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The Gospel of John, The Period of Conflict - The Clash of Belief and Unbelief, The discourse on the Good Shepherd, Part XXXIV, John 10:16-18 - Lesson 81
Read Verses John 10:14-15 for review, I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:16, And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold (should be translated flock), and one shepherd.
Other sheep which are not of this fold.
Who are these sheep?
They are not of Israel which is the fold pictured here.
But the other sheep hear the voice of the shepherd.
They do not hear the voice of the fold of Israel.
They are not of Israel.
But they belong to the flock of the shepherd.
The shepherd says that the flock is not complete without them.
He is talking about the church, the body of Christ.
So we see here that the church does not come into the Jewish fold; into Israel.
The church never was Israel, and never will be Israel.
The church never was spiritual Israel and never will be spiritual Israel.
It was never intended to be accommodated in Israel.
But the church is part of one flock, the flock of God, the family of God.
We are part of those whom God calls his people.
And the shepherd has orders from the Father that these sheep must be brought in or else the flock is not complete.
The shepherd will be successful in this effort.
The sheep who are not of the fold of Israel, will be brought into the flock!
As we read in Acts 13:48, And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
So Jesus Christ, the good shepherd is saying that he must lead the Jewish sheep out of the fold before they could be united with the other sheep to form his flock.
This flock is now to be protected not by high walls but totally by the good shepherd.
John 10:17, Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
Laying down his life that he might take it up again was in obedience to the Father's will.
Only deity can lay down life and take it again.
The Greek word used here for lay is also the same word that is translated put.
Jesus Christ puts down his life and picks it up again.
All I can do is end my life but I have not the power to pick it up again.
Only one who is the resurrection can do such a thing.
Only deity has that power.
But if he was to impart resurrection life to others, he must receive resurrection life himself, and to receive resurrection life he must first pass though death.
Jesus Christ was ordained to die from the foundations of the world.
Otherwise he would not be the resurrection!
As John 12:24 says, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Only by the resurrection could the shepherd bring his other sheep together with the sheep from the original fold into his one flock.
John 10:18, No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
We know that Jesus Christ was spiked to a cross by men.
Mark tells us in Mark 8:31, that he must be killed.
Conspiracies against our Lord aimed at his death, abound in scripture.
But Jesus Christ tells us in this verse that he is in complete authority in this matter.
He calls the shots and allows things to happen totally in accord with his word.
His life was his and no man could take it from him.
He was in charge because he is God.
He is the resurrection and he determines when he lays down his life and when he takes it up again.
Not one minute before or one minute after his determination would events take place.
Because he obeyed the Father's will completely.
He allowed them to arrest him after demonstrating their powerlessness to do so.
He remained silent before his accusers, although twelve legions of angels were ready to come to his rescue.
He allowed himself to be crucified as he shook the foundations of the earth.
He did not give up his spirit until every prophesy was fulfilled.
When he said all was finished he laid down his life of his own volition.
His death was entirely voluntary and his resurrection was entirely determined by him.
He had the power; Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.
He tells us that he received this commandment from the Father and when a commandment is from the Father all authority goes with that commandment necessary for it to be fulfilled. |