Hello Friends,
Welcome back to Prepared Hearts, the online lectionary based
Bible study of the Wacousta Community United Methodist Church. This week’s
lectionary texts include: Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:19-25; and John
10:1-10. I’ll be preaching out of the Gospel of John, but be sure to read the
23rd Psalm as well.
John 10:1-10
10 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the
sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 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 hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name
and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of
them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not
follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the
voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did
not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very
truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are
thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate.
Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find
pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that
they may have life, and have it abundantly.
STARTER THOUGHTS
What gets translated as “figure of speech” in verse 6 is the
Greek term paroimia, which in other
contexts gets translated as a “proverb.” In the shepherd story, Jesus is
telling a parable that can, by its nature, have many different meanings. Does this
story seem to indicate to you just one meaning or are there other layers of
meaning under the surface here? Does it speak to you in a variety of ways? And
if so, how?
The image of God as the shepherd and God’s people as sheep
was commonly used in the Hebrew Scriptures (see not only the 23rd
Psalm but Psalms 74, 79 & 80). The metaphor of Christian followers as sheep
and of Christ as the Good Shepherd is so common that it impacts everything from
the artwork that hangs in our churches to the title by which we give our
leaders: pastors (i.e. shepherds). Yet, we don’t spend very much time exploring
this theme and what it means. Sheep are generally smelly, compliant livestock, who
are members of a herd and easily swayed by others. They have no natural
defenses and require a leader, not only to protect them but to guide them to food
and shelter, lest in their ignorance they starve to death. Now at some level
all metaphors break down, but do you think most Christians view themselves as “sheep”
in this way? Do you? What parts of this comparison are troubling for you?
In verse nine, Jesus clearly identifies himself as the gate
of salvation. Most associate this with the eternal afterlife, but what does
this mean to you today in your daily living? What circumstances or temptations are
the thieves in your life who come to steal, kill, and destroy? How does your
Christ gate guard against them?
One of my all-time favorite sayings of Jesus is, “I came
that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” When folks struggle with
major decisions in life or feel guilt and shame over happiness and success, I
direct them to this passage. What does it mean to you to have “life abundantly?”
How would the world be different if more folks enjoyed an abundant life?
This Sunday is Mother’s Day. What similarities do you see
between the role of shepherd and mother? Do you experience God as our Divine
Mother? If so, what characteristics do you associate with divine mothering?
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and reflections.
Please feel free to email me or post a comment here.
Peace,
Pastor Amee
