John 10:7-18
Jesus equates himself here to a shepherd leading sheep. He says that his validity as the good shepherd rests in the demonstration of his giving his life up for his sheep (vs. 15). The Father has given him authority to do with his life as he pleases (vs. 18). No one takes his life or forces him to do anything. He is constrained by nothing. It is out of willful obedience and love that he lays down his life, volunteers his spirit (vs.17). It is in foregoing his authority in this life that he displays his love. Can one obey and love where his hand is forced without choice? Certainly not! Did Jews join concentration camps out of love and obedience? Do children soldiers fight and kill because they love and obey? Jesus chose the cross. And we are to do the same (Matthew 16:24-25). Are we not given the same authority over our own lives as Jesus was given his? When Jesus gave his disciples the Great Commission he told them that all authority was given to him, and that they (we) are to go out baptizing and teaching in his name (Matthew 28:18-19). When John spoke of his baptism he related it simply to water, nothing more. However, when Jesus came he would bring a baptism of fire and power and Spirit (Mark 1:8). Is this not evidence that Jesus is passing his authority on to us (as we see our baptizing now equated with his)? He told Peter that whatever he bound or loosed in heaven would be done likewise in heaven (Matthew 16:19). Do we not see Jesus' autonomous gifting to us? This is why he tells us that we must deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow him; that we must lose our lives to find them (Luke 9:23-24). If we have to be told to do this, does this not insinuate the choice not to? Of course, Jesus' coming was predetermined, but so was his obedience, willfully. Of course, God is sovereign and draws us, but we cannot dismiss our responsibility, our choice to do with our lives as we determine. Jesus never did (John 9:41). If he became human like we are, and clearly made choices, is this not a demonstration of our own lives as humans? Hebrews 4:15 tells us that he was tempted in EVERY way that we are, including the temptation to savor his own life (Matthew 26:39-42). Philippians 2:6-8 tells us that he was found to be in human likeness, taking the form of a servant, BECOMING obedient... It was in this obedience that Jesus pleased the Father (John 8:29). He laid down his life out of his own authority to do so, which demonstrated his love out of obedience (vs. 18). Our lives and authority are no different. We demonstrate our love in the exact same way. All of Jesus' teaching and serving and speaking were not the clues that lead us to conclude his love, but it is in his giving of his life (John 15:13-14). We too demonstrate our love for God in the giving of our lives, and he has given us the authority to do this. That means that all the acts of service we do, all the teaching we do, all the giving we do, must stem from a life that has been laid down, or it is not out of love, and therefore it is of no value (I Corinthians 13:1-3). God have given us authority, as he did Jesus, that we may give it right back to him, as Jesus did. It is a beautiful picture of true love being shown in the grandest of gestures. Asking us to lay down our lives and deny ourselves is a gift from God himself (I Peter 1:10-12). It is not to be despised or demised. It is to be embraced as our one and only gift that we may return to the Godhead, born out of his grace. Lord, thank you for the choice to die.
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