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 

 

 

Dr. W.M. Thomson in the ‘Land and the Book’ writes:"I have listened with intense interest to the Shepherds graphic descriptions of downright and desperate fights with savage beasts. And when the thief and the robber come, the faithful shepherd has often to put his life in his hand to defend the flock.  I have known more than one case where he literally had to lay it down in the context.  A poor faithful fellow last spring between the cities of Tiberias and Tabor, instead of fleeing, fought three Bedawin robbers until he was hacked to pieces with their khanjars, and died among the sheep he was defending. "

 

The true shepherd never hesitated to risk and even lay down his life for his sheep. Sheep were supposed to die for the shepherd, not the other way around.  In fact, in the Old Testament, the lambs were used for sacrifice to cover the sins of the sinners so they could have access to God. Now we read the Good Shepherd dies for the sheep. Five times in this sermon, Jesus clearly affirmed the sacrificial nature of His coming death.

 

He does so out of obedience to His Father in Heaven.   He also saw the cross and the glory together.  He never doubted that He must die; and He equally never doubted that He would rise again. Suffering was for a moment, but glory was for all eternity. Praise God, Jesus does not stay dead. He takes up His life again.  His voluntary death for the sheep was followed by the resurrection. From the human point of view Jesus was executed; but from heavenly view Jesus laid down His life willingly.  He voluntarily took up His life again and arose from the dead.

 

The people responded to Jesus' words with accusations that He was a madman. Either He was or He was the Son of God. When we evaluate His words, He is not mad. When we evaluate His actions, it is not one out of control of His senses. When we evaluate His power and authority, it is impossible for a madman to duplicate. Certainly, the motives of this man of Galilee were not the motives of a madman. Millions upon millions of people have had their lives changed by the power of Jesus Christ.

 

Christ, who is portrayed as both a lamb and a shepherd, came to Bethlehem a millennia ago because He calls us to follow Him, He protects us by His love, He calls us by name, He saves us by faith, He knows us by His omniscience, and He sacrificed for us that we might know the glories of God. The conclusions are real for those who really want to know and are willing to place their lives in His care.

Dale