The Gospel for Thursday, February 19, 2004
John 10:19-30
These words caused a fresh division among the Jews. Many said, ‘He is possessed, he is raving; why do you listen to him?’ Others said, ‘These are not the words of a man possessed by a devil: could a devil open the eyes of the blind?’ It was the time of the feast of Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the Temple walking up and down in the Portico of Solomon. The Jews gathered round him and said, ‘How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us openly.’ Jesus replied: I have told you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name are my witness; but you do not believe, because you are no sheep of mine. The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life; they will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from my hand. The Father, for what he has given me, is greater than anyone, and no one can steal anything from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one. -- The New Jerusalem Bible. 1995, c1985. Doubleday: Garden City, N.Y.
A Study
Two hundred years previous to this (167BC), Judas Maccabee had defeated the Seleucid army and recaptured Jerusalem and its temple. Three years later, the temple was dedicated anew, and Judas and the people celebrated for eight days. The Feast of the Dedication is patterned after the eight days of the Feast of Tabernacles -- instead of coming out from the wilderness, the Jewish people this time came out from under pagan rule, oppression, and desecration. The celebration is also called the Feast of Lights or Hanukkah (pick your variant of the spelling).
John built numerous parallels in his telling of the gospel story. He repeats the shepherd theme he used in Jesus' Jerusalem sojourn during the Feast of Tabernacles, just two months earlier in this account. Like Judas Maccabee, Jesus took on an establishment oppressing and desecrating his people Israel.
Jesus is bold in appearing in Solomon's Portico. He's not hiding, he's not afraid of the religious elite. They immediately surround him threateningly and go into "show me" mode: "put or shut up, Jesus; if you're the Christ, come out and tell us!".
"The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice." That pretty well sums up his response. The promise was made and stands: the promise that his sheep are his forever, since no one can steal from the Father.
A Reflection
People often think of sheep as stupid. That may be, but it's doubtful that Jesus had that part of sheep-dom in mind. It is more likely that he was concentrating on how defenseless they are. They can't run fast, they have no horns (most, anyway) or armor or other defense or weapon. And they make a tasty snack for predators (human and otherwise).
Jesus' parallel of thieves and robbers, from his two-months-earlier visit to Jerusalem, remains appropriate to the December timeframe in which this story is cast. The Romans still occupy Jerusalem. The religious elite still take advantage of the people. They don't know the people, they merely use them for their own gain.
Faceless and exploitive agri-business doesn't work in the sheep-on-the-range world. It takes a caring shepherd in whom the sheep place their trust. When Jesus says "believe in me and I will care for you," the shepherd's parallel is complete.
The longer we study his Word, the deeper we immerse ourselves in his love, the more we must wonder where the fire and brimstone preachers get their material! Jesus hardly ever used negative motivation. He reminded his opposers of the consequences of being sighted, yet blind. But threats? No.
He loved his opposers as he wanted them to love him -- to the end, where he laid down his life.
6:06:09 AM 
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