Gospel May 3

John 10:11-18

"I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me" (10:14)
"I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also and they will listen to my voice" (10:16)

Christians are very familiar with the shepherd imagery. From the comfort of Psalm 23, the love and care reflected in the parable of Luke 15:1-7 (//Mt 18:12-13), and the truth of Isaiah 53:6 ('We all, like sheep, have gone astray') the pictures are part of the way we understand our relationship with God.

In John's gospel we read of the "I am" statements of Jesus and in this passage there are two "I am" statements - "I am the gate for the sheep" (v.7) and "I am the good shepherd" (v.11)

As in so many walks of life there are those for whom work is just a job, a task to do so they can earn some money. For others there is a degree of personal investment or ownership in what they do. The difference becomes obvious as you observe them in action or work alongside them. A worker who is invested in the task, or committed to the people they work with will always offer better service and support than one who is just 'filling in the time sheet'. The extent of Jesus investment in humanity is seen in the Cross. His self-description as 'the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep' is fulfilled in the events on Golgotha.

But who are Jesus' sheep? And what of the other sheep who are 'not of this fold'?
The 'fold' present with Jesus would seem to include his disciples and followers, and the Jews. The gospel of John makes no reference to crowds, or even to the disciples - but the text before and following places Jesus in Jerusalem. This 'fold' would seem to be the Jews- or the nation of Israel. Who then are the other sheep not of this fold that he must bring? Commentators point to the Gentiles as the other sheep, and suggest that they are to be gathered through the disciples.

Among the challenges that are faced by followers of Jesus is an understanding of who has been 'saved' and who is not yet saved. The problem has been solved, at least in the minds of some, by a formula that includes praying the sinners prayer and accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour. The Four Steps, or the ABC's of the gospel are a late development in the life of the church, emerging in the revival in the later half of the 19th century. They remain favourite tools of evangelists - but they mark only a step on the way. A better test might come for examining the life of the 'would-be' follower of Jesus Christ. Here Jesus offers us a test to see of someone is part of his fold - do they listen to his voice? The problem for us is that it is not an easy question to answer as we work alongside, or life in community with, others.

Our quest for simplicity, for clear answers, and for clarity in our understanding leads us to draw lines that indicate who is 'in' the church, and who is not. Those lines help us, but they may not help others, and they may not indicate anything except who we think is 'in' and who we think is 'not yet in'. In the end, the only thing that is really important is who Jesus recognises as his sheep. After all, they will be the ones that know his voice.