Who do you say He is?

Insights To Lesson 8: The Good Shepherd

This week the lesson covers chapters seven through ten. These are four intense chapters. They are packed with information that is vital in our understanding of Christ and His mission. There are some common motifs or threads. Four of these threads are: a. preaching, b. confrontation, c. Jesus escaping near executions, and d. Jesus declaring who He is. It is the fourth one that I will focus on.

Through out the four chapters we see many instances in which the Jews argue among themselves about who Jesus is. Those who opposed Jesus called Him a mad man. Others call Him demon possessed. Still others called Him a Galilean, adding that no prophet has come from there. Another group stopped just short of calling Him a bastard, by making an allusion to the way He was conceived. Those in favor of Christ called Him a Prophet. Others called Him the Messiah. Still others called Him the Christ. While these debated, Jesus never wasted any opportunity to make known who He was.

Jesus referred to Himself in many ways. With each name He used He showed different attribute of His character. During the Feast of the Tabernacles, for which each event symbolized Christ, Christ chose to identify Himself as the Living water that quenches all thirst. He also declared Himself to be the Light of the World who takes away all darkness. Later in the passage he shows that not only is He light, but also he gives light to those who live in darkness and want to see the light (e.g.: The blind man.) He declared Himself as the Divine I AM. For this He used the name he gave to Moses in Exodus. He called Himself the Gate through which salvation happens. He also called Himself the Good Shepherd that gives His life for the sheep.

Christ contrasts Himself with others who fall short of His standard of being a Good Shepherd. The wolves, whose only interest is to bring fear and confusion, scatter the sheep, and ultimately, dine upon them. You know who these are. These are the ones that come around causing dissension and creating divisions. Christ cautions us to be careful, because many of them come in sheep’s clothing. They are insidious in their deception. The thieves come in at night, using an entrance that is not the official one. Their main interest is personal gain. Then there are the hirelings, who in the time of trouble abandon the sheep and run to save their own lives. But, he who saves his own life, loses the eternal one. These are those from church leadership and Pastors. Their main interest to serve is their salary, not the salvation of the souls. By contrast, Christ loves His sheep. He died for them. He put His life at harm’s way to save the one lost sheep, but not without first securing the ninety-nine saved. And, those who truly love Christ will also give their lives for the sheep entrusted to them.

Christ knows his lambs and sheep. He knows them like a man knows his wife: Deeply, internally, and intimately. His sheep also know Him. They know His voice and follow Him everywhere He goes. Just like a body follows its head. So when Christ moved to the most Holy Place, so did his sheep.

At each port of entry, we are asked several questions. Three of them are: a. who are you? b. Where are you from? c. Why are you here? Along with: how long will you stay? these are questions you should perhaps ask yourself regarding your life in this earth. But, what about Christ? How did He answer those questions at His port of entry here? The answers are in the Bible. The answers are there for you to find. Just like he asked his disciples He is asking you today, “Who do you say I am? Do you believe He is who He says He is? Do you believe He comes from where says he comes from? Do you believe He is here to do what He says He will do? Your answers to these questions will determine your eternal destiny.

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