Shepherd and Sheep Peter Fitch, St. Croix Vineyard Sunday, July 12, 2015

John 10, The Good Shepherd So many people and groups are mentioned in this one chapter... Shepherd and sheep, robbers and thieves, Good Shepherd, hired hand, the Door, other sheep Confusing then, confusing now (3 metaphors) Follows the story of the healing of the man born blind in ch. 9 (that story contrasted those who thought they knew something with those who didn’t but were open to experience)

This one begins... 1 “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. 2 But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

John 10:1-6 4 When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.

Jesus attempts to clarify... 7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

First, He was going through the door Then He was the door... In the rest of the chapter, starting at the next verse, He’s the Good Shepherd (who lays down His life for the sheep, as opposed to the hired hand who runs away when the wolf comes)

You get the feeling... He’s trying to tell people something but it’s not easy However, it’s important and He can’t stop trying That it probably still relates to John 9 where an unclean and poorly respected man receives sight but is cast out of the synagogue by religious experts full of pride

I think this because A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?” 21 Others were saying, “These are not the sayings of one demon- possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?”

Seems to be a critique Of religious leaders who are like wolves or robbers and thieves Of people who are like hired hands (it’s a job, not my life) And a recognition that not all people are of Jesus’ flock (though there are definitely some surprising members)

In the end... All the pictures seem to coalesce around the idea that Jesus is different than the other religious teachers and that His real followers can sense this—they “hear his voice” They know (intuitively?) that He is worth following

John 10: The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. 26 But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep.

John 10: My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Not just intuitively The works I do in My Father’s name The quality of “eternal life” that I give them The self-giving nature of Jesus Himself

What can we learn? There is such a thing as bad religion There’s also a sort of meaningless status quo But there’s something amazing and real Quite a few of us have tasted all three There’s a determination rising in many people not to confuse them anymore, leading to a new kind of child-like faith (but not a faith in systems or methods or organizations)

If someone dominates and controls Run away

If people just go through motions Smile and wave

But if people honestly try to help Pay enough attention to find out if a different quality of life is being offered Especially if it seems to lead you to and connect you with the Father You’ll know it because of the humble way it is offered and the results in your life: freedom, reality, purpose, meaning, growth toward love, care for others

But what if... My entire religious thinking falls into the category of “bad religion”? Some religious teachings relegate humans to different levels of worth (did Hindu marriage symbolism do this?) Some teachings limit believers’ capacity to believe in science Some create divisions based on moral ideas

What if the actual story sucks? Brad Jersak, A More Christlike God, p You can run away, smile and wave, or... Do what Jesus suggests... Ask, Seek, Knock to find the real thing.

Again from Brad... (via Walt) What if Jesus’ humility, meekness and servant heart were never a departure from God’s glory and power, but actually define it and demonstrate it? Take your time—read that sentence again. What if kenosis—self- emptying power, self-giving love and radical servant-hood—expresses the very nature of God! What if God does rule and reign, not through imperial power but through kenotic

love! What if the first beatitude—“Blessed are the poor (void, empty) in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3)—is a vision of the glory of God lived through Christ! Why? Wherever God, wherever Christ, wherever we risk emptying ourselves of self-will and self- rule to make space for the other, that is where the supernatural kingdom-love of God rules and reigns.