Jesus comes and with Him the door of the sheepfold. Upon entering the fold there comes safety, because Jesus, who is the Door, guards the entry way. A counterfeit Shepherd will try to enter the sheepfold by avoiding the true Shepherd. The sheep, in their simplicity, know the voice of Shepherds, true or false. They follow the voice which feeds them, cares for them, and rescues them when they tumble or get too near the cliffs. Sheep are naïve creatures, but, like children, they know their parents voice.
John chapter 9, relates the circumstance which brings the Shepherd story of John 10 near:
“And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. “John 9:1-3
Note. that Jesus, unlike his disciples, rejected “sin” to be the cause of the man’s blindness. Instead, He oriented the disciples and the blind man to a much higher meaning — for the glory of God.
Then.
“He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam. ” v. 6,7
The kindness of the Savior then led Him to heal the man of blindness, to the glory of His Father.
But, neighbors questioned and Pharisees observed. Doubts and accusations followed.
“Therefore said some of the Pharisees of Jesus, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. “v. 16
Then the healed man’s parents confirmed his blindness was from birth and “he (their son) answered and said, ‘Whether he (Jesus) be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.'” John 9:25
Then spoke the man again, “If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. ” John 9:33
And in verse 38, the healed man believed and worshipped Jesus.
“And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.” John 9:39
Jesus came for the blind and lame. In the healing of the many, glory was distributed among men, yes, the glory of the Father. The miracle of sight spoke to the healed one far louder than any doubts, accusations or lies of hateful religious men or the common observer from outside.
Beloved, an encounter with the Savior far exceeds the derogations of empiricists. The biased and tainted observations of naysayers easily falls to the background when Truth manifests itself.
“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. ” 1John 3:8b
Friends, Salvation to the truly saved is the most precious thing.
1Peter 2:7 says, “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:”
Redeemed with “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1 Peter 1:19
“If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious…”1Peter 2:3-4
Even, ” … the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,” 1Peter_1:7
Faith is precious in 2Peter 1:1 and promises too in v.4.
Folks, the gentleness of Christ and sacrificial love, unconditional in spite of our unworthiness, caring and protecting, speaks much louder than hate, doubt and lies. Love never fails. Love ya
