John 10

    The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep because the Good Shepherd "cares for the sheep." This serves not only as a metaphor for Jesus laying down his life for us on the cross, but it also serves as a metaphor for ministry in the name of Jesus. Pastors who view themselves as "hired hands" or working in a profession, seldom engage their congregations on a community building relational level. The best pastors I know see themselves as living out a calling or vocation and the calling is to shepherd, lead, and build the flock.
     Jesus claims in John 10:30 that "The Father and I are one." This infuriates the religious leaders because, once again, Jesus is claiming to be on equal status and standing with God. Jesus responds by once again pointing out the "signs" that is the miracles he has performed. The evidence that Jesus is the Son of God is not in what he teaches nor is it in what he says at other times. The evidence that Jesus is the Son of God is seen in what he actually does. Every miracle of Jesus, as recorded in John, is another sign post indicated that he is the Christ, the savior of the world. Among the religious folks there is some confusion. When some are saying that Jesus has a demon the ask "Can a demon open the eyes of the blind? (John 10:21)"
    In the musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, the Judas character sings the song titled "Superstar" wherein he laments: "listen Jesus I don't like what I see . . . you've begun to matter more than the things you say." These words are appropriately put in the mouth of Judas. According to the Gospel according to John, Jesus does, in fact, matter more than his teachings. Someone once said the three important questions are: who is Jesus? what is salvation? and what are the implications for living? That is precisely the point: Jesus' person and the "signs" he performs far outweigh (or should I say the actually give weight?) to what he teaches.