John 10 Commentary
Christianity is like a late entry into the world of religions. But when we read the Bible, there is a clear roadmap to the events recorded in the Book of John. Indeed, the Book itself points to a time before creation when the Word is with God and the Word is the Creator God Himself.
Before what appears to be a new entry (the time of the Messiah’s earthly Pilgrimage), several search groups and concepts existed claiming knowledge of God and ownership of life. Before and after, several individuals would rise up and claim to answer life’s important questions. But they are thieves, robbers, and imposters. They come to steal, kill, and destroy.
Chapter 10 is captioned by verse 10. There is only one shepherd – One Shepherd, the Good Shepherd. Others come to steal, kill, and destroy. They are robbers.
Steal: You don’t want to be seen. You don’t want to be found out. The victim shouldn’t know when it happens. If they can see, they shouldn’t know it’s happening. Sugarcoat your operations. Attract, put a bait in place, set a trap, and the victim shouldn’t know. Decoy. Deception is the word.
Rob: You use force. The victim is weak. The victim cannot resist. The victim has no access to help. The scripture refers to unprotected individuals who want to exist by themselves and for themselves. They have declared independence against God. They have felt they don’t need protection and they can do it by themselves. But the enemy is stronger.
You are killed; destroyed – end of mission.
But Jesus is the good Shepherd. He owns the sheep. He gives them eternal life. No one can snatch them away from Him – protected against thieves and robbers and destroyers.
The murdered individual will the next day go to the bank and sponsor more evil, live a long life, and receive a decent burial. They are still dead. An individual with eternal life may have his life cut short in persecution with no one to bury them. Eternal life has nothing to do with physical death.
Deception is that life is this life we know. You live it. Get as much as you can. Cling onto it. Prolong it as much as possible. There is nothing beyond that. Aggressive businessmen who don’t mind investing in a twenty-year project wouldn’t mind investing in Heaven – if only they knew they are immortal and their time here on earth isn’t the end.
Jesus is the Lamb of God; understand the context. He is the good Shepherd; understand the context. He is the Bread of Life; understand the context. Jesus is…; ponder.
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