One Flock & One Shepherd

"And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd. Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father" (John 10:16-18).

The "other sheep" that Jesus spoke of that were not of "this fold" (i.e., the Jewish fold) were the Gentiles. Jesus had made it clear on many occasions that He didn't come into the world to perpetuate the Jewish religion but to fulfill it (cf. Matt. 5:17). He intended to establish His church (cf. Matt. 16:18) which would be a world-wide system in which people of all nations might seek and find salvation through obedience to Him (cf. Matt. 28:19,20; Heb. 5:9). Jesus intended to bring the Jews and Gentiles together into one spiritual flock. This was prophesied (cf. Isa. 42:6; 49:6; Micah 4:1-5) and clearly fulfilled (cf. Eph. 2:11-22).

Notice that the goal was to have one shepherd (Jesus) over His one flock (His church). Jesus never intended for there to be many flocks (e.g., denominations). Denominations exist today only because their members do not hear Jesus' voice (through His word) and follow Him exclusively (cf. John 10:26,27)!

The Father loved Jesus because He was willing to die for the sheep. Wouldn't you want a shepherd who was willing to go to the ultimate end for your sheep? Jesus did not give His life as a sacrifice with the intent of never living again. He fully intended to take it up again by being raised from the dead.

Clearly our Lord had the power to lay down His life and take it up again. Thus, there may have been some sense in which Jesus was instrumental in His own resurrection (cf. Rom. 8:11). It should be pointed out that Jesus is once again foretelling His death and resurrection.

Jesus did not contradict Himself when He affirmed - "This command I have received from My Father" (John 10:18). This must be understood in the context of the previous statements. Although Jesus did freely offer Himself up, He did it in harmony with the expressed will of the Father, and in this sense it was also a command that He submitted to.

The narrative is concluded with these words - "Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. And many of them said, 'He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?' Others said, 'These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?'" (John 10:19-21).

Many of those who were present opposed Jesus. They again label Him as one who is crazy and demon-possessed. They are doing their best to slanderously destroy His influence since they have been unable to refute His teachings.

Those who defended Jesus refer to His miraculous giving of sight to the blind as an action that a demon would not, and could not, perform. Thus, they conclude that His words are not those of one who is possessed. However, these individuals don't go far enough in their defense. They fail to make a positive confession of faith in Christ.