John 10:1-21 Scene 5

This section is the one of the final scenes in our Act which began Chapter 7. This act of John's Gospel takes place in Jerusalem around the time of the Feast of Booths.

Verses 1-6 The Shepherd and His Sheep
Verses 7-18 "I AM"
Verses 19-21 Father and Son

This scene continues directly from Scene 4 but it can be viewed as a closeup of Jesus' face with outbreaks to sheep, shepherd(s), criminals and sheep folds. Regardless of the ending of Scene 4 with Jesus articulating ones sinful plight, the camera must now follow the subject of Jesus' articulation that describes sheep and shepherds, and His Father and Him. There is a lowering of volume in His voice. He softens His tone and says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. “But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. “When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. “A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Notice four relationships in His figure of speech: 1. exclusivity of the legitimate shepherd; 2. uniqueness of the shepherd's voice; 3. knowing each other; and 4. sheep following the shepherd.

1. The Exclusive Shepherd. I use the term 'exclusive' for sheep only know the voice of their shepherd. His access to them is bold and without pretense. All others must sneak and trick the sheep. The intruding shepherd 'climbs' while the shepherd enters. Those guarding the sheep fold, not shepherding the sheep know the shepherd and let him in for the sheep are His and His alone. Even the doorkeeper is an under-shepherd.
   
2. They know His voice. This is the essential element of being a sheep. For knowing the Shepherd's voice sets the path for your very sustenance (food, water, protection). You must know the voice of your shepherd. Do you know the voice of God? Do you know the voice of your Shepherd? Who is the shepherd of your soul?
3. Knowing each other. Knowing not just His voice, do the sheep know Him, the one who is their shepherd? The Shepherd knows the sheep. He knows their name. He calls each one by name. No, 'Buddy," "Ma'am," "Sir," "Young Man," "Kid," "Hey You," or whistle, whoop, holler or yell. He calls each sheep by name. The naming of sheep was an ancient shepherding practice.
4. Following the shepherd. They follow Him. Wherever He leads, they go.

These four aspects that characterize the relationship between the Shepherd and His sheep are contrasted by the relationship between all others who are NOT the shepherd of the sheep and the sheep. They sneak up on the sheep. They have strange voices. They do not know their name(s). They cannot lead because the sheep will not follow.
This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.They, like many of us in the 21st Century may not understand the figure of what was commonplace in the Middle East. For a shepherd tending his sheep was as common then as oil wells in east Texas, as orange groves in Florida, as peach groves in Georgia, as pig farms in eastern North Carolina. They, the original audience, were far removed from the shepherd lifestyle. During the time of the festivals, as we are in the tail end of the Feast of Booths, the Jewish population journeyed to Jerusalem. This journey was not usually made by the shepherds for sheep always need tending. Sheep tending then can be equated to 'garbage collectors' and 'dairy farmers.' Garbage must be picked up. Dairy cows must be milked. For a good treatment of a shepherd's lifestyle and how God often pictures Himself as a Shepherd, read Phillip Keller's book entitled "A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm."

So Jesus said to them again, (very simply, as in a calm, yet purposed voice in order to explain) “Truly, truly, I say to you, I AM (emphasized, εγω ειμι) the door of the sheep. “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. “I AM (emphasis, εγω ειμι) the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. In this paragraph we have some of the most familiar words of Jesus. Yet, the context of those familiar words are often misunderstood. First, as we flow from the previous paragraph, Jesus is explaining the personal, eternal and practical relevance of the Shepherd and Sheep figure. He contrasts Himself with 'thieves' who come blatantly but under cover to ransack the sheep leaving them dispersed, hurt and killed. He is I AM who distinguishes Him from all the impostors, posers and outright vigilantes that came in His name. He is I AM as it relates to the sheep's access to safe haven, both initially, routinely and perpetually. To the uttermost purpose of the thief (steal, kill and destroy), I AM purposes to provide giving and receiving, create and give birth, and improve, repair and restore. We 'go in and go out and find pasture.'

“I AM (emphasized, εγω ειμι) the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. Now, we have a distinguishing characteristic of a true shepherd.“He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. “He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. Jesus is now contrasting Himself with one who is paid for his services to the sheep: hired hand. The hired hand is not the owner. He scatters with the sheep when danger comes. He is as much concerned for himself than he is for the sheep. A hired hand has the authority to protect the sheep but finds himself acting just like a sheep. The Good Shepherd is not a hired hand. HE owns the sheep. The sheep are HIS. HE does not flee but battles with the predators of HIS sheep. HE is more concerned for the sheep than HE is for HIMSELF. This issue is further developed. "I AM (emphasized, εγω ειμι) the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. As we reflect on the four characteristics of a shepherd from above, the issue of 'knowing' is the most important characteristic. And Him knowing us is only understood when related to the 'knowing' that the Father has of Him and that He has of the Father. The Good Shepherd knows the sheep, not as the world may define the knowledge, but as only God, the Father and the Son, can illustrate. The world, in and of itself, does not and can not comprehend this 'knowing.' Upon this deep relational element between the Father and the Son and with all of its authority, Jesus makes a revolutionary statement: “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. Here we have one of the most direct statements of Jesus regarding the inclusion of Gentiles under His mission. This picture would be understood by all hearing it. The issue of foreign sheep being mixed with the original sheep does not seem to challenge most Palestinian shepherds. Once there is a relationship (voice, name, etc.) sheep pay more attention to the shepherd than they do each other. “For this reason the Father loves Me, Jesus not only knows that His Father loves Him, but He knows why! Why? because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. The reason the Father loves Jesus the Son is because He is going to fulfill the primary heart objective of His Father. He is going to reconciled, redeem, ransom, reclaim that which was lost. There is no resurrection without the death of Jesus. “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. Be it very clear. The issue of Jesus being betrayed, arrested, tortured, crucified, rejected and killed, is not solely the acts of men. All that happened, future in this Gospel account, supremely by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. This commandment I received from My Father.”Even Jesus is under the authority of His Father. He was given a commandment and has the authority to obey it (or, not) but He will choose to completely obey thereby being our example in so many ways.

A word from the narrator which serves to close the act. The focus pulls away from Jesus speaking to those who are close by. The camera shows while the narrator tells that A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words. Again, a division. Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?” Others were saying, “These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?”Here we have a striking commentary on the mentally of the crowd. They, both 'many of them' and 'others,' were more well versed in the ways of demonology than they were in the ways of God. They knew enough of the powers, purposes and presence of demons to comment both positively and negatively as they attributed the works of Jesus to demons.

APPLICATION

1. Do you know His voice? How does He speak to you? He speaks to me most clearly when He speaks 'conviction' (you sinned, you lied) when my being is being bombarded with 'condemnation' (you are a sinner, you are a liar).
   
2. Do you know that God loves you? Do you know 'why' He loves you?
3. Fathers, do your children know that you love them? Do they know 'why' you love them?
4. Who do you say He is? Liar, Lunatic or Lord?
5. In the light of necessity of sheep to know and to be known as it regards the shepherd and regarding the fine tuning of our hearing to ascertain His voice, is there any room to educate and know and mimic and entertain the ways of demons? Woe to the sheep who know the ways of demons, sorcerers, and witchcraft more than, perhaps to the negation of the voice of the Good Shepherd.

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John 8:31-47 Believing and Discipleship

Let me say from the beginning, this passage has pierced me to the heart. Therefore, I will attempt to convey my personal journey in this post. I hope it helps prod you to move deeper in your relationship with HIM. - Dan

John 8:31-47

Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, From this opening statement, we are tied to the preceding paragraph, specifically verse 30 when many Jews believed Him as He spoke. Therefore this paragraph is one of two paragraphs containing the dialogue between Jesus and those who believed Him. Interesting, "believed Him," not "believed in Him." Literally, πρὸς τοὺς πεπιστευκότας αὐτῷ Ἰουδαίους means 'to the Jews believing Him.' Their 'belief' was perfect (past, with present results) and active tense. Their 'belief' was not any different than mine. They had Jesus speaking with them in flesh. Yet, I have the Spirit as a fulfillment of Jesus' finished work on the cross and the resurrection. "If you abide in My word, 'If" introduces a conditional clause. I may and I may not. 'Abide' communicates a wellspring of meaning consistent with my posture towards 'His word." It is the Greek word, μένω, meaning 'continue, lodge, wait for, remain, live, stay, stand fast, tarry, abide, expect, long for.' The tense of this verb is aorist meaning the my 'abiding' is punctiliar not present as in 'on-going,' and not past as in 'been there, done that.' My 'abiding', even though I don't know the results of my 'abiding' is to be 'continuing simple acts which are dependent or connected to each other. Each single act of 'abiding' stands on its own and will produce the result, no matter what it is. The term 'word' could relate to this written word we call the Bible, the very spoken word(s) of Jesus or the teaching(s) of Jesus. Of these three options the written word, the Bible, is the most objective. Therefore, does that, describe my Bible Study time, my devotional life, my time of listening to God, my thought patterns throughout the day? When someone asks me where I live, do I say, "In His word?" When someone asks me what I am waiting for, no matter the circumstance, am I ready to reply, "In His word?" then you are truly disciples of Mine; 'Then' gives me the result of me 'punctiliarly abiding.' If my Bible study, devotional time, listening time, is characterized by 'longing for,' then I am a true disciple of Jesus. If I do NOT, then I am NOT. I may believe, but I am NOT a true disciple (ἀληθῶς μαθηταί μου ἐστε). At this point, it is fair for me to ask myself, "Am I a true disciple of Christ?" Sometimes 'yes,' and sometimes 'no.' Sometimes 'waiting, longing, expecting,' and sometimes not. I 'believe' but I waffle in the 'punctiliar abiding' in the word of Jesus. How can I get the 'waffling' abiding developed into 'punctiliar abiding?' Honestly, there is no better motivation than knowing the results of my actions. What does 'punctiliar abiding' produce in me? What does NOT 'punctiliar abiding' result in me? Knowing the answers to these questions should motivate me to be a ἀληθῶς μαθηταί. and you shall know the truth, There it is, a result of me be a 'true disciple.' I shall 'know.' The term 'know' is from the Greek word, γινώσκω, meaning 'know, especially through first-hand experience.' It has prominent occurrences in the Bible, Luke 1:34 and Genesis 4:1 which highlight "sexual intimacy" as distinguished from 'mentally knowing.' Therefore, as a result of 'punctiliarly abiding' in His word, I will be a 'true disciple' and will 'first-hand experience the truth.' Not 'A truth',' but 'THE truth' (τὴν ἀλήθειαν). and the truth shall make you free." FREEDOM! THE truth will make me free. I cannot make myself free. But, I can make a decision to 'punctiliarly abide' in His word in order to be free through the 'first-hand knowing' of THE truth. My freedom is directly tied to two things: 1. My habitual abiding in His word, and, 2. 'first-hand' experience of the truth. I purpose to do the first and the second is a result that is all about me being free. Free from what? As one who believes, how am I in bondage? How am I a slave? How am I tied up or restricted? How am I stuck?

They answered Him, "We are Abraham's offspring, They, the believing Jews answered Him. Aw, the all to familiar response to someone's talk about freedom and my potential slavery. My first response, like theirs, is "I am a Christian. I am a Believer. I am a Child of the King. I am Redeemed. I am Forgiven. I am covered in the Blood." Look at all of my 'I am....s.' Not one 'He is.....' or mention of the word 'disciple' or 'true disciple' or 'waiting' or 'longing' or 'expecting' or ....... Do I defend my free/bondage state with my family relations? These Jews were resting on their forefather and his favor with God. I am reminded that God has no grandchildren. and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; The beauty of denial. These Jews, these believing Jews were defending their free/bondage state of being with their recollection of the past, how well they 'knew' their own history. No enslavement, really? What about the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and currently the Romans? The beauty of denial. how is it that You say, 'You shall become free'?" They, like me, are interested in freedom. But, I so often, front load my attraction to resulting freedom instead of focusing on the first element of the process leading to freedom which is 'punctiliarly abiding'. I want to be free from the things I know and the things I do not yet know. But, I must not focus on being free. I must not bring my positions and relations to my defense. There is only one option. I must focus on 'punctiliarly abiding' in His word and then, through first-hand experience of the truth, the truth will make me free. I cannot make myself free. The truth will make me free. My ability to defend myself based on relationships and simply not able to recall any instances of bondage are lame responses to being a disciple of Jesus. In fact, having those behaviors and NOT 'punctiliarly abiding' in His word has its own outcome.

Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin, and the slave does not remain in the house forever; Jesus responds to the believing Jews as He responds to me in that my enslavement is due not to physical bondage or relational misfortunes but in whole due to me committing sin. I am drawn to two words: 'commit' and 'sin.' For whatever 'commit' is I do not want to do it. And, whatever 'sin' is, I do not want to do it. For the 'committing of sin' leads to forever bondage. The Greek word ὁ ποιῶν (Present Active Participle from ποιέω) literally means to 'do, make, act, construct, manufacture, cause, create, bring into existence, compose, invent, describe, represent, bring about, or procure. Okay, with the broad range of meaning in ποιέω there is room for good and evil. For there is nothing wrong with 'doing, making, constructing, etc.' The only warning to myself is that I am not 'The Inventor, The Maker, The Constructor, The Creator, etc.' Hence, the next word. The Greek word for 'sin' is τὴν ἁμαρτίαν (from ἁμαρτία) meaning: missing the mark, fault, failure, sinful deed, error in judgment. Straightforward! W. E. Vine (Expository Dictionary of N.T. Words) states "It is the most comprehensive term for moral obliquity." Do not 'cause error in judgment.' Do not 'cause fault.' Do not 'construct sinful deed(s).' For in being the one who ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν I am a slave (δοῦλός). I personally know that sin hurts God. For my disobedience to His perfect will for me is often worked out in my mistrusting of Him. In sinning I do not believe what He says is truly good and the best for me. I trade His love for the love of other people and things. I trade listening to Him for listening to myself and other people. I trade waiting on Him for succumbing to myself and the so-called expectations of others. In all this I trade freedom in Christ for bondage to sin. I do that which I do not want to do and I don't do that which I should be doing. Who can rescue me from this 'bondage to sin?' That was Paul's question in Romans. the son does remain forever. If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. YEAH! Only the Son of God can rescue. For only one who is free can rescue. He makes me free! I cannot unbind myself. So much for 'self help books.' The Bible is the 'He helps book.' I must not turn to anything but the Son of God for freedom. Therefore, I know that you are Abraham's offspring; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. Apart from my dependence on the Son of God and His word, I will rely on my heritage of all sorts, legitimate or illegitimate. Any deterrence from the Son of God and His word will result in my total opposition to the Son of God and His word. He knows my sin. Therefore, why hide behind excuses. Oh, but how tempting it is to leave the God I love and resist His loving call to return. I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father." The lines of legitimate heritage are clearly drawn. Jesus speaks of what He has seen. And I will do that which I heard. Who's your daddy? They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." I must be careful of my familial proclamations especially when 'slavery,' 'bondage' and 'freedom are at stake. Jesus said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham. But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. You are doing the deeds of your father." This is sometimes true of me as a believer as it was of them. I believe but I find myself retracting to illegitimate relations and behaviors. John,in the Revelation, wrote Jesus' words to a Church in which He wish they were either hot or cold. But, they were neither, so He will spew them out of His mouth. I am in treacherous territory when I believe but perform mutinous deeds. Sin, an absence of total trust, can be eradicated only by the Son of God. They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." I cannot honestly use this defense. However, when I sin or verbalize my tendency to defend my slavery on familial grounds, I must NOT defend myself. If I do I will find myself, as they did, digging a deeper hole. They claimed identity with the Father through birthright, but neglected the Son of God and His offer of freedom. Do I take my position in the Father lightly? May it never be. Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. Jesus responds with words that deeply warn me. He makes the connection between relationship and love. I claim to be of the Father, but do I love Jesus; not just believe Him or in Him? He is ...... Do I understand? If I do not love (not believe) then I cannot hear, much less understand, His word. It is impossible to 'punctiliarly abide' is His word if I cannot hear and understand. Hence the reason why. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. If I do not love the Son as a result of being of the Father, abiding in His word by being able to hear and understand, then my true father is the devil, even if I say otherwise. Is my life full of murder, falsehood and lies? Then, this is so. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God." Jesus speaks the truth and His words stand faithful for me to spend all of my days 'punctiliarly abiding.' I believe and there is nothing wrong with Jesus. He is without sin. Therefore, it is possible to believe or to believe in Jesus without being a 'true disciple' and also without being 'of God.' My love for Jesus, the Son of God will reveal if I am truly a disciple, believing Him and of God.

I must expectantly hope in His word. I must love Him. I must believe Him. I must trust Him. I must listen to Him. I must NOT break His heart.


James 2:19 "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.'


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