John 10:1-21 - Wolves and Sheep
We can thank our ancestors for their courage. I’m reading now about the British church in the 1300-1500 period. I’m amazed at their courage and desire to follow Jesus' teachings. There was a group called the Lollards. John Wycliffe, born and raised in rural England northeast of London, is one of the most famous of this group of men. There were many more. God knows them all, and they know God.
Wycliffe and others believed - as the early church did - that the Scriptures (the Latin Vulgate was the primary text read at the time, but people couldn’t speak Latin anymore) were meant by our Father God to be read daily and preached boldly by preachers every Sunday. What a concept! These early reformers (including Erasmus of Rotterdam later on - a Dutch priest who lived, studied, and worked in England (1466-1536) - and the famous lawyer, Thomas More (1478-1535) all played a part in the reform of the church). This was much earlier than the Holy Roman Empire reformers who get much credit. These early English reformers - knew the cost of speaking the truth in love. They believed so much in Jesus Christ that nothing could stop them from promoting God’s truth and Jesus’ teachings. Their message and mission were clear: the Scripture must be read and understood by believers and the corruption in the church must be denounced and opposed (greed, nepotism, and other non-biblical practices that were then entrenched in the church and their society).
Who are our reformers today? Who’s calling out the wickedness in our society, nay, in our churches. I think the answer will surprise you. I sense that God is rustling millions of hearts worldwide and the movement for freedom of speech is also a movement of God through His people calling for repentance and righteousness. Freedom is from God as this passage of Scripture tells us. May God help all believers today. May He fill us with the knowledge of His will and help us to love well and to share God’s love with passion and clarity.
God is the Gate - that is, the only way to eternal life and to a rich and satisfying life. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We know that, but do we believe it and follow Him bravely? There is no other way. And Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Jesus and His men are not like the hired hands who are only there for the money. We all know them too well. We see them in the modern church and we see them in our communities and in Congress. Frauds, snakes, and those willing to enrich themselves while pretending to help others. Jesus places great responsibility on His men. We are brave not because of where we live per se, but because we have new life through faith in Christ and the Holy Spirit's strength from the Shepherd.
We hear in this passage that the Good Shepherd only has one flock (10:16). That’s true and never be deceived by people preaching that there are parallel peoples of God or two nations. There is only one flock, one tree of God. You are only part of God’s family by belief in the Son of God. The truth from Scripture is that there is only one true church. Jesus calls His followers “true sheep” (10:8). You must know Jesus and follow His teaching to truly be His disciple.
Let’s be motivated and encouraged by those brave men of faith in Jesus. Men like Paul, all the Apostles, and men like John Wycliffe. They took the risk of speaking out against greed and corruption in the church and paid the price with the label ‘heretic’ by those who followed the dark lord - the one who seeks only to steal, kill, and destroy.
I heard a sermon shortly after the 2024 election. The pastor said he could never speak on politics - for the sake of the Gospel. What!? Total nonsense. Timid pastors make weak men, dysfunctional families, and broken nations. There was a time when bold pastors spoke out in England about the abuses and ungodly treatment of the colonies by King George III. And over on this side of the Atlantic in Virginia, likewise, many church leaders not only spoke out about politics, moral issues, freedom, economics, and foreign affairs, but they gave their lives in the cause of such things. Man up.
God is not aloof to the corruption, wickedness, and timidity in the church and in our society. You can’t separate the church from our society. Men must stand up and protect young girls from rape - it is a shame on the United Kingdom and on the church that evil grows and timid men cower. Likewise in America, we see millionaire pastors self-promote themselves and their private clubs as they turn a blind eye to sexual harassment, adultery, and the abuse of young women. They pretend to be one thing marching in a parade of legalism, but won’t lift a finger to truly help the needy. Shameful, timid, and wrong. God sees the snakes and those enriching themselves off the church, the thieves, and the robbers. And even worse are the cowards who choose not to remove the wicked - too scared that it will harm their precious reputations. Little do they know that they are rightly disdained, not just by the world, but by God. Men, let's get our own acts together. It's a year for self-assessment and self-control. We must speak out boldly on moral issues and we must do so always with love and clear thinking. We must grow in Christ and serve Him in our homes and communities.
God’s men and women, His true sheep repent of sin and turn to Him. They hear His voice as clear and stern and loving and gentle and patient as it is. Thank God that Jesus “leads us out” - He always is in the front line (10:3). That too is how we shall serve, from the front. We are brave when we fight alongside Jesus, in harmony and unison with His flock.
Lord Jesus, in this breakthrough year, let us grow in godliness. Thank You for how You are awakening Your people to boldness and bravery, worldwide. Let us hear Your voice plainly. Help us to share boldly with others. Help us to be willing to lay down our lives for You and Your sheep to fight hard against the wolves in a way that is pleasing to You. Amen.
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