Case for the Defense 2
Opening Prayer
Lord, protect me from the wolves of this world.
Read John 10:11–21
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my
soul” (Psa. 23:1–3a).
Think Further
As the “good shepherd,” Jesus knows his sheep (11,14), and this relational bond obliges him to take responsibility for them;
it is a matter of natural obligation. We already know that the Jewish leaders are looking to kill Jesus, and here he acknowledges openly that death will indeed be a feature of his messianic mission (11,15,17,18). However, his life will not be taken from him, but will be laid down voluntarily in obedience to God’s command (17,18).
Jesus’ death will therefore be a matter of honor—a proper honoring of the Father through obedience to his command. It is important that readers of the Gospel remember this testimony and read the account of Jesus’ death, when it comes, accordingly. Jesus’ death will also be a noble death, because it will benefit the world. It will be the means by which God restores his people and then integrates those outside Israel into a renewed community that recognizes and submits to Christ as Lord (16). Jesus is not only the “good shepherd” but also the “noble shepherd” (Jerome H. Neyrey, SJ, The Gospel of John in Cultural
and Rhetorical Perspective); he can legitimately command a faithful following. In speaking of taking up his life again (17,18) Jesus alludes to his resurrection. In this way he applies to himself personally a hope that the Jews reserved for the end of time. Just as Jesus will honor the Father in submitting to death, so the Father will honor Jesus with resurrection power, instilling within contemporary onlookers the hope of their future.
With “trial proceedings” coming to a temporary adjournment within the narrative, the division of the crowd (19–21) indicates that some people are refusing to write off Jesus and his claims as quickly as the prosecution would like. As ever, readers must consider each side and form their own verdict.
Apply
Christians can (and should) surprise the present with the hope of the future, by demonstrating God’s new creation through their everyday lives. What might that look like for you?
Closing prayer
Lord, I look to You as the Good Shepherd who always has my best
interest at heart.
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