To this day my oldest daughter is freaked out by E.T.. She sleeps with a light on in her closet when she's home. When she was a kid, all you had to say was, "phone home," and she'd be in a panic. A lot of people are fascinated by UFO's and aliens. There've been tons of TV shows, docu-dramas and movies suggesting the presence/existence of aliens on or visiting our planet. And if you've ever been to Roswell, NM, you know the town makes a living off of alien life.
In fact, some have suggested that v.16 of our text is a reference to life on other planets. "Sheep not of this pen that I must bring," according to some, means life elsewhere in the universe or solar system. Quite frankly, I think that's a BIG time stretch. That's making the text mean something out of context or say something Jesus didn't.
Jesus had been teaching Jewish people who considered themselves "God's Chosen People." They translated "chosen" as God's "ONLY" people. Even in the early years of the church, some erroneously taught/proclaimed/insisted that one had to become a Jew before he/she could become a Christian. When Jesus was talking about sheep not of this pen, He was refering to people like me, a non-Jewish sinner. Jesus was saying what He said in John 3:16, that he loved all the world, all persons, and was laying down His life for all people.
I think there's a tendency among the religious elite or even plain ol' church folk to center only on church folk and church. It's almost like a spiritual arrogance. We're the chosen people now, we're God's favorites, He's only concerned about our relationship with Him. Take another look, a closer look. Didn't Jesus also tell a parable about abandoning the 99 sheep in the fold to go look for the ONE outside the fold? Jesus said that He came to seek and save the lost, to gather all who will come to Him. He's as concerned for those who didn't grow up in the church, who've strayed from God and the church.
Unfortunately many pastors, church leaders, church members (refered to as "hirelings" in this passage) run from the ravenous wolves of this world to protect ourselves. We isolate ourselves in our church groups and church schools or home schools so that the evil of the world stays out. We circle the wagons and never venture out. But because of Jesus' love, He faced/faces the dangerous wolves head on to collect as many sheep as He can before they are devoured. He didn't wait until they wandered into the fold. He laid down down His life for them while they were among the wolves.
God, help me lose my fear of the aliens, the strangers, the outsiders and realize I was once one of those people. Give me the strength, courage and protection to face the ravenous wolves so that I might be a part of gathering your sheep not of your pen. David learned to do battle with the lion and the bear with only a sling shot, while tending his father's sheep. Later that gave him the confidence to battle with and defeat Goliath with only that same little sling shot (and your power). God, thanks for rescuing me. And thanks for leaving your light on in my closet just for me.
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