John 10

John 10:1

Chapter 9 ended with a once-blind man’s excommunication from the Jewish religious system. Here in chapter 10, Jesus addresses this issue by speaking of a new order, a new fold, a new flock of which the once-blind man would be a part. Bear in mind that although sheep and shepherds might sound a bit foreign to us, the role sheep played in Jewish history rendered this analogy tailor-made for Jesus’ audience. In what is most likely the oldest book of the Bible, we are told Job had fourteen thousand sheep (Job_42:12). On the day the temple was dedicated, Solomon offered one hundred twenty thousand of his sheep as a sacrifice to God (1Ki_8:63). David and Moses, the two great leaders of Old Testament Israel, were both shepherds. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, and Zechariah all drew analogies from sheep and shepherds. Therefore, talking to Jews about shepherds would be similar to talking to West Virginians about coal miners, to Texans about cowboys, to Californians about surfers, or to Oregonians about loggers. It was an analogy to which they could easily relate. A shepherd of Jesus’ day would wear a cotton tunic held together by a leather cord belt, upon which hung a leather pouch to carry dried fruit or small stones for the sling that also hung upon his belt. The sling was used not only to ward off predators but also to herd wandering sheep, for an experienced shepherd would have such precise aim that he would be able to drop a stone right in front of the nose of a straying sheep, thereby drawing it back to the flock. Another item attached to the belt of the shepherd was a horn of oil. Oil was used to anoint the heads of the sheep in the flocknot only as an insect repellent but also to reduce the friction that occurred when they butted each other. Fourthly, attached to the shepherd’s belt was a small clublike instrument called a rod that was used to fight predators in close “hand-to-hand combat” situations. The rod was also used as an instrument of correction, for if a lamb continually, persistently wandered away from the flock, the shepherd would use the rod to break its legs.

Then he would put the lamb on his shoulders and carry it until its legs healed. When at last the lamb was again able to walk on its own, because of the bonding that took place during the time the shepherd carried the lamb on his shoulders, it never again wandered. Finally, in his hand the shepherd held a staffa large stick seven or eight feet long with a crook at one end with which the shepherd would hook lambs or sheep headed in the wrong direction. With this picture of a Middle-Eastern shepherd in mind, Jesus begins His discourse… During certain times of the year, shepherds would lead their flocks away from the village to greener pastures. During such times, the sheep slept in temporary sheepfolds made of brush. When the sheep remained in the village, however, all of the shepherds of the community brought their sheep nightly into a common sheepfold that had stone walls six or seven feet high. Theft from these communal sheepfolds was common. A two-man operation, a thief would stand upon the shoulders of a partner and climb into the sheepfold. Then, with great stealth, he would slit the throats of four or five sheep and toss them over the wall to his buddy.

John 10:2

While the sheep stayed in the communal sheepfold, all of the shepherds would return home each night except the one who would act as a porter, or watchman. In the morning, the shepherds would return for their flocks. How did they know whose sheep was whose if they were all mixed together in the sheepfold? Each shepherd had a distinctive call, or song, to which only his own sheep responded. In Rev_2:17, we are told that our Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ, will give us new names that will fit us perfectly and that we’ll possess for eternity. Shepherds never drove the sheep, never beat the sheep, never pushed the sheep. They led the sheep. Go to Israel today, and you’ll see shepherds just walking along with a stream of sheep following right behind them. Americans tend to drive themselves and others. Not so a Middle-Eastern shepherd. So, too, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, doesn’t drive me.

He leads me. In other words, He goes first through the valley of the shadow of death before He ever asks me to go through it. Scripture declares that Jesus, our Shepherd, our Leader, was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin (Heb_4:15). Consequently, there is nothing you will ever face He hasn’t felt or isn’t feeling presently. Gang, Jesus doesn’t send you into battle or drive you into any given trial. He doesn’t pontificate or preach.

He leads.

John 10:4

You can always tell when a stranger creeps into the flock. He will cause division. Knowing something’s not quite right, the sheep will scatter.

John 10:6

I have the word “again” circled in my Bible. Jesus didn’t say, “You dumb sheep. How can you miss this obvious picture? I’m going to write you off.” No, He came to them again. And haven’t you found that the Lord keeps coming to you time and time and time again, saying the same thing until it finally sinks in? Have you ever resisted something the Lord has told you, only to hear a teaching over the radio on the same subject or a scripture from a friend along the same line? The Lord is faithful to keep coming time and time again, dealing with you and me concerning those issues that need to be addressed in our lives. “Wait a minute,” you say. “Is Jesus mixing metaphors? I thought He was the Shepherd. But here He’s talking about being the Door. Is He drawing another analogy?” No. Jesus’ audience would have understood this perfectly. You see, neither the sheepfolds made of brush in the high country nor the sheepfolds made of stone in the community had need of doors, for once the sheep came in to the fold, the shepherd would lie down across the opening and would literally become the door. That way, no sheep could leave, and no man could enter without stepping on the shepherd and waking him up. Thus, in referring to Himself as the Door, Jesus was saying, “I’m the Shepherd on duty. I’m the One whose job it is to guard the flock.”

John 10:8

“I am the Doornot a door, not one of the doors. I am the Door. And everyone else is a thief.” Jesus alone makes this claim. Whether you read the writings of Krishna or Buddha, Confucius or Zoroaster, you’ll find that every one claimed to be one of the ways in which the God-consciousness was manifested. Jesus uniquely says, “I am the Door and everyone else is a rip-off.” How do we know Jesus is truly who He says He is? It gets back to the foundational issue of the Resurrection. Buddha kicked the bucketand he’s still down. You don’t see Confucius walking around. These guys gave their rap until death came and terminated their so-called ministries. Only Jesus fulfilled His ministry by dying for our sins and rising again to verify, to validate, to substantiate His claim to be the Door.

John 10:9

It would do us well if we really grasped the fact that Satan only wants to rip us off. He tantalizes us with a variety of fancy lures, but ultimately all he wants to do is destroy us. In my reading this week, I came across an interesting little nugget in the Book of 1 Chronicles. Tucked away in the fourth chapter is the prayer of a man named Jabez, who prayed, “Lord, that You would keep me from evil so that it won’t grieve me” (see 1Ch_4:10). So often we think of sin only in terms of its grieving Godwhich indeed it does. Jabez, however, shows great insight in saying, “Keep me from evil, Lord, so it doesn’t grieve me.” There’s a misconception in our society today that sin brings pleasure, that sin is fun, that there’s happiness in a little escapade here and a little carnality there.

Jabez, this man of God, knew better. He knew sin would grieve him. I love Joh_10:10, but increasingly as I hear testimonies and preaching, it comes across this way: “Come to Jesus, and you will have abundant life. Get saved, and you’ll have peace, joy, and love you’ve never known.” While that is all true, if people respond to the gospel based solely upon Joh_10:10, when they get fired from their job or dumped by their girlfriend, they say, “Wait a minute. Jesus said I would have life abundantlybut look at me.” And they become disillusioned and disoriented in their faith. Joh_10:10 is the result of the gospel but not the essence. The essence of the gospel is found in the next verse…

John 10:11

The essence of the gospel is not what Jesus will do for youit’s what He already did for you when He died for your sin. Because Jesus bore the wrath of God we deserved, our sins past, present, and future are forgiven in totality. Thus, the gospel means we need to be about the business not of saying, “Get saved so you can buy a new car,” or, “Get saved so you won’t have any more problems,” but, “Get saved because Jesus Christ died for your sins.”

John 10:12

Usually, the shepherd was either the owner of the sheep or a son of the owner. In some cases, however, a man would have to hire help. Hirelings had the tendency to split the scene when danger came. That’s why, according to Amo_3:12, if a flock was harmed while under the care of a hireling, the hireling would have to produce the ears or the legs of the lambs that were carried off as proof that he did everything in his power to fend off the attack. The Good Shepherd tenaciously cares for His flock because He’s not a hireling. He’s the Son.

John 10:14

I don’t think we have any idea how big our Shepherd is. That’s why we must watch out for sectarianismfor thinking people are suspect concerning their place in the kingdom if they don’t believe exactly as we do on nonessential issues. “I have sheep you don’t even know about,” Jesus says. One fold, one Shepherd. Unity in the body of Christ is not our responsibilityit’s reality. When I was pastor of Applegate Christian Fellowship, people would often ask what we were doing to unify the believers in the Rogue Valley in Oregon. My answer was, “We’re already unified.” “But the believers don’t get along,” they would protest. “They squabble.” “Well, so do my kids,” I would say, “but we don’t have big rallies to remind ourselves that we’re all Coursons.” So, too, did I worry that some folks only worshiped with us for three months and then worshiped somewhere else? No. Did I chase them down when they weren’t around any longer? No. I didn’t chase them in. Why would I chase them down? The Lord is alive. He’s the Good Shepherd, and His is a big fold. He’ll lead people to that corner of His pasture for however long they’re supposed to be there.

John 10:17

In New York City on February 24, 1925, Dr. Evans Keith, a surgeon who had practiced medicine for thirty-seven years, took part in an operation he had performed dozens of times previously. The only solution for the patient complaining of severe intestinal pain was an appendectomya rather common operation. This particular appendectomy, however, was unusual for two reasons. One was that it was the first time in medical history that a local anesthetic was used. Dr.

Keith had been arguing for a number of years that the use of local anesthesia was a safer, less complicated procedure. Yet although other doctors agreed in theory, none would endorse the practice until it was actually performed successfully. And therein lay the problem, for no one was brave enough to volunteer for the procedure. Consequently, this day in February was unusual not only because of the medical procedure, but because of the patient, for, you see, the patient was Dr. Keith. The doctor became the patient in order that patients might trust their doctors. Jesus did something infinitely more remarkable than that. He willingly laid down His life that we might find life. The Shepherd became a Sheep that we sheep might know our Shepherd. As an Old Testament believer, if you wanted to be touched by God, you would bring a lamb to the temple. There, the priests would carefully inspect and scrutinize it for any spot or blemish. It was not the worshiper who was judged. It was the lamb. In this lies a fabulous truth. You see, I can be guided by the Father tonight and led by the Father tomorrow.

I can expect to receive abundant life. I can look forward to His blessing upon me and upon my family. I can trust He will anoint my head with oil and that He will take care of the predators who are coming out to get me. I can expect that He will lead me through the valley of darkness. I can expect all of this not because I’m spotless, but because the Lamb has been inspected and found perfect. Worthy is the Lamb.

I can receive blessing not because I’ve gone to church, not because I’ve read fifteen chapters in my Bible, not because I didn’t watch television. I enjoy the blessing of God upon my life solely because of the Lamb. “I lay down My life,” Jesus said. He didn’t say, “You’d better lay down your life if you expect to be blessed.” While it is true that He would call us in discipleship to take up our cross daily and follow Him, my entry into the presence of the Father is not based upon who I am, what I do, or what I don’t do. It is based upon who He is, and what He did on the Cross. The Shepherd became a Lamb that we dumb sheep might know the Shepherd. In laying down His life, Jesus became the Door through which we enter His fold. In taking it up again by rising again, Jesus remains our Good Shepherd, guiding us, watching over us, tending us, His flock.

John 10:19

The Puritans rightly said that not all unity is holy, and not all division is from hell. Over and over again in John’s Gospel, we see people divided because of Jesus.

John 10:22

The Feast of Dedication, which took place on December twenty-fifth, commemorated the overthrow of the terrible Syrian General, Antiochus Ephiphanes, by Judas Maccabee and his band of brave guerrillas. To this day, the Jews still celebrate the Feast of Dedication, also known as the Feast of Lights, or Hanukkah.

John 10:23

The Greek meaning of the Greek text is, “They boxed Him in, hemmed Him in, surrounded Him.” Like a little child crossing the street, holding Mommy and Daddy’s handson one hand, we have the Father, on the other we have our Lord Jesus Christ. We are eternally secure because we are secure in the Eternal One. In verse Joh_10:24, the Jews said to Jesus, “If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.” Here, Jesus gives His answer. You’re in Good Hands A Topical Study of Joh_10:27-30 Statistics show the average adult American is exposed to between two hundred fifty and three hundred commercials every day. But of those two hundred fifty-plus commercials, only a few have what is referred to in the industry as “sticking power.” That is, very few are remembered for any length of time. The ad campaign with perhaps the greatest sticking power in advertising history was launched when the Allstate Indemnity Company declared, “You’re in good hands with Allstate.” But the temporal life insurance policy you can buy from Allstate does not compare to the eternal life assurance you can get free from God Almighty, for while the Allstate salesman tells you you’re in good hands, the Son of Man says, “You’re in God’s hands.” Strong Hands And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves…Mat_21:12 A carpenter in the days before Black and Decker, Jesus felled His own trees and made His own lumber. Thus, I see callused hands holding a scourge, overturning tables, driving moneychangers from the temple, exuding such strength that none dared challenge Him. I see the strong hand of Jesus reaching into the raging waves to pull Peter out of the Sea of Galilee (Mat_14:31). Considering that the church fathers referred to Peter as “the Giant,” I picture Jesus pulling this big fishermandoubly heavy with the weight of his waterlogged clothingout of the water with an incredible one-armed curl. Tender Hands But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.Mat_19:14-15 When children were brought to Him, Jesus laid His hands upon them and blessed them. As Christmas draws nearer, the line to see Santa gets longer. Watch the kids, and, as they get closer to Santa, you’ll see terror fill their eyes. After all, they have to sit on the lap of a fat man with a big beard, dressed in a red suit, saying, “Ho, ho, ho.” If it weren’t for the elves blocking the exits, none of them would probably stay long enough to even have their picture taken! Not so with Jesus. Something in His touch and in His countenance caused little children to feel comfortable around Him. They came to Him willingly and were touched by Him tenderly. Wonder-Working Hands From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?Mar_6:2 “What wonders hath His hands wrought,” the people said as Jesus multiplied a few loaves of bread to feed five thousand men and as He touched the skin of the lepers and made them whole. A grotesque, disfiguring, highly contagious disease, leprosy was most likely more dreaded in Jesus’ time than AIDS is today. Old Testament regulations dictated a distance of one hundred yards be kept between lepers and the general populace. But what did Jesus do? While He could have healed them with a simple command, He chose instead to risk contamination and touch them. If you had the ability to simply say, “Be healed,” would you put your fingers in the ears of the deaf or on the eyelids of the blind? Jesus did. Knowing that the greatest need people have is to feel loved, Jesus touched them compassionately. Inclusive Hands And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!Mat_12:49 While it has been said that you can choose your friends but not your family, such is not the case with Jesus. He chooses His friends to be His family. He stretches out His strong yet tender hands and says to you and me, “You who hear My Word and receive it in your heart are My mother, My brothers, My family.” As I consider the strong, tender, compassionate, wonder-working, inclusive hands of Jesus Christ, I know I’m in a good place if I’m in His hands. But Jesus declares to us in our text that, not only are we in His hand, but we’re in the Father’s hand as wellwhich causes me to consider the Father’s hand… The Hand That Spans the Cosmos Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span?…Isa_40:12 With the naked eye, man can see 1,029 stars on a clear night. With his first telescope, Galileo counted 3,336 stars. Now we know there are more than 100 billion stars in our galaxy, more than 100 billion galaxies in our universe, each having at least 100 billion stars. That’s a lot of starsand the Lord knows each of them by name (Isa_40:26). Can you imagine remembering the names of 100 billion stars times 100 billion more? Right now, the earth is spinning 1,000 miles per hour on its axis. At the same time, it’s traveling around the sun at 67,000 miles per hour. While that’s happening, the sun is moving across the Milky Way with her planets at 64,000 miles per hour. And the galaxy as a whole is moving across the universe at 483,000 miles per hour. Added together, we are moving at a speed of 1,350,000 miles per hour. No wonder we feel spun out and dizzy!

In actuality, however, we are one of the slowest-moving galaxies in the universe. We’re lumbering along at 400,000 miles per hour, while most galaxies move at 10,000 miles per second. What keeps it all together? What keeps everything from colliding and exploding? Who’s the cosmic traffic cop? Who’s in charge of the whole show?

The Lord"for he is strong in power. Not one faileth" (see Isa_40:26). Nothing can compare to the big Hand of the Father. The entire universe and whatever is beyond is spanned in His hand. The Hand That Holds the Worm For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.Isa_41:13-15 The same Hand that spans the cosmos holds you. The Lord says to His people, “I’m going to keep you in the right hand of My righteousness. I’m going to make you into a threshing instrument with teethto eat up the mountains of difficulty that threaten you, to chew up the challenges which lie before you.” “But He’s speaking to Israel, to His people,” you say, “and I feel so far from what or where I should be. He must get tired of keeping His hand on me. I’m just a worm.” Good News! Look at verse Isa_41:14. God says, “I’ll make even you worm, Jacob, into a lean, mean threshing machine.” That’s why, in talking about His eternal life assurance policy, Jesus calls us sheep (Joh_10:27). He doesn’t say, “My lions hear My voice,” or “My tigers and bulls know Me.” No, He says, “My sheepcreatures known for their stupidity, for their tendency to stray, for their helplessness and vulnerabilityhear My voice.” You might be as stupid as a sheep or feel as low as a worm. That’s okay. You are eternally secure in the Father’s hand. Am I saying you can never lose your salvation? Worms can’t and sheep can’tbut I’ll tell you who can: the dog who returns to his own vomit (2Pe_2:22). In speaking of those who relish returning to their own sin time and time again, Peter says they were never sheep and not even worms. They are dogs who love to eat their vomit, pigs who long to return to the pen. The prodigal wandered away, erred greatly, and ended up in the pigpen. But he came to his senses and said, “I don’t belong here. I’m going home” (see Luk_15:18). The difference between a pig and a prodigal is that, although you can scrub a pig, shampoo his hair, and put a bow on his tailhe’ll dive into mud the first chance he gets. Perhaps there are those here who can’t wait for this service to end so they can dive back into the mud. Be careful. That could identify you as a pig and not a prodigal. Others of you, however, know you’re splattered with mud. But, like the prodigal, you say, “I don’t want to be in the pigpen. I want to be in my Father’s house.” The Hand That Bears Your Name Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.Isa_49:16 “Behold My hands,” said Jesus to Thomas (Joh_20:27), for in those hands, love was engraved. When Jesus was pinned to the Cross for you and me, He nailed down our eternal state. The price was paid for any sin and every sinwhatever it was, is, or will be. That’s why He was able to say, “Your name is permanently engraved in the palms of My hands, and no man shall pluck you out.” That’s eternal life assurance, gang. Don’t let the Enemy tell you you’re not saved or that you’ve blown it once too often. Don’t let the Enemy say your salvation is in jeopardy. Don’t let him produce in you a feeling of insecurity. Instead, marvel at what Jesus said when He declared, “You’re in the Father’s hand and you’re in My hand. Therefore, you’re not only in good handsYou’re in the best hands.”

John 10:31

Sometimes people ask questions not because they want to know the answer, but because they want to argue. Such was the case here. The Jews didn’t want to know the answer. They just wanted to hear Jesus give it again in order that they might have reason to stone Him.

John 10:32

The fact that the Jews picked up stones to throw at Jesus proved they understood His claim to deity. The fact that they were unable to throw them shows they experienced the proof of His deity.

John 10:34

Quoting Psa_82:6, Jesus refers to the Old Testament, wherein judges were called gods because they held the power of life and death in their hands. “Doesn’t Scripture say you are gods?” asked Jesus. “Why, then, are you so upset when I say I am the Son of God?” He throws them a curve balland they have a tough time hitting it.

John 10:37

When I went through a time of questioning and wondering why I wasn’t perceiving the power of the Holy Spirit moving through my life in the way I desired, I began to become somewhat disoriented in my walkuntil the Lord laid this passage on me. Jesus said the greatest prophet born in the history of the world was a man who did no miracle. None. At that point, I realized that if I were never to see any miracle through my life, if I were never to see the power of the Spirit in a tangible way, it would be fine with me if it could be said of me what was said of John: that all things I spoke of Jesus were true. What’s the priority of ministry? Doing exactly what John did: talking about Jesus, pointing people to Jesus, exalting Jesus. No wonder John was the greatest prophet of all (Mat_11:11). Resorting Unto Jesus A Topical Study of Joh_10:39-42 Chronologically, at this point in our study, we are approximately three and a half months away from Jesus’ crucifixion. In our text, we see Him leave Jerusalem, not to return until His final week. When John declares in verse Joh_10:22 that it was winter, I don’t think he was simply giving us information seasonally, but rather providing us insight into the climate of the city spiritually. You see, when Jesus walked throughout Jerusalem, it was summer. The people had opportunity to see His works, to hear His words, to be gathered into His kingdom. But, because they rejected Him, as He left Jerusalem, Jer_8:20 was indeed fulfilled. The harvest was past. The summer had ended. But the people were not saved. Crossing the Jordan River, Jesus went to Bethabarathe place where His public ministry had begun three years previously. He went there not because He was running from the people, but rather that He might be readied for the battle He knew lay ahead. He went to Bethabara not out of fear of the future but to retreat into the presence of the Father. And, as Jesus spent three and a half months at Bethabara, seeking His Father and preparing for what He knew would be the culmination of His earthly ministry, John writes that many resorted unto Him there. They left the cold city where it was winterwhere people were rejecting Himand went out to the desert, where they found refreshment and rest. So, too, I believe every one of us needs to withdraw from the city, to withdraw from the cold climate and hectic pace of our usual activities, to withdraw even from ministry occasionally in order to resort unto Jesus at Bethabara. Why Bethabara? Because that is where we will call to mind John’s words that rang out in that region when he said, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world!” (Joh_1:29). The Man Became a Lamb Great is the mystery, Paul declared, that God left heaven and became a Man (1Ti_3:16). But God didn’t stop there. He went lower still. He became a Lamb. If you were to transport yourself through the tunnel of time back to the days of the tabernacle or the temple, your entry into those places of worship would depend not upon whether you were worthy, but upon the purity of the lamb you brought with you. If, upon inspection, the lamb was found pure, you were free to enter into the tabernacle or the temple. So, too, I come to Bethabara todayI resort unto Jesus and enter into God’s presencenot on the basis of my perfection, my good deeds, or my activity. I enter only through the worthiness of Jesus, the Lamb of God. “I find no fault in Him,” declared Pontius Pilate, the very one who ultimately sentenced Jesus to death (Luk_23:4). Even Judas, the one who betrayed Him, said, “I have betrayed innocent blood,” (see Mat_27:4). Worthy is the blood of the Lamb. In speaking of the Lamb of God, David prophesied not a bone would be broken (Psa_34:20)unusual because after a period of time, the guards usually broke the legs of those crucified in order to hasten death. In addition to a prophecy to be fulfilled, however, Psa_34:20 is a reminder that the blood of Jesus Christ is continually available to cleanse me from all sin past, present, and future. Why? Because where is blood produced? In the marrow of the bone. No wonder, then, that the Father dictated none of Jesus’ bones be broken, for in so doing, He says the blood supply will never be diminished. That is why Paul could declare that where sin abounds, grace abounds yet more (Rom_5:20). Worthy is the Lamb! The Lamb Became a Worm Not only did God become a Man, and the Man became a Lamb, but Psa_22:6 tells us that the Lamb became a worm. Why? The Hebrew word for worm, tolaath, is translated two ways in the Old Testament: either as scarlet or as worm. To obtain the color specified for the garments of the priests and the curtains of the tabernacle throughout the Book of Exodus, tolaaths, or worms, were ground up, thereby producing a scarlet dye in which cloth would be dipped. When bearing its young, the female tolaath would climb a tree and fasten herself to a branch, where, in the process of giving birth, she would explode, leaving a spot of blood on the tree. Truly, Jesus was right when He declared, I am a tolaath, for as our High Priest, He is clothed in the dye of His own blood; the spots of blood left on the tree of Calvary being the only way we could be born again.

No wonder Isaiah declares, Though your sins be as scarlet (tolaath), they shall be white as snow (Exo_1:18). Great is the mystery. God became a Man, became a Lamb, and became a worm. Would you have done that? Suppose you die today and go to heaven. There, the Father takes you on the tour of the cosmos, where you see places to surf that have never been discovered. You’re ready to ski down Mount Zion. You’re blown away by the beauty and glory of heaven. Then He takes you beyond the farthest star and shows you a tiny planet, isolated in a far corner of the universe. As you look closely, you see it is inhabited by dogs. “Little dogs on a planethow cute,” you say. “Look a little more closely,” says the Lord. And as you do, you see the dogs are not so cute after all. With teeth bared and foam dripping from their mouths, they’re biting and devouring one another. “This is sick,” you say. “Those dogs are all rabid. Destroy them, Lord.” “No,” He answers. “I love them. I want to tell them I have a plan to heal them, but they don’t listen to Me because I’m too big for them to relate to. That’s why I brought you here today. I want you to go down there and tell them I have an antidote for their rabid sickness.” “Okay,” you say. “But wait. There’s more,” says the Lord. “If they’re going to listen to you, you must become like them: a dog.” “Let me get this straight,” you say. “You want me to become a dog and tell them You have a plan for them, an antidote to heal them?” “Yes,” answers the Lord. “But there’s something else: They’re not going to listen to your message. On the contrary, they’ll turn upon you, rip you to shreds, and kill you. I will resurrect you with great glory and honorbut from that point on, you’ll be a dog forever.” If God asked that of me, I would say, “No, Lord.” But you know something? Jesus Christ becoming a man is a far greater step down than you becoming a dog. His descent was a lower step than we will ever comprehend this side of eternity. Granted, He is resurrected. Granted, He is glorified. But He remains in His humanity in order that He might pray for us as a compassionate Priest and feel the hurts we’re going through right now. He remains a Man to this day. Great is the mystery. Incomprehensible is the love. No wonder many resorted unto Him at Bethabara, where they remembered the words of John the Baptist. No wonder we join them and say, “John, you were right. He is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.” We are free to enter into the presence of the Father and receive blessing today solely because of the worthiness of the Lamb, the sufficiency of the blood, the bones never broken. Dear brother, precious sisterif it is winter in your soul today, make your way to the desert. Resort to Jesus at Bethabara and behold the Lamb once again.