Daily Devotions
John
The doctrine of salvation wonderfully expounded
Text: John 10 : 1- 21
THE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION WONDERFULLY EXPOUNDED
Jesus had chosen a beautiful theme that allowed Him to teach the multitudes concerning the doctrine of salvation. What did Jesus come to do but to proclaim the glorious Gospel of salvation to all who would hear Him? What was His Gospel of salvation?
Salvation wasn’t just an impersonal transaction people established with God! It wasn’t just a matter of saying that one believed in Jesus! Salvation as Jesus expounded it was much more wondrous in concept and practice!
The true sheep appreciate the role of the Good Shepherd. He leads them. He feeds them. He cares for them. He is unlike the thief or the robber. He is certainly no hireling! He cares so deeply for His sheep that He is willing to lay down His life for the sheep!
The sheep on their part recognize the Voice of the Good Shepherd. They learn to trust only in the Voice of their beloved Shepherd. They flee from the stranger. As they stay close by the Shepherd’s side, they find abundant life. They walk in safety knowing that their Shepherd watches over them with great tenderness.
A REFLECTIVE METHOD OF TEACHING
How was this message received by the hearers? John intimated that the Jews who belonged to the multitude did not understand or appreciate this word from Jesus.
“Jesus used this illustration, but they did not
understand the things which He spoke to them.”
John 10:6
If they did not understand this teaching of salvation, they would understand even less of what Jesus felt He needed to teach next. From much of the way in which John portrayed the teachings of Jesus, we gather that Jesus spoke reflectively. That means that Jesus did more than just preach the Gospel to the crowds. He also reflected on the profound significance of His teachings.
One of the favourite things Jesus did was to reflect on His relationship with His Father. His reflections revealed that His heart and mind loved His Father. He couldn’t help but speak of His Father! There was so much to say about His beloved Father! He desired very much that the multitudes appreciate His Father.
At the same time, Jesus sought also to explain to the people about Himself! He was more than just a preacher! He was more than a profound teacher. Had they regarded Him only as a prophet? He was much more than that too! Once again, Jesus sought to explain just who He was.
“As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father;
and I lay down My life for the sheep…
Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down
My life that I may take it again.
No one takes 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 command I have received from My Father.”
John 10:15, 17-18
Jesus loved His Father and sought always to honour Him. He spoke openly of His Father’s love for Him. He highlighted one aspect of His Father’s love for Him. This was in reference to His imminent death. He would die a terrible death at the hands of wicked and sinful men. That was one perspective. There was another. He spoke of dying voluntarily of His own will. His Father loved Him because He was willing to lay down His life to fulfill His Father’s will.
While He had every right to speak of laying His life down voluntarily for the sheep, nevertheless He spoke of Himself as simply obeying His Father’s commandment! What deep reflections Jesus communicated even as He taught the crowds! If the people did not understand simple truths, they would not be able to fathom this reflective teaching!
THE EXPECTED REACTION OF SOME AMONG THE JEWS
The profound words of Jesus must have been so lofty that they were beyond the comprehension of the Jews. John remarked on this.
“Therefore there was a division again among the Jews
because of these sayings.
And many of them said, ‘He has a demon and is mad.
Why do you listen to Him?’
Others said, ‘These are not the words of one who has
a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?'”
John 10:19-21
We wonder how the Jews came to the conclusion they did. They obviously did not understand what Jesus said. Yet they concluded that Jesus “had a demon.” If he didn’t have a demon, then He must be quite mad to speak as He did. On what basis would they arrive at such conclusions?
There were others, more fair-minded than those who rejected the teachings of Jesus outright. They were giving due consideration to what Jesus said. His preaching on salvation and illustrating it using the imagery of a Shepherd was novel and striking. Surely a mad man or a man possessed by a demon couldn’t speak the way He did! Besides, they still hadn’t figured out how Jesus could have opened the eyes of the blind! Was there something more about Jesus than they had allowed themselves to contemplate?
AND THE MODERN DAY RESPONSE…?
What about our response to Jesus today? How do we regard Him? Have we dismissed or discounted Him as some of the Jews did?
How wonderful it would be if we could, like John and the other disciples of Jesus, learn to love Jesus as the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep.