GATE-SHEPHERD-SHEEP John 10

©Lightwritingmatters 2015

Theme scripture

“The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” [John 10:2-5] NIV

Component Breakdown

Gate

Access to the sheep

Shepherd -- Jesus

The keeper of the sheep

Gatekeeper

The one who opens the gate for the Shepherd

Sheep – Followers of Jesus [Christians]

The flock

Follow

Flock obeys the Shepherd’s voice.

Voice

Flock familiar with own Shepherd’s voice.

Stranger

Flock response to a strange voice: They flee. ‘Stranger Danger’.

Query

Have you ever called to a dog or cat that is running free? Or a wild animal that may be grazing, hunting, or resting? Or a bird that lands in your yard? Do they see you as Dr. Doolittle and run to you obediently? Or do they maybe peer at you or more likely, flee from you? How about if the dog, cat or bird was familiar with your voice, perhaps its name? Is it more likely to at least listen to you and maybe come to your voice, trusting your mutual relationship?

We can see in nature that animals have a weariness, a resistance to indulge their curious nature when an unfamiliar human appears or approaches them. Yet, if those same animals were nurtured, fed and cared for by a familiar human a different response to their voice and appearance transpires. Thus, it is not difficult to follow the illustration Jesus made in the theme scripture above.

Identifying the Good Shepherd

Jesus used commonalities to establish HIS gospel so the people would easily grasp HIS very different message from the cultural and religious norms of HIS day. HE literally appealed to their common sense.

In these few verses Jesus sets up a scenario that clearly flies in the face of the religious leaders of the Jews in Jesus’ day. They had been the responsible shepherds to the flock of the Jewish people but they had abused their shepherd status and as such when the kindly, pragmatic and caring Shepherd, Jesus, began to teach --- the sheep naturally migrated to HIS voice BECAUSE the message was very familiar to them. It was pure common sense. They recognized the pleasing and hopeful, loving message this Shepherd was sharing. HE tended their maladies no matter the source or malady. HE raised the dead. HE cured from a distance, from up close and personal and all while calling upon and/or recognizing the individual faith of the recipient of the healing.

Jesus called a few though large crowds followed HIM. He fed them when they were fatigued from hunger. HE walked about in the familiar territories of the Jews in HIS day. The sheep in the various areas responded in different numbers in the different communities but there was a definite response.

The Sheepfold

“I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” [John 10:16] NIV

And, today, in the 21 century since the first Sheep were called by Jesus to follow HIS voice, OTHER sheep have been added to the sheepfold. From Cornelius, the first non-Jewish convert to the new religion just ignited --- Christianity, to now with each new believer, the sound of the Shepherd’s voice [HIS message] is building his sheepfold. The miraculous thing about this growth is the idea it is done absolutely in absentia of HIS physical presence! The Shepherd’s voice is heard in the familiar message, the common sense, hope filled message of the Gospel.

Journeyman Shepherds

From Jesus’ ascension to heaven there have been ‘journeyman’ shepherds. They were the apostles of Christ. They apprenticed under the ‘Good Shepherd’. They were appointed in leadership roles [Peter is the Rock-Foundation/John the Revelator/Paul, Apostle to the nations during an encounter and conversion on his way to Damascus, etc.] They in turn apprenticed converts to become shepherds. For instance, Paul groomed ‘young Timothy’ to shepherd. And this process has been replicated down through history to this day.

But have they all been ‘good shepherds’? Or have some fallen into the category Jesus warned his first class of apprentices to beware of “…“Look out that nobody misleads you, 5 for many will come on the basis of my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.” [Matt 24:4-5: See also Matt 24:23-28] NWT

History records the effects of a fractured Christianity as it made its path forward to the future in anticipation of the ‘coming of Christ’. Acts have been committed in the name of Christ that oppose the teachings of Christ. Most of those have been instigated by questionable if not outright bad ‘shepherds’ of any era. Church ‘fathers’ have debated teachings, some have given birth to teachings and some have redefined existing teachings to hijack members of the flock for themselves. The gospel message was easy, clear and mostly understood by early Christians. However, things were added, fragments of the Way were divorced out and redefined as independent doctrine rather than the whole of the Way. For example, the importance of baptism, how it is to be performed, whether or not it is vital to eternal life; or ‘hell’ --- whether it is a literal place, a place where Sulphur and fire burn eternal, where souls live on cursed by their sinful and unbelieving nature/behavior or simply a place where a lifeless body is kept. 

There are many such tenets of so many different ‘denominations’ some of which seem so complicated it requires a specially appointed ‘man of GOD’ to explain it and then tutor the believer into living it. These would set apart the shepherd from the sheep who sees the role as a service to the flock unlike Jesus whose service included being among the flock, leader of the flock indisputably, but very much intermingled. He washed their feet, fed them, taught them, corrected cultural beliefs that slipped in confusing the allegiance to the Law with allegiance to the cultural dictates. HE called out the leadership of HIS day; HE turned over commercial activities on the steps of the Temple; HE debated with the leaders of HIS day teaching HIS apprentices how to deal with accusation, false statements, misinterpretation of scripture, misapplication of scripture, bigotry, persecution and right worship of GOD.

But, history is also filled with wonderful examples of ‘good shepherds’ who ‘got it’ and spent their entire lives helping people ‘get it’ and live it. They wrote prolifically breaking down the character of the Christian in ways anyone could grasp the why’s and how to. Some wrote fictional books embodying strong Christian principles. Others wrote commentaries breaking down each verse of the Bible for the eager learner. Others were known for their abundant charitable nature looking after widows and orphans.

The Christian who understands common sense usually possesses the wisdom and discernment to distinguish between a good or bad shepherd. They understand the basic principle of sowing and reaping; the difference between a tree bearing good fruit vs one that is sucker growth providing little to no useful fruit. They understand the ‘nature’ of the Christian being a joy filled good natured and principle based person not seeking to divide the flock or to have some portion of the flock singled out to themselves. The ‘Good Shepherd’ Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost to be with believers until CHRIST’s return. If a shepherd does not reflect the fruitage of the Holy Spirit the flock and teachings will not either.

Today’s shepherds – Stranger Danger  

There is no shortage of Christian based churches, denominations, fellowships, etc. Today’s philosophy is to shop around and find a church family you can call a home church. Unless you are part of an existing church through birth or marriage or from conversion you could spend unending time ‘shopping around’ for the right fit. But the question posed here: Why? Should not all Christian churches teach the same things as Christ taught? Their individual local culture aside – which does temper the overall character of any church memberships, should the message not be the same everywhere? Should Christians not be in absolute gospel and doctrinal agreement? Should there be one church that lives the infallibility of GOD’S WORD and one church the parses out ideology to appeal to the common cultural dictates. 

For instance, the Bible is clear on murder. There is no first degree, second degree, third degree, there is just murder. Accidental death at the hands of one person is treated most often as murder but sometimes falls under the ‘City of Refuge’ protection. If someone caused the death of an unborn child even accidently it was generally seen as an ‘eye for an eye’ punishment. Thus, those churches today who are silent on abortion or who do not oppose abortion or members within the church who do not oppose abortion or who may have sought an abortion stand in direct opposition to GOD. GOD caused the book of Exodus to be written and abortion is addressed in chapter 21. You may argue that the church is no longer under the ‘law’. You would be correct. However, to reiterate, ‘murder’ is not in degrees but is simple murder. Your intent aside, the taking of another’s life as murder was never disavowed by Christ. In fact, Jesus was emphatic in Matt 5:21-22 where takes being angry with no cause as a person in danger of judgement. Not only did Jesus reaffirm that murder was in danger of judgment but that anger without cause is as well.

When a Christian living a principled life wants to worship with likeminded Christians they will find a church that is based on Christian principles not cultural fads and phases. The shepherd of Christian principles based church then would be a ‘good shepherd’.

If you happen onto a church that has cherry picked their own tenets and have removed themselves from the ‘flock’ via manmade doctrine it will be rife with shepherds that are not ‘good’ shepherds. In most cases, they have set themselves as intermediary between their members and Christ causing the member to think themselves unworthy of free approach to GOD on the basis of Christ’s blood sacrifice.

There are so many sects of Christianity. Yet Christ is supposed to be the head of the church and we as members are to be different parts of the body but the parts have to be identifiable as naturally part of the same body not transplanted parts of many bodies. In other words, the Christian body would look cohesive and move in harmony with the head’s direction. There would not be an arm who teaches one doctrine on baptism and a leg that teaches another. There would not be one eye that sees a trinity and the other eye that does not. During the early days of Christianity both Paul and John wrote extensively about changes to the gospel that had erroneously been taught as the actual gospel; or, principles/character that had been perverted by cultural pollution. Are we listening to ‘good shepherds’ when we tend to our worship? Remember, the gospel is a completed doctrine and was taught as a completed doctrine by Paul, Peter, John. There is nothing new to be added to the gospel. Jesus came, he died, was resurrected and thus we have the grace of GOD as believers in Jesus. Until HIS return HE gave us instructions on what we are to be busy doing in our lives. It is not open to interpretation.

Is a ‘prosperity’ message part of the gospel? Part of what Christ taught? It would take a bit of twisted rationalization to see the Beatitudes as a prosperity doctrine. It is true, blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, is a promised solution to the spirit that is so destitute it sees no way to improve its lot in life. But, the kingdom of the heavens is not a prosperity message. It is a promise by GOD to those who live a Christian principled life based on their belief in Jesus, the Christ, period.

The Good Shepherd and HIS Staff

 There is only one perfect GOOD SHEPHERD, Jesus. There are under shepherds that are good. But Jesus is and always be the only truly perfect GOOD SHEPHERD. At his departure from earth Jesus explained to HIS apostles they would receive the Holy Spirit at a future time and they did at Pentecost. Peter explained the Holy Spirit would be gifted to believers then and to those ‘a far off’ who GOD will call.

The Holy Spirit continues Jesus’ work. Still guides the sheep. HE is like the ‘shepherd’s staff’ guiding the sheep to optimize their Christian lives. Make sure you eat of green pastures not dry weeded scrub. Make sure you stay with the flock, strong, to ward off the predator who seeks to devour the weak and sickly or those who meander off from curiosity. Remember, we were called by a voice with a familiar message we need to now stay close to our PERFECT GOOD SHEPHERD and HIS Staff!

 “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” [Rev 3:11-13] NIV

 

©Lightwritingmatters 2015

  

©Lightwritingmatters 2015