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John 10:1–21 Have Your Reading Ears Become Attuned to Hearing The

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John 10:1–21 Have Your Reading Ears Become Attuned to Hearing The John 10:1–21 Have your reading ears become attuned to hearing the words of Jesus that commence this passage? Your Bible probably says something like I tell you the truth, or Very truly I tell you… I hope that by now you are recognising this little formula as the Hebrew words: Amen, Amen. The same expression will turn up a second time, in v7. It is a formula, as we have seen many times already in this series, of an important revelation from Jesus’ lips. In this section, we will also see another two of those ego eimi, I AM sayings. Did you catch either one as you read? Look back now, if you didn’t, and see if you can see one or both. Hint: read vv7–11. So, in these introductory verses, we have two I AM sayings and two Amen, Amen sayings. We would be entitled to assume that this reading is going to tell us something pretty important about John’s revelation of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus describes himself using two metaphors: I am the Gate; and I am the Good Shepherd. These are, admittedly, not equally easy to grasp. We all like the second and understand it to some extent, but being both the gate and the shepherd may initially be a little confusing. It might help to know a little about the cultural background. I have a good friend who has often said to me over the years that she would like it if God had made the Bible simpler. She wonders why we always have to find out extra information in order to understand it? If it is God’s word to us, then why didn’t he make it more accessible? I understand the frustration – but we do need to be reasonable. The Bible is not like a manual on how to operate your new dishwasher. (Though, God knows, they’re not always so simple, either!) The Bible is a reflection of 2000+ years of culture across many languages and civilisations. It stretches from the pre-Bronze Age to beyond the recognised end of the Iron Age to the Roman Empire. It reflects highly urbanised cultures and agrarian settlements. It contains echoes of the literature and written records of at least five major cultures. We cannot expect to read the Bible 2000+ years later in English – a language that was not even invented when the Bible was being written – as easily as if it were the Women’s Weekly. So let’s dig a bit into these phrases. All middle-Eastern cultures understood sheep and goats. They lived with them daily and closely. They understood shepherding and hired day-labour. The Old Testament frequently used shepherding as a metaphor. We all know the first line of Ps. 23: The Lord is my shepherd… If you have time, read Ezekiel 34:1–16 and you will see how clearly Jesus’ message about shepherds would have spoken to his culture. Here are just a few excerpts: Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel: … Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? … You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost … my sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with no one to search or seek for them … I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out … I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured… There are well-attested records of shepherds sheltering sheep in caves or corrals made of thorny branches, and lying down themselves at the entrance. The shepherd’s body becomes the gate. Neither sheep nor wolf can cross the shepherd's body without waking him. The sheep are kept safe. That is the simple lesson of Jesus as the gate or door. He declares that he is the only truly good shepherd. Note here: this claim is exclusive and absolute. There is not a variety of shepherds, just as there is not a variety of gods. There is one God and one Good Shepherd. Jesus’ words do not permit any syncretism, any allowing of a range of entry points. You cannot come through Buddha or Shiva or Caesar. I tell you truly, I AM (amen, amen, ego eimi) the Good Shepherd and the Gate. This is why he uses two metaphors – for two different purposes. He is the only way (gate) to God – and he will gently, safely and reliably care for all of his sheep, even those who are still afar off. Here's the summary now: Jesus is making two enormous claims. First, the religious leaders of Israel have failed deplorably in their job. God’s patience has run out. They are to be sacked. Fired. Replaced. Second, Jesus himself, the Messiah, the Son of God is the Good Shepherd who has been appointed by God the Father himself to be the Deliverer. This deliverance is not just for Israel only – there are ‘flocks of sheep’ all over the world waiting for this moment. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice (v16). You and I are those other ‘sheep’! In the last section of our reading, Jesus takes the argument even further. He declares that he will guard this commission with his very own life. He is not like the hired day- labour, or like those shepherds who are just in it for the money. He will protect these sheep with his life (v17). For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. Jesus’ sacrifice is the source of the deep love relationship within the Trinity of God (we can only use these terms after some centuries of thinking about the Trinity – but the seeds of the idea are scattered throughout John’s Gospel.) THE DEEP LOVE OF GOD SUSTAINS THE VERY CORE OF THE REALITY OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH. THIS LOVE IS EXISTENTIALLY DEMONSTRATED THROUGH SUFFERING AND SACRIFICIAL LOVE. This is perhaps the most significant revelation about God that I know to make. If you want a TOE, a Theory of Everything, it is the best that I can offer. I know that I have inevitably stated it poorly. I am neither a professional theologian, nor a mystic. I am a very poor scholar, just a dabbler in biblical understanding. But this is the best that I can say about God and his coming in the incarnation of Jesus Christ the Son, the Messiah. The religious leaders were flummoxed. Their only defence was to call him a madman – that saved them the trouble both of thinking and self-examination. But not all were convinced, as the last verse in our reading shows. Prayer: Thank you, Good Shepherd. I gladly bow my head before you, and accept your Lordship of my life. Amen. .
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