Sign up for “I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice and there will be one flock with one shepherd.”
John 10:16
The words of John 10 from the lips of Jesus are indeed precious ones. They bespeak the love of God for men of all nations. For centuries it appeared that God would bless only the nation of Israel, based upon Old Testament prophecies and promises. Indeed, even as Jesus began His ministry, this appeared to be the case as He said to His disciples, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles…”
In the lesson before us the stage is set in Chapter 9, where Jesus has restored sight to a man who had been born blind. By this miracle and the reaction of the Pharisees, they were to learn of the gravity of their position as shepherds of Israel, as shown in vs. 30-4l.
These shepherds, being zealous of their position, had never thought of the quality of the service they were rendering. Their thoughts were only of self-perpetuation as can be so clearly seen in the parable of the Vineyard. Though they “sat in Moses’ seat,” they were now to learn how blind they had been in their office. They had not honored Jesus above themselves. Instead, they said among themselves, “this is the heir; let us kill Him and the inheritance will be ours” (Mark 12:7). Due to their rebellious attitude, Jesus now indirectly informs them that they were “thieves and robbers,” since they were by-passing Him, the Door to the fold.
“This parable spoke Jesus unto them: but they understood not the things which He spoke unto them. I am the door of the fold; all that ever came before me are thieves and robbers…the thief comes not, but to steal and to kill and destroy.” Thus, does Jesus foretell what we have seen come to pass, when these evil shepherds demanded His life. “I am the GOOD shepherd,” declared Jesus. “I lay down my life for the sheep…But he that is a hireling…sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees, because a hireling cares not for the sheep.” In this comparison Jesus reveals their ineptness as shepherds and suggests they were not even sheep, since they did not know Him. (See John 10:1-5.)
In verse 16, Jesus declares, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.” Who are these other sheep and from where do they come? Jesus indicates who these are, saying, “My sheep hear my voice.” This is the test. Regretfully, many, very many, in Israel have not heard His voice saying, “Come unto Me all you that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” How much they have missed!
In our study of the Old Testament Scriptures we find many references to the effect that Jesus’ work as shepherd would involve all men. We confess ignorance of these facts till the Good Shepherd identified Himself. Let us look back to verse 9 in our lesson for support. There we read: “I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32). To this end the Gospel message was, by Jesus’ command, sent to all nations, to any who might have an ear to hear. In this connection we recall the words of Jesus as He prayed to His God and Father saying, “as you have sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world…I pray for them that shall believe on me through their word” (John 17:18, 20).
Peter was the first one sent to Cornelius, a Gentile, who heard and believed the message of salvation that Peter brought to him. (See Acts 10.) Later, the Pharisee Saul was called into the ministry, and sent to the Gentiles with the same message. Because his own kindred would not respond to his message, we hear him say, “It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you, but seeing you put it from you and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light of the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation unto the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:46). Though Jesus had other sheep in mind that were not of the Jewish fold, there is to be one fold and One Shepherd, as He declared. These other sheep are joined with the sheep in Israel known as the Israel of God. (See Galatians 6:16.) This is because Jesus has broken down the middle wall that separated Jew and Gentile, “to make of these two, one new man” (Ephesians 2:14, 15).
This sheepfold then addresses all in this Gospel Age, from Jesus’ first advent, and especially since Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was made available, to his second coming when he will call all of this sheepfold (his bride) unto himself. True, all of resurrected mankind will have opportunity to come into his sheepfold also, but they will all be of human nature, not spiritual, and they were not being called to his sheepfold during this Gospel Age.
A re you, dear reader, now one of His sheep? Have you heard His voice calling you to follow Him? We repeat - this is the test - “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and am known of mine and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish.” Precious Promise! “Neither shall any man pluck them out of my Hand” (John 10:27, 28). Praise God!
C. M. Glass
© CDMI
