GOOD NEWS FROM ST. JOHN
Meditations in the Gospel of St. John
St. John 10:16-21
* * * * *

THE first thing to occupy our minds in these verses is found in verse 16 where Jesus speaks of having other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. The question that comes to mind is what Jesus means when he says “not of this sheep pen”. By this Jesus is asserting that there is another sheep pen, which is different to the one from which he is calling his sheep at that time. It is probable that Jesus is referring to the Gentiles. The disciples were all Jews, so by referring to another “sheep pen” he is telling us that he has sheep also amongst the Gentiles, and that he did not just die for those who were Jews, but also for the Gentiles.

But the startling thing about the words of Jesus is the fact that he is telling us that he has sheep. The meaning Jesus is giving is that he has a known number of sheep. We are not able to speculate on how big a number this may be, because Jesus does not give a number. However we can assume the number is very, very large. What is startling is that Jesus is informing us that the number of his sheep are known to him.

This is both very comforting and rather difficult. The comfort is that if we are his sheep, then we are in the care of Jesus as our shepherd, and so are very safe, and have a place in Christ’s sheep pen. We are amongst the saved ones, and are safe with Jesus for all eternity. The difficult thought is that the fact that Jesus has a known number of sheep means that the rest are not his sheep, and are not in his care in this saving way. This difficulty we are totally unable to resolve because the Bible does not give us any explanation. We may well seek to find some explanation, and there is nothing wrong in this, but it is not right for preachers and teachers of the Bible to speculate.

The fact of Jesus having a known number of sheep, however, is a truth that the Bible does reveal, not just here but in many places. There is one we have already considered in John’s Gospel. It is in John 6:37-40. In these verses Jesus tells us that God the Father has given him a certain number of people. In verse 37 of chapter 6 we read “All that the Father gives me will come to me”. Then in verse 38 Jesus tells us that he came to do the will of his Father who sent him, and that the Father’s will is that he should not lose any of the ones he had been given, but would raise them up at the last day.

Whatever else we may say about this truth that Jesus was given a number of people by God the Father, and that he came into the world to die for these people, and that he knew the people who were his sheep, we have to say that it is a very humbling truth. We like to feel that in some way we have contributed to our salvation, even if it is only to say we responded to the invitation to come to Jesus. Even this, however, is taken from us, because Jesus says that all who the Father gives me will come to me, and he says “They too will listen to my voice”. We responded to the Gospel because we were chosen by God in his love to belong to Jesus and be saved by him. We have contributed nothing to the wonderful privilege of being saved and belonging to the family of God. Our possession of the privilege is all of sovereign grace and nothing else.

But if it is humbling it is also full of comfort and assurance, because God the Father and Jesus, God the Son and Saviour, have determined that it will be so. We have been loved by God from all eternity, and will be loved gratuitously for all eternity, and God will never let any of his loved ones be lost, and he will make us beautiful as the bride of Christ. Listen to the assurance of dwelling in love which Jesus gives us here. Jesus says, “There will be one flock and one shepherd”. Perfect love and unity is what will be achieved. All the bickering and judging amongst Christians will be forgotten, and we shall all be filled with the love of God, as we love our Lord without any hindrance.

This purpose of love is further revealed when Jesus says that he is loved by His Father because he is obedient to his Father’s will of love for his sheep, and gives his life to save his sheep. Jesus loves like the Father loves, and so in this wondrous plan of love to redeem, Father and Son are in full accord, and Jesus in love voluntarily gives his life a ransom for us. No husband could love his wife, as Jesus loves his bride, his redeemed sheep, the true church of God. Jesus was not compelled to give his life for us. He did it because he loved as God the Father loved, and poured out that love in his life given to infinite suffering of the pains of hell.

How have you reacted to this meditation? Can you deny that this election of God is the truth which is being taught? If we are honest we cannot deny it. How precious it is to bow in humble acceptance, and dwell in this wonderful love of God which is revealed here, and into which we have been brought by sovereign grace.

How tragic is the closing verses of this section (v.19-21). Argument immediately breaks forth. People say angrily that Jesus is demon possessed and raving mad; whereas others are not so sure as they see the work of love Jesus did for the man born blind. Dear reader submit humbly to your loving Lord, and let your heart and soul trust in him as your Shepherd, Saviour