🙏 Heavenly Father – Thank You for this gathering tonight of Your children as we read Your Word. We thank you for drawing near to our hearts and minds and we draw near to You. Amen.
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Points to Ponder: The 3rd of Jesus’ ‘I am identities – I am the gate for the sheep. Gates in scripture are places of great significance as well as entryways into unknown places. There are no parables in John, but we see the use of metaphors that have both actual and symbolic meanings, previously used in Scripture. The Pharisees know the scriptures; they should recognize Jesus’ stern words to them.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Points to Ponder: The 4th ‘I am’ identities. Jesus is the both the gate for the sheep pen and the shepherd who leads His sheep into that pen. A gate to a sheep pen and a shepherd brings together (1) this concept of ‘place of significance’ (i.e., God’s Kingdom) and (2) a sense of belonging and following and listening to the one with authority over you. The natural phenomenon of sheep knowing and following only their shepherd. The Pharisees are being called out here for not leading God’s people into God’s kingdom – great power involves great responsibility. The Pharisees ask, ‘Why listen to Him?’ Because He cares for us and speaks with authority. He knows us, He calls us by name, we know Him, and we follow.
Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims
22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.
Points to Ponder: This is Hanukkah; dating back to the Maccabean war and a period of unrest for the Jewish people, when the oil that should have only lasted to light candles for one day, lasted eight days. The Jews question Jesus’ identity and His claim to be God, He allows His works and scripture, Psalm 82, to testify for Him. Their response is their desire to stone Him.
The Death of Lazarus
11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
Points to Ponder: This first part of the story highlights our understanding of ‘love’. The sisters sent word to Jesus, using His love in a passive-aggressive, manipulative fashion… similar to, if you loved me… Jesus does love Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, so what should be His response vs. what is His response, is highlighting the difference between our thoughts and Jesus’ understanding about death.
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
Points to Ponder: Natural vs. spiritual understanding stands out here between Jesus and His disciples. Light and darkness, daylight and nighttime, sleep and death. By Thomas’ words, we see that the disciples don’t get it… and that’s ok, the resurrection hasn’t happened yet and Jesus knows their lack of understanding when He says, ‘for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe’.
Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
Points to Ponder: The 5th I am identity of Jesus – I Am the resurrection and the life. Martha goes from calling Jesus, ‘Lord’ to His face, then calling Him, ‘Teacher’ to her sister. Truly a moment of wrestling… I do believe, help me with my unbelief! To Jesus, Martha states her belief that He is the Messiah, the Son of God, yet outside of His presence, to Mary, she calls Him, ‘teacher’.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
Points to Ponder: Jesus wept. The shortest verse in the Bible. Not until this study, did I notice that it immediately follows in the conversation after Mary repeats, word for word, what Martha said, “Lord, if you had been here…’ basically, accusing Jesus, in part, for their brother’s death. Then when Jesus asks about where the body is, both sisters reply… ‘Come and see’! 😭The same words Jesus used to invite His first disciples. The same words the disciples use to bring others to Jesus. There is most definitely the power of life and death in our words! The word choice here troubles me. Notice also, the bystanders, the Jews comforting the sisters in their mourning, acknowledge Jesus’ love after He weeps. The Jews – descendants of Abraham, freed from slavery and chosen to bring the knowledge of God’s love to the nations. Their words show a surprise in Jesus’ love… they have forgotten their history and have lost their knowledge of God’s love and His faithfulness in His promises.
Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Points to Ponder: So many teachings on the difference between the resurrection of Jesus vs the resurrection of Lazarus. Someone had to take away the stone for Lazarus. Someone had to remove the grave clothes and free Lazarus. That someone is Jesus Himself – the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection and the life. Jesus had to call Lazarus by name… because He knows His sheep, calls them by name – His sheep hear His voice and they follow Him. When He opens our hearts, our spiritual awareness, Our wills begin to align with His and our choices soon follow. We may bow our heads in humility and repentance, but here we see that we may also ‘look up’ when expressing our worship and gratitude! The 6th of ‘sign’.
The Plot to Kill Jesus
45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
Points to Ponder: Helpful hint… anytime you read a transition word like ‘therefore’ ask yourself what it is there for? 😊Scripture is God’s Word to teach us and reveal to us something important. These transition words tell us to slow down and think about the consequences of the last section or commands that come in the next. Here we see that the Jewish mourners that followed Mary out of her house assuming she was going to the tomb to mourn were actually going to witness the resurrection of Lazarus for the glory of God. Many of the Jews believed, but not all. Notice the unbelievers, going to the Pharisees does not stop the providence of God… in fact, even those who are still rebellious towards God can be used by God, as we see here in Caiaphas’ words of prophecy.
54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.
55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.
Points to Ponder: This is the turning point in John’s Gospel. The Pharisee’s are on a mission to kill Jesus. Jesus knows this will happen, knew that the resurrection of Lazarus would be too significant an event to ignore. His time on earth is limited therefore He withdraws to a remote place with his disciples. We leave this chapter knowing that the Jewish Passover is coming up… the Gospel will now transition to what it means for Jesus to be the Lamb of God as well as His fulfillment of being The Prophet, The Priest, and The King… God’s servant, the Messiah (See also Isaiah 40 through at least Isaiah 43)
Summary: There is benefit of slowing down to read scripture in these two chapters! Meditating on what it means for Jesus to be both a ‘gate’ and the ‘shepherd’ that leads us through the gate as well as ‘the resurrection’ and ‘the life’. Both metaphors use a point of significance, followed by a figure of speech that addresses ‘what comes next’. Right now, when I believe I only have a glimpse of what this means spiritually, I am also so thankful for the strong foundation that is being built. At this point in the story, there are pillars of our faith, that are struggling with their belief… Mary, Martha, the disciples, and some of the Jews. We ‘know’ where the story is going, but there is comfort in seeing the struggles of others as the story unfolds. We must remember to be gentle with others, and with ourselves, when the worldly, natural circumstances are stressing someone’s faith, including our own.
🙏 Heavenly Father – we are so thankful for Your Word. We are so honored, so grateful, and so humbled to be part of Your family and to be called Your Children. Help us to walk through this week with the knowledge of who You. Strengthen us to hear our Lord Jesus calling us to draw nearer to You. It is His name we pray this. Amen.