I Have Other Sheep

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. - John 10:16 (NKJV)

The Jews in the time of Jesus were a very closed culture. They view all Gentiles (non-Jews) as unclean. Any contact with them would cause them to be defiled in their minds. It is reported in ancient sources that many Jews when passing Gentiles on the streets would pull their garments in close lest their garments should brush against the garments of a Gentile in passing. In all the Jews were introverted culturally. Salvation was not of the Jews rather for the Jews. Jesus confronts this perspective in John's Gospel. Jesus has been telling the Jews that not everyone who is a Jew is one of His sheep. "In fact," Jesus says, "I have sheep outside of your perspective." Jesus was referring to those Gentiles who would come to faith in Jesus and receive Him as their Messiah (Christ).

There is a great application for us as the Church of Jesus Christ today. We too can become so introverted in focus where we neglect the great commission by isolating ourselves from the very world into which we are sent as proclaimers of the Good News. Jesus says, "I have other sheep, and they will hear My voice." But as Paul says in Romans 10:14, "How shall they hear without a preacher?" There is to be no decommission, only the great commission. It is when we live as if we are decommissioned that we disengage with the mission of Jesus. Rather than being on the frontiers of the Kingdom of God aggressively furthering it (Matt 11:12) against which the gates of Hell cannot prevail (Matt 16:18), we retreat to a safe bunker and try to hide out until the Kingdom is fully come. We sit back in safety and pray, "Father, conform me more into the image of Your Son." Yet, we have forgotten that it was the image of the invisible God, Jesus (Colossians 1:15) that was sent, by the Father, into this hostile world. Jesus came in full obedience. The word "sent" is used some 57 times in John's Gospel, 42 of which refer to the Father sending Jesus. There is no Christ-likeness without His mission finding place in our hearts. We do not retreat, we advance.

However, this must happen with the eyes of faith. Jesus said the fields are white for harvest (John 4:35). If we are defeatist and do not believe people will repent of sin and believe in Jesus, it is hard to advance. We ask, "What is the point of this? There are no results; it would be easier if we withdrew. Nobody is going to believe through my testimony." I am reminded of the Apostle Paul who knew the wounds of war for preaching the Gospel. At one point, there was the temptation to say nothing and withdraw because life would be easier. The Lord then says to Paul in Acts 18:9-10, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city" (emphasis mine). What people is Jesus referring to? He is referring to those who would believe through their word (John 17:20). The temptation to keep silent, to isolate, to decommission was great. But Paul, hearing the voice of Jesus, who Himself came being sent by the Father, commissioned Paul to proclaim the Good News. To encourage Paul, Jesus reminded him that "other sheep I have".

As a church in Leatherhead, we can say confidently "God has sent us to Leatherhead". Lest we become weary and discouraged and introverted may we hear the voice of Jesus for this place, "I have many people in this city." Let us, with the eyes of faith, engage in a harvest in Leatherhead. As we, the missionaries of God, let us see the Kingdom of God advance as hearts are conquered by the Servant King. How shall they hear without a preacher? Go therefore, and preach (Mark 16:15) remembering that it is a commission or should I say co-mission as it's Jesus' mission we are joining in as He says "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt 28:20).

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