John 9
Peter
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| The hill where shepherds watched their sheep overlooking Bethlehem. Photo by Mary Vee |
The Pharisees persistently tried to find ways to prove Jesus wrong. They followed him nearly everywhere he went, asking him questions before the crowds and hoping to steer the people away from him. Today was no exception.
Jesus had healed the man born blind. This turned into a long ordeal. I'm not saying it took Jesus a long time to heal the man, he, of course, did that in an instant. But afterward, the Pharisees followed the man born blind, conducting an investigation, looking for ways to disprove Jesus' words and actions. You can read what happened before this moment in the last post.
Jesus is currently speaking with the man who was blind. Outside the temple. Even here the Pharisees looked to cause a disruption.
Jesus had just said He left Heaven to help the blind see, and make those who pretend they see-blind.
The Pharisees said, "Does that mean you're calling us blind?"
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| The hill overlooking Bethlehem where shepherds watched over their sheep by night. Photo by Mary Vee |
Jesus said, "If you were really blind, you would be blameless, but since you claim to see everything so well, you are held accountable for every fault and failure you do.
"For example, if a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, he is up to no good. He is a sheep rustler. The true shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice.
"He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out then shows them the way to find food and water. They follow because they trust his voice. The same sheep, though, will scatter across the countryside if a stranger calls to them. They will wander here and there not knowing where to go."
From the looks on the Pharisees' faces, they didn't understand what Jesus was talking about.
I wasn't surprised when Jesus offered to give another explanation, even to these Pharisee who only wanted to harm him.
"Then I will tell you the meaning," said Jesus. "I am the gate for the sheep. Everyone else is up to no good, they are sheep stealers. The sheep won't listen to the thieves. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for. They will freely go in and out and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal, kill, and destroy. I came to give the sheep real and eternal life, a more and better life than they ever dreamed of having.
"I am the Good Shepherd."
Jesus is going to explain what he means by the Good Shepherd. Stop by next week to see what he says.
Come back to read the next story.
*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.
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sources:
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version.
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version.
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.
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