12/23/16
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 10:7-10 Jesus carries the analogy of the sheep pen farther. not only is the person who would climb over the wall a thief. Now Jesus speaks of himself as the keeper of the pen. He is the “door.” What does he mean by this? Simply that he is the one way by which anybody can have life and salvation. He is the only one who allows entry into a place of safety. He is the only one by whom anybody can enter God’s kingdom. He is the way that people, God’s sheep, can have access to safety and be cared for by the shepherds who will make sure they have what they need to eat and drink.
Jesus’ claims are exclusive. He does not allow for any alternative way of salvation. He is very clear that he, and he alone, is the one we must trust. Is this a self-refuting argument because Jesus is talking about himself? Possibly so, but, as we will see, he is the one who shows himself to be God in all his power. He claims to be the resurrection and the life. He shows himself after the resurrection. Apparently he is being very realistic in his claims.
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 10:7-10 Jesus carries the analogy of the sheep pen farther. not only is the person who would climb over the wall a thief. Now Jesus speaks of himself as the keeper of the pen. He is the “door.” What does he mean by this? Simply that he is the one way by which anybody can have life and salvation. He is the only one who allows entry into a place of safety. He is the only one by whom anybody can enter God’s kingdom. He is the way that people, God’s sheep, can have access to safety and be cared for by the shepherds who will make sure they have what they need to eat and drink.
Jesus’ claims are exclusive. He does not allow for any alternative way of salvation. He is very clear that he, and he alone, is the one we must trust. Is this a self-refuting argument because Jesus is talking about himself? Possibly so, but, as we will see, he is the one who shows himself to be God in all his power. He claims to be the resurrection and the life. He shows himself after the resurrection. Apparently he is being very realistic in his claims.
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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