Readings:
Wisdom 17-19
John 10

John 10

Jesus is teaching the people in language they’d be intimately familiar with. Many of his parables and lessons utilize agricultural and pastoral themes because the people in that time and place grew their own vegetables and tended their own flocks. Sure there were some artisans among them, but everyone would be familiar with these basic concepts of life in first century middle eastern society.

If you’ve ever seen a shepherd leading his sheep along a hillside, he generally just speaks a few words to them and they recognize his voice and walk along with him as he goes. This image is meant to convey that those who give themselves to Jesus will be guided and protected by him because they’ll recognize his voice and follow, most notably through the Holy Spirit after Pentecost.

When he says that those who came before him were thieves and robbers he is speaking about the leaders of Israel who’ve by and large have been looking out for themselves. The kings were almost uniformly corrupt after David, and now that the monarchy is no more, the Pharisees and priests are the leaders of the people but they’re no better. They use their position to enrich themselves with money and honor, but with absolutely no regard for the souls of those supposedly in their care.

Jesus as shepherd will be different, he will give life, while the other supposed shepherds only ever took from the people. Jesus give of himself all the way to the cross. He compares himself to the owner of the sheep vs a hired hand; the owner loves the sheep and will lay down his life for them, but a hireling will run when the wolf shows up. Jesus will stay with his sheep because we are his and belong to him.

Midway through this chapter it transitions to the feast of dedication, also known as Hanukkah, in Jerusalem. The religious leaders in Jerusalem, this is what John means when he says “jews” approach him and demand him to tell them straight up if he’s the Christ, but he has told them over and over and they’ve drowned it out in denial.

They try to stone him because he tells them he’s one with the father, and this leads to them being taught another lesson about things they should already know. At this point I’m starting to think they enjoy the pain from being constantly beaten in rhetorical battles with Jesus.

Tomorrow’s Readings:
Jonah 1-4
John 11:1-16