John 10:22-30 The Shepherd Knows His Sheep
“Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”
Israel is NOT a tropical country, even if it does have palm trees in some places! The winters can be bitterly cold with humidity making the cold penetrate even more deeply. Jesus has gone to Jerusalem for the Feast of Dedication, but he’s inside the temple when a crowd of men surrounds him. While the Pharisees and Sadducees may be leading the crowd, there are also large numbers of men who have heard of Jesus but who have never seen him and are curious to see what this man looks like. Out in the villages, they say that Jesus is a prophet, and some say he might even be the Christ, the Messiah for whom the Jews have been waiting. This is a golden opportunity to learn what this man is really about.
“Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” The Jews referred to here are the religious leaders, for there were many Jews who already believe in Jesus, having just seen him restore sight to a man born blind.
“Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.” Jesus has no illusions about the men leading this group; he knows they don’t believe in him but are only seeking excuses to eliminate him by any means possible. To the Jewish religious leaders, Jesus is simply an excrescence, a road block, and an obstacle to smooth relations with the Romans that must be removed by any means possible. Just watch the Roman soldiers striding through Jerusalem, snatching fruit from fruit sellers and pushing people out of their way, threatening anyone who opposes them. It takes virtually nothing to set the Romans off, and Jesus might give the Romans the excuse they need to destroy Jerusalem, hunting down Jews wherever they find them. So even as Jesus is performing miracles that convince those hungry for God to believe in him, the religious leaders are hardening their hearts, denying that such acts must come from the God they claim to worship.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” Once more, Jesus uses the indelible image of a good shepherd calling his sheep to follow him. Good shepherds lead their flocks to places where they may graze safely and drink from clear quiet streams or pools, bringing them back to the sheep fold at night to rest safely, protected from all evil. But Jesus promises something even better-eternal life and security. Once someone follows Jesus, nobody can snatch that person out of Jesus’ hand!
Later, Saint Paul will write to the Romans, assuring them, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)
These are worrisome times. School shootings, air disasters, uncertainty about new governmental policies, economic upheavals-many of us may feel like anxious sheep quaking in our wool and longing for safety. Things were no safer in Jesus’ day, for there was the added burden of infectious diseases that could wipe out entire populations. The night before Jesus was betrayed, he gave as many instructions to his disciples as possible, but he did not sugar coat anything. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Want peace in the midst of chaos? Learn to know the Shepherd. Want rest for your soul? Learn to know the Shepherd. Want assurance of eternal life after death? Learn to know the Shepherd. “But,” you say, “how can I meet the Shepherd, let alone get to know about Him?” That’s simple. Just ask. Let’s pray.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, please introduce us to Jesus and to Your Holy Spirit. Open our eyes to see that You have been there all of our lives, simply waiting for us to turn to You. Please teach us everything there is to know about You and Your Kingdom. And please give us that peace and assurance that You are the Giver of eternal life and that NOBODY can snatch us out of Your hands once we turn to You. We pray in the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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