Today we encounter Jesus, the I AM, from another title. In the gospel of John chapter 10, Jesus first calls himself the Good Shepherd who is ready to lay down his life for his sheep. Again, Jesus calls himself the gate to the sheepfold, and only those who come through him would find pasture and life.
One characteristic running through John’s Gospel is his revealing Jesus to the world with the introduction, “I AM”. This appellation is key to understanding the person of Jesus as the Son of God and God himself. A name and revelation similar to that which Moses heard from the burning bush when God told Moses to tell the Israelites that “I AM” sent you in Exodus Chapter 3:14.
Before today’s reflection, we recall that Jesus said, I AM the Light for the World in John chapter 8 and I AM the Bread of Life in Chapter 6; we would see similar appellations by Jesus to explain to the Israelites the fullness of his being and revelation of his mission. So how and why do they miss this message.
Click below for full text of John Chapter 10.
21 Day Lighting Experience – John Chapter 10
10 Jesus said, “I am telling you the truth: the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who goes in through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him; the sheep hear his voice as he calls his own sheep by name, and he leads them out. 4 When he has brought them out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow someone else; instead, they will run away from such a person, because they do not know his voice.” 6 Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand what he meant.
Jesus the Good Shepherd
7 So Jesus said again, “I am telling you the truth: I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All others who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Those who come in by me will be saved; they will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness. 11 “I am the good shepherd, who is willing to die for the sheep. 12 When the hired man, who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees a wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away; so the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hired man runs away because he is only a hired man and does not care about the sheep. 14-15 I am the good shepherd. As the Father knows me and I know the Father, in the same way I know my sheep and they know me. And I am willing to die for them. 16 There are other sheep which belong to me that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them, too; they will listen to my voice, and they will become[a] one flock with one shepherd. 17 “The Father loves me because I am willing to give up my life, in order that I may receive it back again. 18 No one takes my life away from me. I give it up of my own free will. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it back. This is what my Father has commanded me to do.” 19 Again there was a division among the people because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon! He is crazy! Why do you listen to him?” 21 But others were saying, “A man with a demon could not talk like this! How could a demon give sight to blind people?”
Jesus Is Rejected
22 It was winter, and the Festival of the Dedication of the Temple was being celebrated in Jerusalem. 23 Jesus was walking in Solomon's Porch in the Temple, 24 when the people gathered around him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? Tell us the plain truth: are you the Messiah?” 25 Jesus answered, “I have already told you, but you would not believe me. The deeds I do by my Father's authority speak on my behalf; 26 but you will not believe, for you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never die. No one can snatch them away from me. 29 What my Father has given me is greater[b] than everything, and no one can snatch them away from the Father's care. 30 The Father and I are one.” 31 Then the people again picked up stones to throw at him. 32 Jesus said to them, “I have done many good deeds in your presence which the Father gave me to do; for which one of these do you want to stone me?” 33 They answered, “We do not want to stone you because of any good deeds, but because of your blasphemy! You are only a man, but you are trying to make yourself God!” 34 Jesus answered, “It is written in your own Law that God said, ‘You are gods.’ 35 We know that what the scripture says is true forever; and God called those people gods, the people to whom his message was given. 36 As for me, the Father chose me and sent me into the world. How, then, can you say that I blaspheme because I said that I am the Son of God? 37 Do not believe me, then, if I am not doing the things my Father wants me to do. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, you should at least believe my deeds, in order that you may know once and for all that the Father is in me and that I am in the Father.” 39 Once more they tried to seize Jesus, but he slipped out of their hands. 40 Jesus then went back again across the Jordan River to the place where John had been baptizing, and he stayed there. 41 Many people came to him. “John performed no miracles,” they said, “but everything he said about this man was true.” 42 And many people there believed in him.
Jesus came to do the will of God; to save humankind from the kingdom of darkness and death; and to install the Kingdom of God on Earth. But this Kingdom of God is not a kingdom built by human hands. Jesus explains that God is spirit and those who must worship the Father must do so in spirit – John Chapter 4:23-24. Hence, the Kingdom of God is a union in God’s spirit, that of righteousness, justice, peace and love. Jesus came to reconcile us to God and restore man’s glory with God. Unfortunately, we miss this message of Jesus because we seek for glory in ourselves; how much we can acquire, how many people or territory we can conquer, or our quest for self, tribal or national greatness and glory. And with this pride in our hearts we allow darkness to steal the light in us. We often miss the message and the benefits that should come. What are these benefits?
Jesus came so that we may have life and have it in all its fullness. John 10:10. This is in total contrast to the plan of the devil who comes to steal, to kill and to destroy. Hence, Jesus used the analogy for those who come to the sheepfold to steal from the sheepfold – they do the work of the devil. Unfortunately, many people actually work for the devil without knowing it. Some persons who are bent on destroying others; by impoverishing the people, taking advantage of people’s weakness or low social status, enforcing laws that are draconian, stealing or destroying the hope left (even at places of worship), to mention a few. We must ask ourselves today, does our work bring light or darkness to others? Does our work bring life to others or death? Do we build up a kingdom of righteousness or that of destruction? Are we working for God or for the devil?
Only the source of all life (Psalm 36:9) that can give the fullness of life. (John 10:10).
What we do defines us! The Jews were a people who believed in a sign – a unique miracle from God to distinguish a person from others so that they can believe. Talk is cheap so action speaks louder than words. This is why Moses needed an action/a sign to prove to the people that he had God’s approval. So God made him perform signs with the staff he held.
At every turn and tide, Jesus performed miracles after his preaching. Yet the Pharisees refused to believe Jesus Christ. Or should we say, his teaching was so difficult for them; or should we also note that Jesus spoke in parables and it was above their heads. One may also note that Jesus revealed spiritual things which seemed foreign to the Jewish authorities. Then would it not be safe to conclude that, the Pharisees, like many of us, were/are carried away with an earthly kingdom and could/can not comprehend the spiritual kingdom, the spirit of the law and the spiritual life with God that Jesus had been preaching about. The Pharisees were either ignorant, jealous, stubborn or wicked, and they allowed pride and darkness to take hold of their lives. So, they rejected Jesus and choose to stone him.
Throughout our reflection we would be reading Psalm 36, click below for the text.
21 Day Lighting Experience – Psalm 36 (GNT)
Human Wickedness
Sin speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts; they reject God and do not have reverence for him. 2 Because they think so highly of themselves, they think that God will not discover their sin and condemn it. 3 Their speech is wicked and full of lies; they no longer do what is wise and good. 4 They make evil plans as they lie in bed; nothing they do is good, and they never reject anything evil.
The Goodness of God
5 Lord, your constant love reaches the heavens; your faithfulness extends to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is towering like the mountains; your justice is like the depths of the sea. People and animals are in your care. 7 How precious, O God, is your constant love! We find[b] protection under the shadow of your wings. 8 We feast on the abundant food you provide; you let us drink from the river of your goodness. 9 You are the source of all life, and because of your light we see the light. 10 Continue to love those who know you and to do good to those who are righteous. 11 Do not let proud people attack me or the wicked make me run away. 12 See where evil people have fallen. There they lie, unable to rise.
Please do not get tired of reading this text or feel too accustomed to this text that we stop reading it for the reflection. Let us try to read it everyday throughout our 21 days reflection. We must desire repentance each day. We must take the advice of the psalmist and guide our hearts. We must seek God’s goodness and allow room for the abundant life God desires to give us. But if we are proud of heart, how can we drink from his river of goodness? How do we gain from the source of life? And how do we see the light that comes from him?
The Pharisee refused to see the light that Jesus gave. Do you see the light or are you bent on dwelling in darkness? For every opportunity that Jesus sought to enlighten the Pharisees they stooped in darkness. The rejected the light and tried to cast away the light. Even today, we still see the many signs of God’s goodness in our lives. We encounter many miracles and we sometimes read the word of God; do we remain the same or allow the fullness of life to take root in us. Only the source of all life (Psalm 36:9) that can give the fullness of life (John 10:10).
Join us tomorrow, 11th February for Lighting Experience – Day 11
Speechlesswaters