It is very hard to give up our favourite misconceptions. The Pharisees in John 9:35-10:21 clearly did not want to give up their ideas about how their particular version of the Law in the Old Testament applied to people's daily lives. They fell into the trap of believing that what they thought was what God thought. So if Jesus said and did things contrary to their rules, then he could not be of God and therefore must be of the devil. Sounds extreme, but notice the words of John 10:20 "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"
In our age many different denominations exist, each convinced of the truth of their view. Like the Pharisees in the story, churches can be tempted into thinking they have the ear of God and others who disagree must by definition be of the devil. The result has been that around 21,000 denominations exist worldwide.
Jesus says he is the gate for sheep: sheep! Animals that wander, who seem the stupidest of creatures, the very last animal you might think of to represent humanity. It doesn't seem to say much for us if Jesus thinks that, does it! Yet he said it in a good way, a loving way – for he laid down his life for his sheep. Surely, given that picture, we should look carefully at our own strongly held beliefs and make sure we still regard ourselves as sheep, and remember he has other sheep, not of this fold. Whatever that means, it must mean there are some who are not necessarily in my church, my congregation.
So today, let's look at our brothers and sisters across our differences and remember, we do sometimes have misconceptions ourselves! Let's not be scattered, but pray today we may be one.
Alan Cartwright
Read the Bible in a year: Psalm 62:1-12, Ruth 3:1-4:22, John 9:35-10:21
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