April 22, 2018
John 10:16-18…“I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” vs. 16
John knew that Jesus was more than a tribal Christ with negligible interest in people outside of Judaism. Even though his mission had begun among the Jews and was initially directed to them, the divine intention had always been universal. John reports that Jesus saw himself as the shepherd of all people, and not just a few. The message of grace and love that had been the center of his life was intended for all wandering sheep of every time and place. One of the great tragedies of Christianity is that Jesus’ vision has never been realized. Over and over again the petty pretensions of would-be pastors and missionaries have led to splits and divisions within the flock of believers. Christians have been so hampered by the tensions and outright warfare within that they’ve been left with no enthusiasm or energy for bringing people together. In recent years there have been some signs of hope, indicators that perhaps at long last that vision of Jesus for unity might become a reality. What a blessing it would be if all his followers could work together in bringing love, justice, and peace to this world–and even work with those of other religions to create space for harmony and tolerance! At this point it seems a dream, but who knows? The Spirit of God has unifying power and miracles can happen!
Thought for the Day: What has to happen for people to come together as one flock?
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