Oh We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray

 John 10:14 “I AM the Good Shepherd.  I know my sheep.  My sheep know my voice.”

Three brief statements.  The first is one of John’s seven “I AM” statements that show Jesus’ divinity.  It may lose something in translation to the English, but those listening knew exactly what he was saying.  That is why Caiaphas tore his robes at Jesus’ trial, and why the scribes and Pharisees reached for stones to execute Jesus in John 7 when he said “I AM”.  Jesus as Shepherd calls to mind Psalm 23.  The Good Shepherd gives His sheep everything they need.

The third statement is that Jesus’ sheep know His voice.  I understand sheep do know their shepherd’s voice.  I think I am learning His.  Often in the Bible, a word or phrase gets repeated several times in a short space.  “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people” for instance.  Or Psalm 136, where all 26 verses end with “for His mercy endureth for ever”.  About 148 times in the last two weeks, I have seen or been reminded of the verse “My strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).”  I’m not sure, but I think He may be trying to tell me something about humility.  As smart as I think I am, there are plenty of people smarter.  As much as I think I know the Bible, there are many people who know it better.  Which leads me back to Jesus’ second statement.

In one of my favorite movies, When Harry Met Sally, Harry tells Sally, “You know how a year to a person is like seven years to a dog?” Sally asks, “Who is the dog in this scenario?  I am.  I am the dog.”  

I am the sheep in John’s scenario.  I am the sheep.   

It is a marvel that sheep survived as a species.  They have no speed.  No strength.  No teeth or claws.  No hard outer shell.  They congregate in herds naturally enough, but are prone to wandering off for no discernable reason.  They can get stuck in ditches, unable to climb out.  

Perhaps sheep wander off because they see a greener pasture just over there.  Or they think they know a better way than the other sheep.  Or they think the shepherd doesn’t really know what he’s doing.  No, this is not a compliment.  But it is really true.  

As many of you know, I’ve written three books which, combined, assert to be a defense of Christianity as being True historically, theologically and experientially.  What I’ve been amazed to discover is that most believers don’t care about the first two, and don’t want to be told how they should do the third.  I’ve been even more amazed to realize that I don’t think the first two matter much, except in that they help in the third.  And if they do not help us experience and show God’s love and forgiveness, then all the history and theology in the world are useless.  

I tell you, having spent the better part of twenty years on those books, that was a hard lesson.  But I am certainly glad I did all that research and writing, if only for my own part.  It is good to learn about God and to draw closer to Him.  It is better still to learn how to share His love and forgiveness with those around me.  And there, I have a long way to go.