Our text Sunday is John 10, Jesus’ great discussion concerning himself as the “Good Shepherd.” Before we immediately think “pastor” or “religious leader” for the term shepherd, we need to remember that the Old Testament also uses the term for civil leaders. Elders, who sit in the gate of a city, ruling on disputes and witnessing contracts, were considered shepherds. Kings and other political leaders are considered shepherds. Even the prophets and priests who represented God were called shepherds.

Shepherding in the region, the actual practice of animal husbandry, was used as an analogy of the leader’s role in Israel. Leaders with bad policies, personal corruption, and abusive power, oppressed the very people they were called to care for, scattering them. Justice in the courts evaporated, the poor were ignored, the foreigner was fleeced, and crime was ignored. Unrighteous leaders fostered an unrighteous society.

For generations, God had promised to send his choice Servant to shepherd his people. Now that Shepherd has come, instead of welcoming him, he is rejected and lays down his life to liberate his people.

The phrase that stands out in the text, “the sheep know” their Shepherd. They know his voice and they follow him. As you prepare for Sunday read John 10 and consider your relationship with the “Good Shepherd.”

This week we’ll go back to the beginning of John 9 and work our way through the events of the healing of the man born blind. The story displays the spiritual healing of a man born physically blind in contrast with those born seeing but spiritually blind. The healing is more than a miracle, it’s a sign for us to learn from.

As Jesus walks through the temple, during the Feast of Tabernacles, he sees a man “born blind.” Being born blind isn’t just his physical status, but part of his identity within his community. The text says, “The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, ‘Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?’” He responds to their query, “I am the man.” While this man’s identity has changed from the “man born blind” to the “the man born blind Jesus healed,” his community is resistant to the idea. After all, blind men should stay blind and beg in the streets.

These events point to the transformational nature of Jesus’ ministry. Those who think that they “see” actually retain their guilt and their identity. Those who know they are blind but turn in faith to Jesus, are granted spiritual sight, internal freedom, and gracious forgiveness. Faith in Christ brings us the revelation of God and the communion with him that frees us from ourselves and our community identity.

Join us Sunday as we consider this amazing miracle.

Sunday we will begin our study of John 9, Jesus’ healing a blind man. The blind walk in darkness as a physical reality. Here the physical reality is used to demonstrate the spiritual blindness that Jesus has been discussing with the Jewish leaders. The text uses physical blindness to teach a spiritual truth regarding faith in Jesus. The young man is fundamentally changed and nothing can assail his faith, not even being excommunicated from his religious community.

We’ll start at the end of the chapter, where Jesus says, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” The remaining Pharisees ask Jesus, “Are we also blind?” Jesus’ answer is sobering, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

As a reader, we are challenged to ask the question, “Can I see or am I blind?” If your “seeing” is faith in Jesus, then you stand in the grace and forgiveness of God. If you believe you can see without Christ, then you stand outside his grace.

As you prepare to worship, read John 9 and consider what it means to be spiritually blind.

In our text for Sunday, Jesus challenges the identity his audience has built. Fundamentally, their identity was built outside of the identity communicated to them from God. Their ancestral and religious identity blinded them to who they were as sinners in need of rescue from God. They were confident that they were Abraham’s children, while ignoring the fact that Abraham “rejoiced to see” Jesus’ descent. They were confident that God himself was their Father, while blind to the murderous intent in their hearts. So when their confidence is challenged, they accuse and diminish Jesus. This is identity defense!

Jesus warns them that the identity they defend is actually built on the lies and desires of a greater evil, the Deceiver, Satan. He is the “father of lies,” whose efforts to suppress and eradicate the truth are fueled by his evil desire for his own glory. That subtle desire for glory motivates our own identity creation within our community.

Only Jesus can rescue us from the deception of this greater evil maker. So as you prepare to worship Sunday, consider your own identity. What would it mean to have an identity change?

As we move through John 8, Jesus has a fascinating conversation with the Pharisees. They ask Jesus, “Who are you?” They question his identity because he asserts that he knows where he is from and where he is going. They are able to define their origin, “We are offspring of Abraham,” but they cannot define their future. Jesus tells them where they are going, “unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” 

Why are we so locked in to our sense of self? Our family and community do so much to shape our identity that we can’t see who we are in relation to God. The Pharisees were blind to their condition, unable to see their spiritual enslavement to sin. We’re no different!

Come Sunday and consider the freedom Christ offers us.

Sunday we will move back into our study of the gospel of John. Remember that John wants you to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, so that you can have eternal life (Jn. 20:31). As an author, John uses the dialogue between Jesus and others to communicate the essentials of faith in God. The dialogue challenges our view of “self” and exposes our need of Jesus.

In our text, Jesus says that anyone who follows him will no longer walk in darkness. In order to move toward Jesus, a person has to understand that they are actually walking in darkness. All the philosophies of our world are only enlightened forms of darkness that turn us in toward ourselves and away from our Creator God. The Pharisees represent a view of self turned inward through religion, unable to see themselves in need of grace.

Sunday, we’ll begin to examine John’s presentation of Jesus’ offer made in the treasury of the temple, symbolic of the treasures of this world and our attempts to satisfy God through human effort. As you prepare for worship, consider your own sense of self in the world. Who are you and what do you need?

Before Jesus ascended to heaven he directed his disciples to be on mission as his witnesses to the world. (Acts 1:8). As the gospel message invaded the kingdom of the evil one, many obeyed the Gospel call to look to Jesus for forgiveness of sin and hope in eternal life. Persecution of believers in Jesus Christ began to increase to such extent that the church in Jerusalem was scattered (Acts 8:1) . Believers were a minority in a secularized society and faced trials and difficult times. They were discouraged and needed renewal of hope.

Today as we live in a pluralized society, we face similar trials and difficulties that early church believers experienced. We are the minority and our faith is often ridiculed. We are counter culture regarding ethics, values, and worldview. And we need some encouragement to be steadfast in our witness. On Sunday we will see in 1 Peter how the Apostle Peter encouraged the people of God to stand firm in their faith and hope. May the Word of God direct our hearts into the love of God and the living hope we have.

Sunday we will examine the gentle and lowly heart of God in his shepherding care of us. The renown King David says, “The LORD is my shepherd,” in his familiar Psalm 23. Isaiah gives a stunning explanation of God’s shepherding skill, saying, “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” (Is. 40:11) Finally, Jesus speaks of himself as the “good shepherd” in John 10.

By calling himself the “good shepherd,” Jesus connects himself to David’s imagery of God and the prophecies of Isaiah. God’s heart is not to “drive” the flock like cattle, but to tenderly lead his sheep to “green pastures.” The green pastures aren’t our circumstances but the restoration of our soul that occurs in the presence of God. Even in the midst of great hardship and our enemies threats (Ps. 23:5), we are nourished by the tender presence of God. We fear no evil because, “no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)

What is the experience of those who are shepherded by Christ? “Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Ps. 23:6) So as you prepare to worship this Sunday, read through Psalm 23, Isaiah 40, and John 10. Listen to the Spirit of God lead you to your Good Shepherd.

Sunday we will consider what God reveals about his lowly heart. Jesus’ revelation in Matthew 11:29 is not God’s only statement about his heart. Our primary passage is Philippians 2:1-11, where Paul explains that Jesus willingly laid aside his glory to take on human flesh. Paul says that Jesus did not “grasp” his equality with God but became a servant to meet our need.

Have you ever considered how God thinks about himself? Does he bask in his glory? Does he cherish his high status? Isaiah quoting the LORD, says, “I dwell in the high and holy place,” but that’s not the full statement. Isaiah continues, saying, “and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Is. 57:15) God is the Lord, dwelling in glory appropriate to his nature and character, but he associates with the lowly. This is the heart of God!

What does this mean for you? Well, if you have a humble heart or a lowly station in life, God associates with you. He resists the proud but draws near to the humble.

Join us Sunday and consider God’s humble heart.

Sunday, we will continue our Advent series on the gentle and lowly heart of God. This week we’ll consider Jesus’ gentle heart, which is amazing considering that he is Lord of all creation. When John has a vision of Christ, in Revelation 1:12-20, Jesus is a terrifying individual. He is clothed in white with a golden sash. He has white hair with flaming, piercing eyes. His voice shakes the very foundations of creation. A sword proceeds from his mouth and to look upon him is like looking at the sun itself. John is terrified, as I would be!

In that moment, this intimidating figure touches him and says, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one.” (Rev. 1:17, 18a) Having received restored glory (John 17:5), his gentle heart has not changed. He is still kind and compassionate. The Jesus we meet in the gospels who touches the leper (healing him from his disease) — the one who calms the stormy sea; the one who heals the sick and feeds the poor; the one who is filled with compassion over and over — is the same Jesus enthroned and full of glory. He is compassionate and kind! Though our Hero King, he is our Gentle Friend.

Join us Sunday as we consider this gentle Giant!