John 10 (NRSV)
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Chapter 10"Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. Verse 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. Verse 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Verse 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. Verse 5They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." Verse 6Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. Verse 7So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. Verse 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. Verse 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. Verse 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. Verse 11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Verse 12The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away-and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. Verse 13The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. Verse 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, Verse 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. Verse 16I 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 17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. Verse 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."
Verse 19Again the Jews were divided because of these words. Verse 20Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?" Verse 21Others were saying, "These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"
Verse 22At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, Verse 23and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. Verse 24So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Verse 25Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; Verse 26but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. Verse 27My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. Verse 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. Verse 29What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. Verse 30The Father and I are one." Verse 31The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Verse 32Jesus replied, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?" Verse 33The Jews answered, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God." Verse 34Jesus answered, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, you are gods'? Verse 35If those to whom the word of God came were called 'gods' -and the scripture cannot be annulled- Verse 36can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, 'I am God's Son'? Verse 37If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. Verse 38But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."
Verse 39Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands. Verse 40He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. Verse 41Many came to him, and they were saying, "John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true." Verse 42And many believed in him there.
Devotion
Jesus makes an exclusive claim here that jars secular sensibilities of diversity and tolerance. We swim in a cultural sea that makes most everything acceptable and accessible as long as it is not exclusive. Jesus' reply to a question of his identity is breathtaking: “I and the Father are one!” That’s more, much more, than the question sought (“are you the Messiah?”).
The answer is so bold it seems to fall on deaf ears, or perhaps horrified ones. Yet to those who “hear,” it is everything. For apart from the Father, just what could we count on from Jesus? Our faith makes such remarkable claims that without this identity, it is an exercise in wishful thinking.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we bow before you as the Holy One. God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God. How utterly hopeful it is that you would live among us in such grace.