Part 10 - The 4th SABBATH DAY – The One Shepherd and His Sheep

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called Christ In Conflict With Religion.

 

Text: John 8:12; 9:1-3, 6-7, 14-16, 24-25, 28-30, 33-38; 10:1-11, 14-16, 21, 26-31, 38-39

Jesus said "he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the 'light' of (His) life" (John 8:12). Then, in John 9 we see the man who was 'born blind' was healed by Jesus on 'the Sabbath.' This sight giving is in the context of John 10, concerning Christ and His (lost) "sheep" (of Israel') who follow the real Shepherd (see Part 9).

The John 9 sheep & the John 10 blind man are connected, as seen by John 10:21 "...Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?" Again, Jesus healed the blind man on the Sabbath Day. For this, the healed man was then "cast OUT" (Jn 9:34) of "the synagogue" (heavy handed law-keeping religion). Then also we should note that in John 10 that Jesus is the 'One (true) Shepherd' and "the door IN and OUT" (John 10:9) of the "sheepfold" of dead religion.

Jesus gave sight to the blind man so as to lead him OUT of religion's "fold" and 'INTO' His one "little flock" of Messianic believing Israelites. These were the first Jewish believers in Jesus as Messiah

"Fear not, 'LITTLE FLOCK'; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)

The lesson of John 10:21 (above) is that the healed blind man of John 9 who was then cast OUT of the Synagogue is representative of the "good Shepherd (Jesus)" working to lead His own OUT of the "sheepfold" of dead law-keeping religion. Whenever one of us gains our spiritual insight into our proper, living, inner union with Christ as our "ALL"... we may also be "cast out." As Christians today we may need to physically leave religion's sheepfold in order to go on, following Him Alone. We all need to become established in and maintain a submitted love-relationship with our indwelling "Shepherd" who leads us in every way.

Actually, all of us humans are "born blind" spiritually, blinded by "the god of this world."

Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

2 Cor. 4:4 In (humans) whom 'the god of this world hath blinded the minds' of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Jesus purpose on the cross was to bring the real light, life and liberty of His Spirit in our spirit, not the bondage to religious demands that say... you must perform or else your not blessed.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me (Jesus), because he hath anointed me to preach ... deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised (crushed by religion),

His Disciple's Religious View was to 'find fault.' But Jesus said it was for the glory of God.

John 9:1-2 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?

Our Needy Condition is for God's Work to be Manifested - all things for His eternal purpose

John 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Divine 'Water of Life' from the Mouth of Jesusmixed with the 'Clay' of the man's humanity used to Heal the Blind Man' is a metaphor for Christ's life mingled within us giving us spiritual light and Life.

John 9:6-7 When he had thus spoken, 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, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

Note that the blind man was healed on the "Sabbath Day"

John 9:14-16 And it was the 'sabbath day' when Jesus made the clay, and 'opened his eyes.'

Law-keeping Religion 'Condemns' – using law, tradition, and the organization's authority over men.

John 9:15-16 then again the Pharisees also asked him (the healed blind man) how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He (Jesus) put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. 16Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man (Jesus) is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day.

We who have gained 'spiritual sight' may be have to make a choice... to follow the living Christ or the dictates of lifeless 'religion.' This is because we too may be "put out" of today's 'synagogues,' the organized, legalistic, hierarchical Christian church of today. Of course, the fact is that we can never be separated from "the church, which is His body" or from "the love of God." (Rom 8:35-39).

John 9:22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be Put Out Of The Synagogue.

Choose the reality, be pragmatic, and follow Him who you now 'see' as "the (only) way, the (only) truth and the (only) life (Zoë, Christ's Spirit of life)" The once blind man said, "I was blind, but now I SEE"

John 9:24-25 Then again called they (The Jews) the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man (Jesus) is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

If you 'see' Christ's indwelling life as your ALL-sufficiency and share Him as ALL with others, then it's quite possible you will be vilified by Religion.

John 9:28-30 they reviled (vilified) him (the healed blind man), and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow (Jesus), we know not from whence he is. The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

Then, "They Cast Him Out." Judaism's synagogue leaders, or even our churches today will do this to those who may "see" differently than the 'traditions of men' (see Col 2:8).

We should consider this as being "cast out of our old sheepfold" and into the glorious 'flock life' as we follow Jesus in the green (living) pastures, by the still waters.

John 9:33-38 If this (healed blind) man were not of God, he could do nothing. 34They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they (Israel's leaders) Cast Him Out.

Jesus knows all about us and He will be with you always. Jesus is within us when we are "cast out" of religion's folds... to lead us on. Then we learn all the more to believe, trust, and follow Him.

35Jesus Heard that they had Cast Him (the healed mind man) Out; and when he had found (saw) him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen Him, and it is He that talketh with thee. And he (the healed blind man) said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

Most of us have been in or remain in one of today's "sheepfolds" (e.g., denominations) with their law. Each "sheepfold" is as a sort of Christian warehouse or holding pen; there the believers are kept barely alive under dead Law-keeping Religion. In the "sheepfold" His sheep are fed meager food as they await their rightful 'Shepherd' to redeem them and lead them OUT to the green pastures.

Galatians 3:23-26 But Before Faith Came, we were 'kept under the law,' shut up Unto the Faith which should Afterwards be Revealed (to us). 24Wherefore 'the law was our schoolmaster' to bring (or push) us unto Christ.

The Law's purpose was to expose our hopeless impotence toward righteousness and to drive us to Christ. Our failures under 'the Schoolmaster's' of the law were to convince us of our need of a Christ's capable LIFE... failure is used to drive us to Christ so that we might be 'justified by faith' and 'enjoy His life...as our new life.' We No longer need the "Schoolmaster (the outer law)" because we possess the inner "law of the Spirit of life in Christ" (Rom 8:2a) since the moment of our regeneration.

Gal 3:25 AFTER that faith is come, We Are No Longer Under A Schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 4:7 Wherefore (relationally) Thou Art No More a Servant, But a Son; and if a son, then an heir (sharer possessor) of God through Christ.

Christ told His Jewish disciples He is "the door" in and out of the sheepfold. The "fold" of Judaism (law-keeping religion) is still largely seen in today's hierarchical, mediatorial, law promoting Christianity.

  • God may have led you and me into "the fold"but now He has come... to lead us out from under the dominion of the 'sheepfold,' so that we might follow Him unencumbered by religion's offerings.

The Fold is just for the 'dark night,' as seen in the blind man's life; that is until our rightful owner (Christ) claims us as His own.

  • His sheep can "hear" the real Shepherd! (All believers "hear Him." cf., Jn 8:47, 1Jn 2:20, 27)
  • Once you can 'see' you follow the "light" of Christ to the green pasture and "living water."

John 10:1-11 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the Shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the Sheep HEAR HIS Voice: and He calleth 'his own' sheep by name, and leadeth them OUT. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him...

Self-appointed men are usurpers, far from being Eunuchs. The Sheep will not hear them!

7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, 'I am' the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did Not Hear Them.

31The prophets (of Israel) prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their (own) means (authority); and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? (Jeremiah 5:31)

By Christ we may have gone "IN" the "fold" but now we go "OUT" and find the living food by living waters of His LIFE.

9I am the door: by me if any man (Abraham, David looked to the coming Christ) enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go In and Out, and Find Pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life (Zoë, Christ's own eternal life), and that they might have (life) more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life (Gk., psuche, soul life) for the sheep. (Jesus sacrificed His human soul life in sacrifice... to release His (Zoë) Spirit-life).

NOTE: Green pasture is grassy and grass is of life out of the death of the grass 'seed.' We are regenerated by the "Seed, which is Christ" (Gal 3:16) Jesus' life was sown in death but then resurrected as the "life-giving Spirit" (1Cor 15:45) to be one with us in our spirit.

From the "Fold (law-religion)".. to the "Flock" Life

John 10:14-16 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my Life (Gk., psuche, soul life) for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this 'fold' (Gk., aule, a holding pen): them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be 'one fold' (Gk., poinme, one 'flock') and One Shepherd.

Christ Cares for 'His sheep,' keeping them secure in 'union' with Him.

John 10:26, 29-31 But ye (lost Jews, cf., v31) Believe Not, because ye are NOT of my sheep, as I said unto you. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and No Man Is Able To Pluck Them (the believers) Out of My Father's Hand. 30I and my Father are One. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

When you claim to literally be 'one with Christ' and intend to follow Him alone, religious people will want to kill you also.

John 10:38-39 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is In Me (Jesus), and I In Him. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped...

­Thus the Lord Jesus Christ knows His own and He often works in their lives to bring them out from under of religion's bonds... unto Himself as the One Shepherd of their soul. He does this by working in and through all the negative circumstances, the 'dark nights' of their lives.

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