12/26/16
The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
In John 10:11-13 Jesus identifies the kind of care he has for his sheep. He is a true and good shepherd. Unlike a hired servant who may have no actual interest in the sfety of the sheep, Jesus is the one who will lay down his life for the good of his sheep.
All who believe Jesus are promised that they are his sheep. Christians confess that they need the care of a shepherd. We are not able to care for ourselves. We are not able to withstand the attacks of those who would try to destroy us.
Is this dependence on Jesus a form of escapism? Does it simply turn into a way of avoiding the need to be strong, courageous, and smart? Sometimes it may seem this way. Sometimes Christians will use their status as sheep of God’s pasture as a means to evade responsibility. However, in reality, for the Christian to say he depends on Jesus’ protection is no different from the human admitting that he will not live without air. In Jesus we find the forgiveness and life which we need. We would not live as Christians without the Christ.
So we take heart. Not only is it perfectly appropriate for the Christian to depend on Christ, we are promised that Jesus is the one who is able to care for us as his sheep. Good news indeed!
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
The earliest Christians followed a Jewish tradition of pausing to pray, preferably together, first thing in the morning, about mid morning, at noon, about mid afternoon, and in the evening. “Just a Note” posts are brief observations made from Scripture readings not related to a lectionary. If I have one to post, it normally appears about 9:00 in the morning, at “the hour of prayer.”
In John 10:11-13 Jesus identifies the kind of care he has for his sheep. He is a true and good shepherd. Unlike a hired servant who may have no actual interest in the sfety of the sheep, Jesus is the one who will lay down his life for the good of his sheep.
All who believe Jesus are promised that they are his sheep. Christians confess that they need the care of a shepherd. We are not able to care for ourselves. We are not able to withstand the attacks of those who would try to destroy us.
Is this dependence on Jesus a form of escapism? Does it simply turn into a way of avoiding the need to be strong, courageous, and smart? Sometimes it may seem this way. Sometimes Christians will use their status as sheep of God’s pasture as a means to evade responsibility. However, in reality, for the Christian to say he depends on Jesus’ protection is no different from the human admitting that he will not live without air. In Jesus we find the forgiveness and life which we need. We would not live as Christians without the Christ.
So we take heart. Not only is it perfectly appropriate for the Christian to depend on Christ, we are promised that Jesus is the one who is able to care for us as his sheep. Good news indeed!
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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