If We Follow Jesus, Are We Like Sheep?

Tom:

We are continuing with the Gospel of John and as we have said over and over again, and I think it’s worthwhile repeating it, this is the book, the Gospel of John, if you’ve not read the scriptures, if you’ve never cracked a Bible, but you want to.You want to know about God, you want to understand who he is, what he has in mind for your life, what he has done for you, as the phrase we use to open the program and what he has accomplished for you and what you need to know to get to know him better because if you do know him, you are going to be spending eternity with him and this is the place to start.Right Dave?

Dave:

Amen!Tom, I’m thrilled that we are almost half way through this book.

Tom:

Dave, have you got a schedule?Are you going somewhere?I mean until the Lord comes this is a great place to hang out: the Gospel of John.

Dave:

Yes it is.

Tom:

So John:10:6This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
See All..., “This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

Dave:

Powerful words.Verse 6, he’s speaking to them in parables.They don’t understand what he’s saying.I guess that could be true of many people today.Peter said that the things that Paul wrote, the scriptures that he wrote were hard to be understood, some of the things.But you would think this would be fairly simple.He’s just saying that he’s the Shepherd and those that believe in him and follow him are like sheep and he’s going to use this allegory to illustrate some points that he’s trying to make.He says, “I’m the door of the sheep.”Well it means the door through which the sheep go.That’s pretty clear.If you are going to be a sheep under the shepherd, then you have to come through Christ.“No man cometh to the Father but by me, “Jesus said.“I am THE way, THE truth and THE life….”Well that’s pretty dogmatic.

Tom:

Right and these are his words.This isn’t your interpretation or my interpretation.This is very clear, very straightforward.Not very tolerant of other ways, other ideas.

Dave:

He says it in a number of ways and it’s logical Tom.You see it everywhere.In chemistry for example, there are certain rules.You can blow yourself up in the lab if you mix the wrong things.There is a law of gravity.There are laws of physics, of aerodynamics, of chemistry and so forth.God has set an order in his universe and if that were not the case then sometimes when I jump up I come back down, but other times, wow, look out!I get stuck on the ceiling or I might just keep going out into space.There has to be rules even to play a game.That’s why we have referees and so forth.At football games you can imagine if when an NFL referee blows the whistle and the player who transgressed the rules said wait a minute, who do you think you are?I can do anything I want can’t I?

Tom:

Yes, don’t be so intolerant!

Dave:

Yes, this is the way some of them live their lives, some of these professional athletes.

Tom:

Multi-millionaires.

Dave:

Yes, they live their lives as though they can make the rules.But you don’t make the rules with God.It’s very logical Tom.God created us, this is his universe.He should have the right to make the rules and furthermore it’s reasonable that there should be rules.And if Christ is available to all mankind, then why complain about this.Furthermore, he is the one who died for our sins.Buddha didn’t do that; Confucius didn’t do that; no one did that.We couldn’t pay the penalty for our own sins.Christ comes and he’s going to tell us later in this chapter that he gives his life for his sheep.No one else has done that and that alone has made it possible for there to be a door back to God.Because the penalty had to be paid.So Jesus is certainly qualified to say I am the door.You want to come to God?Do you want to be reconciled to the Creator of this universe or do you want to be banished from his presence forever?“Well you come through me.I am the way the truth and the life.”So he goes on and as you said, he’s making some pretty dogmatic statements here.Verse 8, “All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.”You are going to get that thought a little later.“My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me.”Who would these who came before him be?Well, Buddha, Confucius, Krishna for the Hare Krishna people, a fictitious character of course, but it goes way back.Jesus is rather harsh here.They are thieves and robbers.In fact, he goes on later in this chapter and he says you try to climb up some other way; you try to go around me as the door.You are a thief and a robber.You are robbing God of his authority.You are robbing Christ of his glory, the one who paid the penalty for our sins.That’s a very serious thing to do, to defy the God of the universe.He says, “The sheep didn’t hear them.”

Tom:

Dave, that’s really interesting because Jesus is saying that true sheep have discernment.It seems to me that’s what’s being implied here.

Dave:

Right.

Tom:

You know you look around and lots of people who call themselves Christians claim to believe in Jesus and probably do, but are incredibly gullible.

Dave:

Well we had it in verse 5 in our last session.“A stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him for they know not the voice of strangers.”Jesus is saying that just a sheep that knows the voice of its shepherd, you come along as a stranger, and you try to talk to it and lead it, its going to hustle away, get away from you.A true Christian should be just as sensitive to the voice of Christ and to the Word of God and not follow strangers.And we have to say it again, we don’t like to say it, but those who are involved in cults, false religions, aberrant doctrines, who are running after false teachers—

Tom:

Signs and wonders.

Dave:

Signs and wonders, Benny Hinn—one of the false prophets.He has made so many false prophecies that are documented.In fact we offer a book about that, The Confusing World of Benny Hinn.Those who get our newsletter could order that.

Tom:

But again Dave we are not talking about just a handful of people who have just sort of drifted off.We are talking about thousands and thousands that just turn onto one of his camp meetings or crusades or whatever.And not just him, many others.

Dave:

There are many false teachers out there.The Bible warns, Jesus warns about them.But these are leading people astray, away from the true Shepherd and I am afraid if they are doing that, they don’t know the voice of the Shepherd.This is what Jesus says, “I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved and shall go in and out and find pasture.”That doesn’t mean he is losing his salvation and he’s got to get saved again, but he’s in the sheep fold now.You come in under the shelter of the shepherd and then he sends you out into the pasture, but he always goes with you.The Shepherd always goes with you.Verse 10 is really a strong indictment.“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy,” they may not say that’s what they’re attempting to do, but they’re robbing you of the life giving grace that comes alone through Jesus Christ.

Tom:

That’s right.I think of the Proverbs.Twice in Proverbs it says “There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof is death.”This is killing, this is destroying, this is stealing.

Dave:

For eternity.

Tom:

Right.

Dave:

Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.”Tom, there’s a lot of people seeking life in pleasure or success, whatever it may be.But there is no life so abundant as following Jesus and I think of the old chorus, “There’s joy in following Jesus every moment of the day, every step along the way there is joy in following Jesus.”We desire for everyone listening, get to know him and experience this joy and the wonder of sins forgiven, and the promise of eternal life in the presence of God forever.

Tom:

Right.And this life is not abundant in a material sense, although God may prosper people, but it’s far and away beyond that.More than we can even comprehend.