OUR SAVIOR JESUS: THE INCLUSIVE SHEPHERD

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“I am the Good Shepherd…I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd.”

John 10:14, 16

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Today, we end the four part devotional series from the opening verses of John 10 by looking at Jesus, our Savior, as the Inclusive Shepherd. Before this we examined how Jesus had referred Himself as the Gate and the Good Shepherd which had two applications: Jesus as being sacrificing and relational. As we conclude, we’ll look at His words and how He is also the Inclusive Shepherd.

Before we look at today’s verses, I want to go to the words of the Apostle Paul as he writes to Roman Christians. He said:

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (1:16).

Now as you may know, the word “gospel” is derived from the Old English word, “gōdspel” (gōd = good, spel = news). Indeed, the truth of the salvation found in Jesus being available to everyone was indeed good news as no one would be excluded from gaining eternal hope.

While salvation was open to all, we do see Paul opening our eyes to a clear order of those who would gain salvation, as he proclaims: “…first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” As we read this and ponder its meaning, we can be drawn back to the very words of Jesus Himself as He discussed the spreading of the salvation message before He ascended. Here’s the direction He gave His followers:

“…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

It’s important to note how the gospel was intended to spread in the first place. It would start in Jerusalem and this is exactly what happened until the stoning of Stephen (ironically, an execution that was overseen by Paul before his conversion when he was known as Saul). That stoning caused a dispersal of disciples who fled out of fear for their lives.

Where did they flee to?

You got it. Judea and Samaria.

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Acts 8:1

Indeed, the gospel began first with the Jews who dominated Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. After that, the gospel was taken to the “ends of the earth” by Paul during four different missionary journeys.

With all of this as an important backdrop and reinforcement to what we will study today, look again at these verses from the first part of John, Chapter 10:

“I am the Good Shepherd…I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd.” (vv 14, 16)

Jesus was speaking to what was a Jewish audience. Those who would choose to place their belief in Him, accepting Him as their Good Shepherd, became a part of His flock.

But Jesus wanted to make it clear that the disciples (sheep) in His community of saved believers (sheep pen) would be joined by others (other sheep not a part of His sheep pen). There wasn’t an exclusive right for only Jews to be in Jesus’ flock. Out of His deep love for all people in His Creation, He desired for everyone to have the opportunity for salvation and so He sent His Son to save everyone, Jew and Gentile (essentially, a category of everyone who wasn’t a Jew). Going back to Paul’s words, the gospel did go to the Jews first and then the Gentiles. He was just reminding everyone that this is the way it happened.  

From this truth, we discover Jesus was and is the Inclusive Savior. He felt desired to make sure that the sheep that were not a part of His pen had a chance to join it. And when they did, they, like those already in His flock, would listen to His voice. In the end, there would be one flock, comprised of all Christ followers (Jew and Gentile), and one Shepherd (Jesus) who would lead them.

Today and every day, we should celebrate the fact that God doesn’t favor any one person over another. He longs to spend eternity with every single one of His children, and out of love, provided the opportunity to do just that through His Son Jesus, the Inclusive Shepherd.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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