“Getting the message across”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Saturday, September 7, 2024
John 10: 1-18 (Forward, p. 40) CEV p. 1114
I have long been a bit puzzled by Jesus’ words in this passage—simply because He keeps on changing the metaphors. But then, being the wise and effective communicator that He is, He does this on purpose. He wants to get His message across and is more than willing to try various images in order to do so.
And so, He begins with what must be a homey and rather familiar image for many of them as shepherding and flocks were a large part of ancient Near Eastern agriculture. His audience would have been very familiar with sheepfolds, whether made more temporarily with brambles or stones or sequestered more permanently in a low cave or shed. They would have known that the gate to the sheepfold was its weakness, its most vulnerable point, and so the person guarding that gate was absolutely crucial to the enterprise. Not only did he or she provide access to the bona fide shepherd, the genuine one, but he or she also kept out human riffraff like thieves and robbers and dangerous predatory beasts that loved to feast on sheep. And, it is interesting, and informative, to note what Jesus says in passing about the shepherd of the sheep. The sheep, we are told, know the shepherd’s voice and are willing to follow them. In fact, that shepherd knows each of them personally and so is able to call them by name as he leads them out. We are told that they don’t know the voice of strangers; that’s why they scatter when they call to them.
Jesus’ audience doesn’t ‘get’ it, so He then changes His metaphor. This time He calls Himself the gate of the sheepfold. “Everyone that comes in through me will be saved”, He says. “Through me they will come and go and find pasture. A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest” (verses 9-10).
Now, just in case they didn’t ‘get it’, Jesus changes His metaphor just one more time. This time He makes it explicit. He calls Himself ‘the Good Shepherd’, and most surely, given the prevalence of the shepherd motive throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, His audience would have ‘got it.’ Often the leaders of Israel were described there as shepherds, and not always as good ones. And it wasn’t just in the past. Many people in the present leadership of Israel could equally be said to be bad shepherds, shepherds who were ‘in it’ only for themselves and their own self-interest, shepherds who could not be counted upon to hang in there when the going got tough or danger threatened. By way of contrast with them, Jesus pledges to give His life for the sheep, which indeed He did, did for all of humankind.
Interesting, the reaction that Jesus garnered by these words. His audience, the people there that day, took sides because of Jesus’ words, and will it ever be. This said, it would be interesting to know how many in the crowd that day got the drift of what He was saying, which could only have had two outcomes—either they agreed with His words that He truly was the good shepherd that they needed and accepted Him in that role, or they rejected Him, said ‘no’ to Him and went the other way. And so it is, with everyone who hears His voice: they are faced with that self-same decision. Amen.
Forward notes: “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd (verse 16).
“My parents just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Despite a note on the invitation that read ‘No gifts, please,’ they were delighted to receive many.
“People don’t always need an invitation to give. We give out of the kindness of our own hearts. Receiving, on the other hand, often does require an invitation. Receiving involves the act of acceptance. By grace, we receive the kindness and generosity of others. Grace itself is a gift freely given.
“Jesus says in the Gospel of John today, ‘No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord’ (10:18). Although it’s hard to accept something I don’t think I’m worthy to receive or feel like I haven’t earned, I wouldn’t want to tell Jesus, ‘No gifts, please.’ Sometimes, a simple ‘thank you’ will suffice.”
Moving Forward: “Have you ever written a thank-you note to Jesus? Draft one today. You might be surprised at what you write.”