Power Over Passivity

Silent night, Holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin, mother and child Holy infant, tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.

What could possibly be upside down about this song as we look at week 3, looking forward to the arrival of the day in which we celebrate the birth of our Savior? Obviously, the scene at the birth in this classic carol was definitely descriptive of a Hallmark manger scene. However, the upside-down part of this, is that the birth of Jesus was to usher in an event that would definitely turn the world upside down.

Jesus’ upcoming ministry was not intended to be thought of as a mild, non-offensive, passive ministry. In fact, the message which Jesus came to proclaim would end up creating incredible division in this world; evil vs. good, family member against family member, religious leaders against followers of Jesus, etc. That description certainly doesn’t sound like tender and mild.

Everyone’s preconceived ideas about how to get to heaven were going to be challenged to the core. But there’s something else that seemed to be upside down as we consider Who Jesus is.

We’ve already known that Jesus came as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. That, in itself was upside down. After all, what baby would have that ability, much less any human being? Then we need to consider that in today’s message and Scripture, we will see that Jesus is also the good Shepherd. Think about that. The Lamb is also the Shepherd. Upside down enough for you?

The One Who received gifts as a passive baby, is the One Who, by His power, provided the gift of eternal life in power.

Let’s take some time and look at what makes Jesus unique.

Contrast of the Shepherds - 10:1-10

John 10:1–5 NASB95

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. “But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. “When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. “A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

John MacArthur gives a little history lesson about the shepherds.

Each village in the sheepherding regions of Palestine had a fold where sheep were kept at night. The shepherds would graze their flocks in the surrounding countryside during the day, and then lead them back to the communal sheepfold in the evening. There the shepherds would stop each sheep at the entrance with their rods and carefully inspect it before allowing it to enter the fold (cf. Ezek. 20:37–38). Once in the fold, the sheep were in the care of the doorkeeper (a hired undershepherd; v. 12), who would keep watch over them during the night. He would give only the shepherds access to the sheepfold; therefore anyone who could not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbed up some other way, was a thief and a robber. Since the doorkeeper obviously would not let strangers in, would-be rustlers had to climb the wall of the sheepfold to get at the sheep. Only the one who entered by the door was a shepherd of the sheep.

In previous verses, we see a stark contrast between the true Shepherd and the false shepherds. Sheep from the fold of the true Shepherd, Jesus Christ, will know that they cannot follow anyone other than Jesus. It doesn’t matter how someone else might try and sneak in and mislead them; It doesn’t matter what alternative options are given that might seem to be simpler or just different; nothing or nobody is able to offer what Jesus offers.

Philip Keller, in his book, A Shepherd Looks at the Good Shepherd and His Sheep, speaks about how sheep actually develop somewhat of a relationship with their shepherd, based upon the shepherd’s voice. The sheep become so accustomed to their shepherd’s unique nuances, that if someone else were to try to come and get them to do something, even using the same words, the sheep would not respond in the same way. They would ignore the strange shepherd, or just plain run away in a panic.

Israel’s culture readily understood all about sheep and shepherds. Something which is interesting to note is that leaders, whether good or bad, were likened to shepherds. Jesus is the true Shepherd; whereas, all the others were false shepherds. Obviously, we recall many shepherds in the Old Testament who were good. Jesus is referring to those who were pretending to be godly shepherds. Shepherds were also frequently found in the Old Testament, somewhat like an apprenticeship, before they became leaders. Sadly shepherds could be very harsh and abusive towards the sheep.

Those who were not followers of the true Shepherd, yet pretended to be shepherds, were only concerned for themselves, not the sheep. Those who would suggest that a person can earn their way into heaven, are speaking the words and thoughts of Satan. Remember that Satan is the father of liars. He also seeks to steal and kill and destroy. Satan did not ever, nor does he now, have anybody’s best interests in mind. Anybody who would suggest that one can believe in God, but doesn’t have to believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven, is a liar. Thus, these individuals who are not followers of the true Shepherd, will try to infiltrate by getting in some other way. But we know that Jesus came to offer eternal life.

John 10:9–10 NASB95

“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Oftentimes, the shepherd would sleep in the gate or the opening to the fold where the sheep were gathered for night and protection. The only way that someone could legitimately enter would be through the gate and with the shepherd’s permission. The only possible way for a sheep to get into this protected area would be through the gate which the shepherd guarded. My friends, the only way that any person can enter the safe haven of God’s Kingdom is through Jesus Christ. Jesus made this very clear in these verses.

Not only is Jesus completely different than the false shepherds, we see that unlike the fakes, He genuinely cares.

Caring of the Shepherds - 10:11-16

John 10:11–13 NASB95

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. “He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. “He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.

Jesus, the good shepherd, is not just passively dealing with humanity, like a hired hand. The hired hand doesn’t have a vested stake and doesn’t feel a responsibility to care for the sheep. He’s just doing a job, putting in his time. Jesus let it be known that, like a good shepherd, He would willingly sacrifice himself to save the sheep. It wasn’t because He had to do so; it was because He willingly wanted to give Himself for our lives.

Even in the preposition for [the sheep], we are reminded that this is a substitutionary death. Jesus would willingly die in our place as our substitute, for the sin of all who would believe. This is in stark contrast to the non-caring individual who is no more than a hired man; just doing a job for the money. That’s exactly what the corrupt religious leaders were doing, as well as false teachers today. They willingly throw others under the bus in order to preserve themselves.

John 10:14–15 NASB95

“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

Jesus, was born as a baby into this world for the purpose of investing Himself totally in providing the opportunity for salvation to all who would believe. When Satan attacks, the Lord Jesus is there to protect us in power. Jesus will not run off and leave us to whatever happens. This is seen by that intimate loving relationship Jesus has for His own. That is found in the word know in verses 14-15. This is the same word that is used when referring to the intimate love relationship between a husband and wife. That is the love which caused Jesus to come to this earth as a baby for the purpose of laying His life down so that we might live eternally.

Though many of us are not part of Israel’s fold, we are spoken of specifically in verse 16.

John 10:16 NASB95

“I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.

How wonderful that Jew and Gentile, upon believing on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, will be united as one flock with Jesus as our Shepherd! Now that was certainly an upside down concept to the Jewish way of thinking.

Not only does Jesus care about each one of us intimately, He is totally committed to doing what is required for our salvation.

Commitment of the Shepherd - 10:17-18

Jesus knows us with an everlasting love that was willing to lay down His life so that I might live. We also see in verse 17-18 the plan and power that Jesus shares.

John 10:17–18 NASB95

“For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

That certainly sounds a lot different than one would think when seeing Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem. There is also an upside down aspect to the fact that the Father loves Jesus, knowing that Jesus was willing to lay His life down and raise it again. Yet, though Jesus has the authority to do this, He would do this in obedience to His Father’s command. Yet, this is not passive, for the power would be seen in His resurrection. Even more so, power would be seen in raising us to eternal life in Him.

Conclusion

This week, our Advent focus is on love. Too often, people equate love, compassion, tenderness, with a passive person. The reality is that the Love which Christ shared shows incredible power. Just like an earthly shepherd must exert power in doing what is best for his sheep, we’ve seen that in Jesus.

It was power which caused Jesus to choose to set aside His rights and then be born as a baby so as to fully identify with humanity as our kinsman. Who would have thought that a simple carpenter and a peasant girl would be the parents to the King of Kings? It takes power to willingly obey His heavenly Father, as well as His earthly parents while maturing. It takes power for Jesus to have allowed Himself to take on the form of a man for the sole purpose of dying to purchase salvation for all who would believe in His Name. It took power to willingly go to the cross, carrying the load of the sins of all mankind for all time. It took power to raise Himself from the dead.

Jesus was completely opposite of those who labeled themselves as Israel’s shepherds. Jesus showed an unselfish, self-sacrificing care for His sheep. Jesus was totally committed to doing what was necessary to purchase our salvation.

The One Who received gifts as a passive baby, is the One Who, by His power, provided the gift of eternal life in power.