It is now winter in Jerusalem, and people from far and near have come to the city of David to celebrate the Feast of Dedication. John 10:22 EFP
It seems as if John is turning the page by letting us know the time of year in addition to the setting, but this is not the case. In fact, it becomes clear that the theme is still the same—The Good Shepherd. So why does John make mention of the time of year and the specific feast being celebrated?
The feast of the Hebrew nation that falls in the winter of the year is the celebration known as Hanukkah (or Chanukah), the feast of lights. Why is it important for John to mention the Feast of Lights in the middle of this passage that deals with Jesus as the Good Shepherd?
As tempting as it might be to suggest Jesus is making a reference to his being the Light of the World, this would be a stretch. Perhaps John is simply reminding the reader that Jesus is not only taking advantage of the crowds in the city to spread the Good News about his father, but he is also explaining why Jesus is making sure the contrast between the two competing beliefs about God are seared in their minds. It also reminds the reader that another year is concluding in the steady march to Mount Calvary. Decisions need to be secured. This is now his third visit to Jerusalem during his 3 ½ year ministry. This is an important milestone and Jesus no doubt is aware of his slow and now deliberate journey to the cross in the spring of the coming year.
He is working while there is light. The clock is ticking.
Friday, July 24, 2015
John 10:21
There are also those who respond to the objections of the naysayers. “His message is not consistent with someone who is possessed by a demon!” they answer back. “Besides, how can a man with a demon give sight to a blind man?” John 10:21 EFP
I recognize there are inherent dangers in anyone’s spiritual journey. There is always the danger of being deceived. There is a danger of fanaticism. There is a danger of any expression of faith becoming stale and ritualized over time. What safeguard is there that a sincere search for meaning and purpose outside ourselves will end in a discovery of truth as revealed in God.
I believe this passage gives two answers that are helpful in all our spiritual pursuits. First, there is the matter of the message. These people are perceptive enough to see that the message of Christ is not consistent with a message that is anchored in a soul immersed in and influenced by the power of darkness and evil. The message needs to speak well of God and provide authority from Scripture (Isaiah 8:20).
The second is also important. The passage points to the importance of the fruits of the one speaking for God. Even if the doctrine is convincing and is based on biblical authority; the life of the messenger must give evidence of a connection to a God of love and holiness. The miraculous is evidence, but only when the testimony of the person is in harmony with a life of loving obedience to the will of God (Matthew 7:20)
I am convicted by this passage and challenged to live my life in a way that honors God and the truth as is revealed in Scripture. I choose life and light. I will seek truth and trustin God. I will learn to walk with my Master and have my life molded into his image.
I recognize there are inherent dangers in anyone’s spiritual journey. There is always the danger of being deceived. There is a danger of fanaticism. There is a danger of any expression of faith becoming stale and ritualized over time. What safeguard is there that a sincere search for meaning and purpose outside ourselves will end in a discovery of truth as revealed in God.
I believe this passage gives two answers that are helpful in all our spiritual pursuits. First, there is the matter of the message. These people are perceptive enough to see that the message of Christ is not consistent with a message that is anchored in a soul immersed in and influenced by the power of darkness and evil. The message needs to speak well of God and provide authority from Scripture (Isaiah 8:20).
The second is also important. The passage points to the importance of the fruits of the one speaking for God. Even if the doctrine is convincing and is based on biblical authority; the life of the messenger must give evidence of a connection to a God of love and holiness. The miraculous is evidence, but only when the testimony of the person is in harmony with a life of loving obedience to the will of God (Matthew 7:20)
I am convicted by this passage and challenged to live my life in a way that honors God and the truth as is revealed in Scripture. I choose life and light. I will seek truth and trustin God. I will learn to walk with my Master and have my life molded into his image.
John 10:20
A great many of those gathered opined, “The man has a demon. He’s lost his mind! Why do you waste your time listening to a mad-man?” John 10:20 EFP
Why is it that even today, in my community of faith (although, not exclusively), we resort to labeling people and the peculiar spiritual practices of others we do not understand as being from the devil? It is as if that is the default response to religious expression that clashes with our preferred practices or simply makes us feel uneasy.
Such a tendency must have been the case in the days of Jesus. These people were hearing and seeing things that simply did not make sense from their world view. We have heard their arguments as we read the gospel narrative. “God does not listen to sinners.” “No prophet comes from Galilee.” “He casts out demons in the power of Beelzebub!” “He’s crazy!” All these accusations may be unfair and more than a bit caustic, but they are anchored in fear, if not ignorance and prejudice. Since it does not fit in to the comfortable and familiar it must be rejected. Since there are no arguments that seem to negate the validity of what they are witnessing, then fear must be the most effective tactic to oppose and negate the influence of those that do not fit our spiritual mold, as if there was only one possible method God uses to accomplish His will.
The people making these arguments in Jesus’ day are either afraid of the perceived threat that accepting Jesus’ claim will have on their lives, or they are concerned about the potential impact that might have on the religious system they both support and that supports them. Even today, rather than beginning with the possibility that God is at work in ways we do not understand, we lump people of other faiths and practices as being controlled by the powers of darkness. This narrative should be reason to be more cautious in our careless response to all other expressions of faith that do not match our, rather than letting God be the ultimate judge of those who abuse or corrupt the cause of Christ—a practice that exists in all faiths.
Why is it that even today, in my community of faith (although, not exclusively), we resort to labeling people and the peculiar spiritual practices of others we do not understand as being from the devil? It is as if that is the default response to religious expression that clashes with our preferred practices or simply makes us feel uneasy.
Such a tendency must have been the case in the days of Jesus. These people were hearing and seeing things that simply did not make sense from their world view. We have heard their arguments as we read the gospel narrative. “God does not listen to sinners.” “No prophet comes from Galilee.” “He casts out demons in the power of Beelzebub!” “He’s crazy!” All these accusations may be unfair and more than a bit caustic, but they are anchored in fear, if not ignorance and prejudice. Since it does not fit in to the comfortable and familiar it must be rejected. Since there are no arguments that seem to negate the validity of what they are witnessing, then fear must be the most effective tactic to oppose and negate the influence of those that do not fit our spiritual mold, as if there was only one possible method God uses to accomplish His will.
The people making these arguments in Jesus’ day are either afraid of the perceived threat that accepting Jesus’ claim will have on their lives, or they are concerned about the potential impact that might have on the religious system they both support and that supports them. Even today, rather than beginning with the possibility that God is at work in ways we do not understand, we lump people of other faiths and practices as being controlled by the powers of darkness. This narrative should be reason to be more cautious in our careless response to all other expressions of faith that do not match our, rather than letting God be the ultimate judge of those who abuse or corrupt the cause of Christ—a practice that exists in all faiths.
John 10:18
“Look, no one takes my life from me,” Jesus clarifies. “I lay it down myself because I have the authority and the power to lay down my life and to take it up again after I’ve laid it down.” John 10:18 EFP
This is such an awesome text! The way I understand it, Jesus is basically saying that he is has been forced into any role for which he did not sign up. Furthermore, not only is he voluntarily laying down his life to save “sheep” like me, he is also able to raise himself up after he has tasted the death he has chosen to experience in my place.
In other words, just as the Father is intimately involved in reconciling the world back to himself through Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:19), he [Jesus] has chosen to enter humanity to save it, with the authority and power to sacrifice his own life and then to call himself back to life when his mission is consummated. This is total commitment in the salvation of humanity by all the members of the Godhead.
I, on the other hand, have neither the authority to end my own life, nor the ability to bring myself back to life if I end it. But the Good Shepherd, forfeited his divinity to share it with me and used the power and authority inherent in divinity to secure the life I had forfeited through my spiritual inheritance and personal propensities. This dim-witted and clueless ball of nappy wool is the object of the Good Shepherd’s boundless love and unending affection. Now, that’s awesome!
This is such an awesome text! The way I understand it, Jesus is basically saying that he is has been forced into any role for which he did not sign up. Furthermore, not only is he voluntarily laying down his life to save “sheep” like me, he is also able to raise himself up after he has tasted the death he has chosen to experience in my place.
In other words, just as the Father is intimately involved in reconciling the world back to himself through Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:19), he [Jesus] has chosen to enter humanity to save it, with the authority and power to sacrifice his own life and then to call himself back to life when his mission is consummated. This is total commitment in the salvation of humanity by all the members of the Godhead.
I, on the other hand, have neither the authority to end my own life, nor the ability to bring myself back to life if I end it. But the Good Shepherd, forfeited his divinity to share it with me and used the power and authority inherent in divinity to secure the life I had forfeited through my spiritual inheritance and personal propensities. This dim-witted and clueless ball of nappy wool is the object of the Good Shepherd’s boundless love and unending affection. Now, that’s awesome!
John 10:17
“In light of the fact that I lay down my life,” Jesus says, “I am treasured by my Father. Furthermore, when I lay down my life, I will also take it back.” John 10:17 EFP
Jesus takes a sudden turn in his narrative. He opens up a different panorama of his role as the Good Shepherd of the sheep. He describes himself as the Savior of the Sheep. His death is actually assured because only he can save the sheep from death. Jesus is all that stands between his creatures and oblivion.
His sacrifice does not go unnoticed by the Father. Considering this is a decision made in the councils of heaven before the ages, it is no wonder the Father of all loves the Shepherd. This not an easy concept to digest, even for us who live in the wake of millennia of indoctrination on basic theological concepts, such as the triune Godhead—the Trinity.
The Father, as well as the son (and by extension, the Holy Spirit) are integrally involved in the salvation of man (Read 2 Corinthians 5:19). God cannot die. Thus, even though Jesus came in the flesh, he was also divine. He had to be, in order to take on the wages of sin. Only the Savior Shepherd could take on the weight of all our sins and die in the flesh. He literally wrestled sin to death in his human flesh but secured it ultimate defeat through his divinity—his resurrection. He raised himself! Divinity cannot die!
It is the mystery of the ages. It is a miracle of universal dimensions. It is beyond comprehension, but it is as simple as this: Jesus, God in the flesh of humanity, suffered the death I deserved, so that I might live the life He secured in the power of God. I can live, safe and secure in his accomplished work of redemption—today and forever.
Jesus takes a sudden turn in his narrative. He opens up a different panorama of his role as the Good Shepherd of the sheep. He describes himself as the Savior of the Sheep. His death is actually assured because only he can save the sheep from death. Jesus is all that stands between his creatures and oblivion.
His sacrifice does not go unnoticed by the Father. Considering this is a decision made in the councils of heaven before the ages, it is no wonder the Father of all loves the Shepherd. This not an easy concept to digest, even for us who live in the wake of millennia of indoctrination on basic theological concepts, such as the triune Godhead—the Trinity.
The Father, as well as the son (and by extension, the Holy Spirit) are integrally involved in the salvation of man (Read 2 Corinthians 5:19). God cannot die. Thus, even though Jesus came in the flesh, he was also divine. He had to be, in order to take on the wages of sin. Only the Savior Shepherd could take on the weight of all our sins and die in the flesh. He literally wrestled sin to death in his human flesh but secured it ultimate defeat through his divinity—his resurrection. He raised himself! Divinity cannot die!
It is the mystery of the ages. It is a miracle of universal dimensions. It is beyond comprehension, but it is as simple as this: Jesus, God in the flesh of humanity, suffered the death I deserved, so that I might live the life He secured in the power of God. I can live, safe and secure in his accomplished work of redemption—today and forever.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
John 10:16
“By the way,” Jesus adds, “I have sheep who are not even in this sheepfold; I am determined to find them and bring them with me. They will hear my voice, and they will recognize it. They will follow. Then there will be only one flock and only one shepherd.” John 10:16 EFP
It is amazing how inclusive Jesus describes the exclusive claims he makes about himself, his mission, and his direct connection with God. I cannot overlook Jesus is still speaking to Jewish leaders—the chosen! They are having trouble digesting his concept of the Good Shepherd and sheep that hear his voice and follow him. Beyond that, these sheep Jesus speaks of know him just as he knows his father—the Father of all.
I am certain they are not warming up to his statements. His declarations fly in the face of all that is sacred to them as the children of Israel—the faithful ones. But now Jesus ratchets it up to another level altogether. He strongly implies that there are sheep (people, seekers, believers) that are not in the sheepfold (community of faith, community of believers, the people of God). Not all those who are identified as the ones who hear and recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd are in the fold of Jesus’ sheep. This statement is likely understood by the religious leaders as meaning Jesus’ ministry is not meant exclusively for the Jews alone, and they would have, in fact, been right to think so—and dare I say they would not have been happy.
But to top it off Jesus closes his statement with the words “one flock and one shepherd”. This is ludicrous! Only the Jews are the Chosen ones—according to the Jews. They have the truth. They worship on the correct day. They are the depository of the promises of God. They subscribe to the fact that the time would come when there would only be one group that would be designated the children of God, but certainly it would not be under the auspices of Jesus! Nor would it include Gentiles! The waters are heating up.
I am thankful for these words of Jesus. I cannot forget that I am a member of the sheep from another fold. I am part of the graft that was attached after the fact to the tree of Israel. What seems bad news to them is Good News to me.
It is amazing how inclusive Jesus describes the exclusive claims he makes about himself, his mission, and his direct connection with God. I cannot overlook Jesus is still speaking to Jewish leaders—the chosen! They are having trouble digesting his concept of the Good Shepherd and sheep that hear his voice and follow him. Beyond that, these sheep Jesus speaks of know him just as he knows his father—the Father of all.
I am certain they are not warming up to his statements. His declarations fly in the face of all that is sacred to them as the children of Israel—the faithful ones. But now Jesus ratchets it up to another level altogether. He strongly implies that there are sheep (people, seekers, believers) that are not in the sheepfold (community of faith, community of believers, the people of God). Not all those who are identified as the ones who hear and recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd are in the fold of Jesus’ sheep. This statement is likely understood by the religious leaders as meaning Jesus’ ministry is not meant exclusively for the Jews alone, and they would have, in fact, been right to think so—and dare I say they would not have been happy.
But to top it off Jesus closes his statement with the words “one flock and one shepherd”. This is ludicrous! Only the Jews are the Chosen ones—according to the Jews. They have the truth. They worship on the correct day. They are the depository of the promises of God. They subscribe to the fact that the time would come when there would only be one group that would be designated the children of God, but certainly it would not be under the auspices of Jesus! Nor would it include Gentiles! The waters are heating up.
I am thankful for these words of Jesus. I cannot forget that I am a member of the sheep from another fold. I am part of the graft that was attached after the fact to the tree of Israel. What seems bad news to them is Good News to me.
John 10:15
“Let me explain it to you this way,” Jesus says. “I already told you the Father knows me and I know the Father. Well, it’s just like that. My sheep know me and I know my sheep. But it is simply because they are sheep, not all of which claim me as their leader, that I am willing to lay down my life to save them—all of them.” John 10:15 EFP
Jesus has a way with words…and he is not always easy to understand. It’s almost as if he is talking in riddles, at least to a twenty-first century mind. Jesus is trying to portray his relationship with his believers as one of a Good Shepherd and his sheep. In short, all the sheep are dependent on the Good Shepherd, but not all follow him, mostly because they are not used to recognizing his voice. The only way to ensure I will be safe is to become acquainted with the Good Shepherd’s voice, and follow it wherever it goes.
But now Jesus expands the concept to include the relationship between his heavenly Father and him. It is also defined as a relationship. The Father knows him and he knows the Father. This is not an acquaintance-type relationship, rather a close and intimate connection. It’s now simply knowing about the Good Shepherd, but knowing him personally.
In the end, Jesus reveals a God who claims all the sheep as His in terms of salvation. They have received the gift, but need to recognize it and receive it. Jesus was willing to die for all the sheep, he has made this clear before. In that sense they are all his sheep. But in the end, only those who follow Him will be saved. He sought and seeks after me because he loves me. It is his nature to love me. I follow him because I love him. It is not natural for me to love, but I respond to his gift to me. He know my heart—longing, searching, and following, but also a heart that all too often misses the mark. But only he knows the love that is in my heart—or the hypocrisy that masks my unwillingness to follow. God, help me!
Jesus has a way with words…and he is not always easy to understand. It’s almost as if he is talking in riddles, at least to a twenty-first century mind. Jesus is trying to portray his relationship with his believers as one of a Good Shepherd and his sheep. In short, all the sheep are dependent on the Good Shepherd, but not all follow him, mostly because they are not used to recognizing his voice. The only way to ensure I will be safe is to become acquainted with the Good Shepherd’s voice, and follow it wherever it goes.
But now Jesus expands the concept to include the relationship between his heavenly Father and him. It is also defined as a relationship. The Father knows him and he knows the Father. This is not an acquaintance-type relationship, rather a close and intimate connection. It’s now simply knowing about the Good Shepherd, but knowing him personally.
In the end, Jesus reveals a God who claims all the sheep as His in terms of salvation. They have received the gift, but need to recognize it and receive it. Jesus was willing to die for all the sheep, he has made this clear before. In that sense they are all his sheep. But in the end, only those who follow Him will be saved. He sought and seeks after me because he loves me. It is his nature to love me. I follow him because I love him. It is not natural for me to love, but I respond to his gift to me. He know my heart—longing, searching, and following, but also a heart that all too often misses the mark. But only he knows the love that is in my heart—or the hypocrisy that masks my unwillingness to follow. God, help me!
John 10:14
“I am the Good Shepherd,” Jesus repeats. “Make no mistake, I know my sheep and I am known by the sheep that follow me.” John 10:14 EFP
In this passage Jesus reiterates the positive side of the equation not mentioned in the previous text. The picture in the previous text is that of the hired worker that sees himself more as mercenary than a true care-provider for the sheep. In this passage Jesus focuses on the concept of the relationship that exists between the Good Shepherd and his sheep.
The Good Shepherd has a special connection with his sheep. It is a relationship forged during treks over the highlands and through the valleys. It is deepened in the moments of danger and rescue. It is strengthened during the cold nights of winter and the hot and pesky days of the Palestinian summers. The Good Shepherd’s voice has brought the wayward sheep back from the precipice; it has called the dim-witted ball of wool into the safety of his arms when he loses his way. It is definitely a very slanted relationship in favor of the sheep, since the Good Shepherd does pretty much everything but follow himself.
That is what I do as a member of the flock of the Good Shepherd. I follow. I do so because life has taught me that it is better to follow the One who loves me most than to set my own course without His guidance and care. It’s pretty humiliating to see myself as a dumb sheep, but in comparison to the Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent Almighty God, it’s probably a stretch to rank me with a sheep. If I want to be saved, all I have to do is follow Him. He will take care of all the rest. That almost sounds like Matthew 6:33! Moreover, when I choose not to follow and wander away to my own demise, he never ceases to seek after me to save me from myself. Why do I wander? How do I rationalize my decision to exit the safety of his care for me?
In this passage Jesus reiterates the positive side of the equation not mentioned in the previous text. The picture in the previous text is that of the hired worker that sees himself more as mercenary than a true care-provider for the sheep. In this passage Jesus focuses on the concept of the relationship that exists between the Good Shepherd and his sheep.
The Good Shepherd has a special connection with his sheep. It is a relationship forged during treks over the highlands and through the valleys. It is deepened in the moments of danger and rescue. It is strengthened during the cold nights of winter and the hot and pesky days of the Palestinian summers. The Good Shepherd’s voice has brought the wayward sheep back from the precipice; it has called the dim-witted ball of wool into the safety of his arms when he loses his way. It is definitely a very slanted relationship in favor of the sheep, since the Good Shepherd does pretty much everything but follow himself.
That is what I do as a member of the flock of the Good Shepherd. I follow. I do so because life has taught me that it is better to follow the One who loves me most than to set my own course without His guidance and care. It’s pretty humiliating to see myself as a dumb sheep, but in comparison to the Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent Almighty God, it’s probably a stretch to rank me with a sheep. If I want to be saved, all I have to do is follow Him. He will take care of all the rest. That almost sounds like Matthew 6:33! Moreover, when I choose not to follow and wander away to my own demise, he never ceases to seek after me to save me from myself. Why do I wander? How do I rationalize my decision to exit the safety of his care for me?
John 10:13
“The reason the hired worker runs away is precisely because he is a hired worker; the hireling has no interest in the sheep other than the benefits he gets from his work watching over them.” John 10:13 EFP
Just to make sure his listeners are clear on the concept, Jesus reiterates the marked difference between the hired worker and the Good Shepherd. There is a stark difference! It comes down to ownership.
The hired worker is given a wage to take care of the sheep. He is employed to watch them at night, to keep a watchful eye out on any potential threats, and if needed to defend them from such perils as thieves, predators, and even threatening climate. But given the fact the sheep are not his, the hireling will consider the benefits against the cost when facing a danger that could potentially cost him life or limb. He will weigh the value of his human life against that of the pea-brained wooly-mammals under his care. The lambs will lose most of the time on that set of scales. In the end, the animals are not worth it to him.
But not when the Good Shepherd is concerned. He weighs the worth of his divine life compared to that of his wayward and clueless lambs, and 100 times out of 100 he lays down his life—or better stated, he laid down his life already. In the end, every one of us-- his critters are worth his life and more. Heaven’s scales are obviously different than human scales of worth and return on investment. I am worth it in his eyesl
Thank you, Jesus!
Just to make sure his listeners are clear on the concept, Jesus reiterates the marked difference between the hired worker and the Good Shepherd. There is a stark difference! It comes down to ownership.
The hired worker is given a wage to take care of the sheep. He is employed to watch them at night, to keep a watchful eye out on any potential threats, and if needed to defend them from such perils as thieves, predators, and even threatening climate. But given the fact the sheep are not his, the hireling will consider the benefits against the cost when facing a danger that could potentially cost him life or limb. He will weigh the value of his human life against that of the pea-brained wooly-mammals under his care. The lambs will lose most of the time on that set of scales. In the end, the animals are not worth it to him.
But not when the Good Shepherd is concerned. He weighs the worth of his divine life compared to that of his wayward and clueless lambs, and 100 times out of 100 he lays down his life—or better stated, he laid down his life already. In the end, every one of us-- his critters are worth his life and more. Heaven’s scales are obviously different than human scales of worth and return on investment. I am worth it in his eyesl
Thank you, Jesus!
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