“Through the Looking Glass” The Kingdom of Heaven as seen through the parables of Jesus

“For now we see through a glass…” – I Cor. 13:12

 “Spelunker’s Guide”

CONTEXT: JESUS HEALED A MAN THAT WAS BLIND FROM BIRTH, PHARISEES INVESTIGATED THE HEALING, “JESUS IS A SINNER! HE COULDN’T HAVE DONE THIS!”… “SINNER OR NOT, ALL I KNOW IS THAT I WAS BORN BLIND, AND NOW I SEE.”

The Good Shepherd – John 10:1-6 & 11-21

10 1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them…

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 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. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” 19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?” 21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Parable/Analogy: A sheep pen, circular stone wall, one gate, multiple flocks…. Watchman would let shepherds come to tend their flock… Palestinian shepherds lead their flocks rather than “driving” them… sheep knew the voice of their shepherd and would not follow another voice.

THE GOOD GUIDE GIVES US HOPE.

  • THERE IS A GATE TO GREENER PASTURES
  • THE GATEKEEPER = PROTECTION
  • THE SHEPHERD = PROTECTION / DIRECTION

THE GOOD GUIDE GIVES US COURAGE.

  • “I AM WITH YOU”
  • VOICE REMINDS US OF HIS PRESENCE
  • BEFORE YOU, AFTER YOU, BESIDE YOU

THE GOOD GUIDE GIVES US DIRECTION.

  • HE LEADS THEM OUT
  • HE GOES OUT AHEAD OF THEM

THE GOOD GUIDE GIVES US LOVE.

  • HE KNOWS THEM, THEY KNOW HIM
  • HE CALLS THEM BY NAME
  • LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP

THE GOOD GUIDE GIVES US POWER.

  • LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE SHEEP
  • ONLY TO TAKE IT UP AGAIN
  • AUTHORITY!

 “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” – #Jesus@matthew11.15