This week’s suggested reading: John 10
This week’s question to ponder: A few times in John 10, Jesus references the “voice” that his sheep listen to, namely his. So it caused me to pause and really ask myself, which “voices” am I listening to? Every “voice” comes with bias. Every “voice” flows from a place of belief. So now I pose the question to you, which “voices” are you listening to most? Do those voices reflect the heart of the Father? (If not, it may be time for some new voices.)
Jesus healed the blind man in John 9. Then he continued his conversation with the Pharisees in John 10. Here are my two big takeaways.
Jesus' words divide.
Once again we see Jesus’ words and actions cause great division among the people, specifically among the religious elite. They all heard the same words. They all saw the same miracles. They all witnessed the same displays of God’s love and power. Yet we see the crowd come to very different conclusions as to who Jesus was and why he came to Earth. The religious elite – those who claimed to know God best and most – called Jesus a liar and a hypocrite. Others called him “Lord.”
So why the division?
How could so many people hear and see the same things, yet come to such drastically different conclusions about the character of Jesus? Well, setting aside the sovereignty of God and the election of man (which can be deep, dark rabbit holes too big for our purposes today), the simplest explanation is the hurdle of “underlying personal bias.”
Humans hear and perceive information through the lens of underlying personal bias. It’s just how it is. It’s why even today as I type this post, those who say they follow Jesus are coming to drastically different opinions on the political and social issues of our day. Why? Well, partly because we all come to the table with underlying personal bias that can sway our perception of reality.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day thought they had everything neatly defined. They had their laws neatly defined. They had the consequences to disobedience neatly defined. They had God neatly defined, or so they thought. But like I said in my commentary on John 9, God inevitably busts out of any box we try to place him in.
So what can we learn so that we don’t make similar grave mistakes like the religious elite in Jesus’ day? When I drill it down to the very bottom, one of the biggest things I think we need to learn from the rejection of Jesus by the religious elite: humility.
To follow Jesus means being willing to say, “I don’t know.” “I made a mistake.” “I thought I understood, but I don’t think I do.” “I was wrong.” It means being willing to say, “Lord, grace me with your vision in this situation. Reveal to me the hurdle of my personal bias. Show me if I’m following a voice that conflicts with yours.”
Otherwise, pride will lead to our downfall.
Jesus gives. Evil takes.
In John 10:10-11 we read Jesus’ words, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Steal. Kill. Destroy. That’s the work of evil. Evil cares not for the soul of man. Evil tries to take what isn’t its to take. Evil tries to kill what threatens its sense of power. Evil tries to destroy any reflection of God. Evil takes.
But Jesus gives. He gives life to the dead. He gives hope to the desperate. He gives healing to the sick. He gives forgiveness to the broken. He gives peace in the chaos. He gave himself on a cross as a sacrifice for you and for me. Jesus gives.
As we look on the landscape of today, evil still steals, kills, and destroys. And Jesus still sacrificially gives, powerfully leads, and radically loves. But do you know how Jesus does that today in this very broken world? Through the hands and feet of those who follow him. May it be so.
