Currently we are in a study of the Gospel of John, and specifically concluding the events of Jesus’ visit to Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles, 29 AD, a year and a half before his crucifixion, according to my estimation. John’s record revolves around seven public signs or miracles. There were other miracles, of course, but John chose to bear witness of what Jesus said and did and how others responded, as that pertained to those seven miracles. Four were done in or near Galilee, and three were done in or near Jerusalem. We’ve already considered the miracle of changing water into wine at Cana (John 2), the healing of the nobleman’s son (John 4), the healing of the man who was impotent for 38 years (John 5), feeding the 5000 (John 6), Jesus’ walk on the waters of the Sea of Galilee (John 6); and at this point we are concluding our study of the sixth miracle, the healing of the man born blind (John 9). Presently, we’ll be dealing with John 10:16- 21, which will conclude what was said and done on the Last Great Day of 29 AD.
Jesus began by saying: “I have other sheep who are not of this fold. I must also lead those, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one flock, one Shepherd” (John 10:16), which, of course, refers to Jews and gentiles becoming one flock. Nevertheless, this verse has been misunderstood by many believers to their own hurt. The KJV uses the English word fold for “not of this fold” and for “there shall be one flock.” Yet, the Greek manuscripts have two different Greek words, aule (G833) for this fold and poimne (G4167) for one flock. Some understood this to mean there should be one organized Church, vis-à-vis physically and visibly or all become one fold. The idea of one flock points to the Kingdom of God, the different folds point to the different nations in that one Kingdom of God. Organized religion, although beneficial in many respects, is the work of men, not of God, and, therefore imperfect and can be dangerous, if taken to extremes. Jesus’ point is that there are different folds, but all will hear his voice, and he will draw all men to himself (John 12:32-33).
In order for Jesus to draw all men to himself, men of all nations and all ages (cp. John 12:32), he must lay down his life. In laying down his life for the sheep of every fold (John 10:16) Jesus fulfills the purpose for which he was sent (John 3:16), “God so loved the world…” It is the mutual love for the sheep of every fold that binds the will of the Father and the Son (cp. John 5:19), and the Father loves Jesus, because Jesus is so willing to lay down his life (viz. the crucifixion) to fulfill the Father’s will (John 10:17). Not that death would have the final say, for it is also the Father’s will that Jesus take his life back again (John 10:18; viz. his resurrection). However, one may wonder, what has Jesus actually accomplished, if he gave up his life, but then took it back. If his death saves us, what does salvation look like, if Jesus takes his life back again?
The Lord has given us a picture of Jesus’ work of salvation in his word. Recall once again that, when Moses sent in the spies to discover what the Promised Land was like, they brought back an evil report. Things got so bad that Israel rebelled and wanted to slay Moses and Aaron and return to Egypt. God immediately told Moses to step aside and he would destroy the rebellious nation and make a new and better nation out of his descendants. Nevertheless, Moses stood between the Lord and the very rebels who wanted to slay him and asked for mercy, and if God didn’t want to be merciful toward the rebels, then Moses asked God to slay him as well. We all know what occurred, God repented of his desire to slay Israel, and granted Moses’ wish. But, what does this have to do with Jesus?
Adam rebelled and took all humanity down the rebellious path with him. God created mankind, so certainly it was within his right as Creator to slay man and start all over. He could have done that with Jesus. Jesus became man. If he married and produced children, they would have certainly been more righteous than Adam’s race, even if the wife Jesus could have chosen was from that race. But that didn’t happen, did it? No, Jesus laid down his life, and with it the more righteous race that could have been. In his death he expressed his undying love for Adam’s race. He would not destroy us and create a better race. He chose us, and, now, in a manner of speaking, he is forever ‘stuck’ with us. His and the Father’s will is tied up in us—Adam’s rebellious race. So, when he arose, the Life he had to give could be given only to us. We know this beyond all doubt. There is no other race but ours, and although we represent many folds we are one flock. No fold is more important that another; we are all the sheep of the Good Shepherd.
So, there was division once more among the Jewish authorities. Some, refusing to listen, claimed Jesus had a demon and was mad. Yet, some of the other authorities claimed Jesus’ words couldn’t come from a demon, and they asked how a demon, a mad man, could open the eyes of a man born blind (John 10:19-21).
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