08 November

Bible In 365 Days                   

John 9-10

John 9

The account of His healing of a blind man follows. Its values are gained very largely in relation to this spirit of opposition which was being exhibited. The case aroused great interest, so much so that the man was arraigned before the rulers, and his attitude before them aroused their anger even yet more, so that they excommunicated him. Then our Lord sought him out, revealed Himself as the Son of God, and received his worship.

Then, again, He declared that He had come into the world in order that the blind might see and those Who saw might become blind. His statement that He had come to judge the world meant that He would be the separating One, the One through whom God would judge. The position of men would be decided by their attitude toward Himself. In this teaching there was a hinting and outline of the coming order, but without any clear description of it.

John 10

Continuing, He gave a more detailed picture of that coming order. There was to be a fold, with a door. There was to be a flock, with a shepherd. Entrance to the fold would be by the door. The flock would know and follow the shepherd. Here John declared, "They understood not what things they were that He spake unto them"; and that "therefore" of Jesus shows that what followed in His teaching resulted from their failure to understand. This fuller statement centers on two principal claims of our Lord, "I am the Door," "I am the good Shepherd." Entrance on the new order would be through Him. Of the fold He is the Door. Sustenance and government within the order would be through Him. Of the flock He would be the Shepherd. Such teaching again caused division.

While walking in the porch of Solomon, the Jews asked for some more definite pronouncement. In reply, Jesus referred them to what He had already told them, and then restated the facts of the new order, insisting on the relation between Himself and His Father. All this teaching aroused those opposed to further activity, but their rage was restrained, and they were not able to arrest Him.