truth. Let me see Jesus!
Do the Pharisees already know the answer to the question they submit before they hear the answer from Jesus? They are always around. They listen to his messages. They see his miracles. They most likely know the events surrounding the man with whom Jesus is speaking. They know he was blind. They know he now sees.
Then they eavesdrop on Jesus’ conversation with the man regarding blind people who see and sighted people who don’t. Then they hear Jesus say something about making those who can now see become blind. They cannot help themselves! They have to ask, all the while knowing his answer is not going to agree with them. So they ask, “Are we blind as well?” In other words they query, “Are you talking about us?”
Really? Given the recent developments, not to mention the long-standing hostilities between them and Jesus, and their open opposition to his preaching and miracle-making, what did they expect his answer to be? If I choose to oppose an idea or a person through whom this idea is being passed on, I should not be asking if I am blind to that person and his message. But self-deception is a black-hole. It self-perpetuates and self-validates to the point that truth is no longer of import; it is preserving my point of view at all cost. That kind of blindness is more tragic than the lack of eyesight. Lord, don’t let self-interest be my motivation in my lifelong search for truth. Let me see Jesus!
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
John 9:39
Jesus continues, “I am here in this world for a reason, my friend. I come to declare judgment: That those who are sightless might begin to see, and those who have sight might lose it.” John 9:39 EFP
What an interesting statement by Jesus to the man. The man has just reconnected with him after an intense search after their initial encounter, his spiritual eyes are opened and he responds by confessing his belief in Jesus as the Son of God, and then worshipping him then and there.
Somewhere in the midst of that worship-fest, Jesus interjects this declaration regarding the reason for his presence in the world—to judge between believers and wannabes. Believers know they are blind and need to be given sight. The wannabes have all the trappings of sight, but they are blinded by the very Light of the World that has come to give sight to the blind. The decision to give or lose sight is within the person receiving the gift. The very gift of sight works only for those who lack it, and not on those who already have what passes for sight, but that actually is blindness. It is this spiritual blindness to which Jesus is referring.
I haven’t always seen God the way I see Him today. I am learning that God is not seeking so much as sacrifice and blind obedience, rather He is looking to draw me into a love-relationship with Him. I have come to realize that I do not naturally love. I am selfish and self-centered at my core, and unless God changes that I will never experience the life He created me to enjoy. God will teach me to love Him as He already loves me through a living and loving relationship. I am sorry for all the time wasted in trying to attain something that I can never attain; something that is the byproduct of loving God and seeking to know and love him more every day.
I do not want to be blind or blinded ever again.
What an interesting statement by Jesus to the man. The man has just reconnected with him after an intense search after their initial encounter, his spiritual eyes are opened and he responds by confessing his belief in Jesus as the Son of God, and then worshipping him then and there.
Somewhere in the midst of that worship-fest, Jesus interjects this declaration regarding the reason for his presence in the world—to judge between believers and wannabes. Believers know they are blind and need to be given sight. The wannabes have all the trappings of sight, but they are blinded by the very Light of the World that has come to give sight to the blind. The decision to give or lose sight is within the person receiving the gift. The very gift of sight works only for those who lack it, and not on those who already have what passes for sight, but that actually is blindness. It is this spiritual blindness to which Jesus is referring.
I haven’t always seen God the way I see Him today. I am learning that God is not seeking so much as sacrifice and blind obedience, rather He is looking to draw me into a love-relationship with Him. I have come to realize that I do not naturally love. I am selfish and self-centered at my core, and unless God changes that I will never experience the life He created me to enjoy. God will teach me to love Him as He already loves me through a living and loving relationship. I am sorry for all the time wasted in trying to attain something that I can never attain; something that is the byproduct of loving God and seeking to know and love him more every day.
I do not want to be blind or blinded ever again.
John 9:28
The man responds in kind. “Lord, I believe!” he says. Then he worships him then and there. John 9:38 EFP
What else could the man do? He finally meets the man that changed his life forever. Perhaps he has an inkling as he hears his voice, but when he hears the words confirming his suspicions, his response is immediate and heart-felt. “I believe!” he exclaims.
Does the man understand what he is saying? Do his words have a deeper meaning that the obvious statement of belief? Does the man confess his eternal gratitude and surrender to the will of the one who healed him? Or does he simply say what his heart tells him to say with all the love and appreciation for what Jesus had done for him?
In our quest to ensure that we have no part in “cheap grace” or “once-saved-always-saved” we burden down the term “believe” with commitment, comportment, and commandment-keeping. No doubt believing in Jesus is more than simply mental assent, but there is also a sense by which the heart-felt confession born out of a wellspring of gratitude is what it is—a loving response to the gift bestowed by a gracious God.
My response to his gift is the journey of faith—the cost of discipleship, but it is not any more a part of faith than it is a part of grace. I live my life of faith in the gift given by God. Period. The love of God that bestows the gift on me also elicits a loving response from me. For love’s sake, not for credit. I have eternal life the moment I believe (I John 5:13). I can return it. I can misuse it. I can dishonor it. God will respect my decision to leave. But as long as my heart is turned to Jesus and my trust is in the One who alone can save me, then I have nothing to fear. No one can snatch me from his hand (John 10:28).
What else could the man do? He finally meets the man that changed his life forever. Perhaps he has an inkling as he hears his voice, but when he hears the words confirming his suspicions, his response is immediate and heart-felt. “I believe!” he exclaims.
Does the man understand what he is saying? Do his words have a deeper meaning that the obvious statement of belief? Does the man confess his eternal gratitude and surrender to the will of the one who healed him? Or does he simply say what his heart tells him to say with all the love and appreciation for what Jesus had done for him?
In our quest to ensure that we have no part in “cheap grace” or “once-saved-always-saved” we burden down the term “believe” with commitment, comportment, and commandment-keeping. No doubt believing in Jesus is more than simply mental assent, but there is also a sense by which the heart-felt confession born out of a wellspring of gratitude is what it is—a loving response to the gift bestowed by a gracious God.
My response to his gift is the journey of faith—the cost of discipleship, but it is not any more a part of faith than it is a part of grace. I live my life of faith in the gift given by God. Period. The love of God that bestows the gift on me also elicits a loving response from me. For love’s sake, not for credit. I have eternal life the moment I believe (I John 5:13). I can return it. I can misuse it. I can dishonor it. God will respect my decision to leave. But as long as my heart is turned to Jesus and my trust is in the One who alone can save me, then I have nothing to fear. No one can snatch me from his hand (John 10:28).
John 9:37
Jesus simply says to the man, “You are not only looking at the Son of God, but you are hearing him talk to you as well…at the same time.” John 9:37 EFP
There is no need to keep the man in suspense. Jesus knows the man has been looking for him since he was healed. He knows the trials he has experienced since then. He knows he has been cast out of the synagogue. There is no doubt that Jesus knows what to do, but the way he reveals himself to the man is interesting.
The last time they met, the man heard Jesus’ voice and felt his touch, but he did not see him. He has no idea what he looks like. And other than the command given him to rinse his eyes in the Pool of Siloam, he has barely even heard his voice either. But his day he tells the man he is not only seeing him for the first time, but he is also listening to his voice at the same time, something he has never done before. He see him. He hears him talk. He has seen and heard a lot since the moment of his healing, but nothing compares to this moment. Seeing and listening to Jesus is the culmination of a search of a lifetime. Now his life is complete.
I too am in a search for Jesus. Perhaps you are as well. I see things every day. I hear and read much of my waking moments. The gifts of sight and hearing are wonderful, and I cannot imagine what it might be to not have one or the other. But it is during this search for God that I am beginning to see things I had not seen before, and recognize that simply seeing things is not enough to fill the void in my life. I want to see Jesus more and more every day. I want to listen to him speak to me through his word and through messages that come to me through the written and spoken word of his servants.
I realize the best I can have today is still but a veiled glance at the eternal. But it is better than settling for the land-locked and temporal things that will fade with time. My soul longs for eternity, today through a living connection with my Lord Jesus, and one day, I too will see Him and hear his voice…at the same time.
There is no need to keep the man in suspense. Jesus knows the man has been looking for him since he was healed. He knows the trials he has experienced since then. He knows he has been cast out of the synagogue. There is no doubt that Jesus knows what to do, but the way he reveals himself to the man is interesting.
The last time they met, the man heard Jesus’ voice and felt his touch, but he did not see him. He has no idea what he looks like. And other than the command given him to rinse his eyes in the Pool of Siloam, he has barely even heard his voice either. But his day he tells the man he is not only seeing him for the first time, but he is also listening to his voice at the same time, something he has never done before. He see him. He hears him talk. He has seen and heard a lot since the moment of his healing, but nothing compares to this moment. Seeing and listening to Jesus is the culmination of a search of a lifetime. Now his life is complete.
I too am in a search for Jesus. Perhaps you are as well. I see things every day. I hear and read much of my waking moments. The gifts of sight and hearing are wonderful, and I cannot imagine what it might be to not have one or the other. But it is during this search for God that I am beginning to see things I had not seen before, and recognize that simply seeing things is not enough to fill the void in my life. I want to see Jesus more and more every day. I want to listen to him speak to me through his word and through messages that come to me through the written and spoken word of his servants.
I realize the best I can have today is still but a veiled glance at the eternal. But it is better than settling for the land-locked and temporal things that will fade with time. My soul longs for eternity, today through a living connection with my Lord Jesus, and one day, I too will see Him and hear his voice…at the same time.
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