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| A MODERN SHEPHERD |
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| shepherd and his sheep. He would die for their protection. Popularity, for a While As Jesus headed toward final tragedy in Jerusalem, the theme of death, his death, kept surfacing in his parables and direct statements. Ironically, his followers were growing in numbers. His popularity had reached a peak with the feeding of 5,000 people on a handful of morsels, a miracle mentioned by all four Gospel writers. The ground swell of support to make Jesus king deeply impressed his followers; Jesus, however, escaped into the hills (6:15). He would not be a king on the crowd's terms. He continued on his lonely mission, stirring up controversy and hatred by healing people on the Sabbath and by proclaiming himself equal with God. Ignoring an Impressive Miracle Many Jews came over to Jesus after one of his most impressive signs: bringing Lazarus back to life. But, simultaneously, religious leaders concluded callously that it was best for one man (Jesus) to die rather than upset the whole world (11:50). Four separate times they tried to sieze him. Jesus came to offer "life" - one of those one-syllable words, swollen with meaning, that John threaded through his narrative. Lazarus received that life in an astonishingly literal way, providing yet another sign of Jesus' ultimate power. Jesus, though, made preparations to give up his own life, making the ultimate sacrifice of the good shepherd. Life Questions:What have you sacrificed for the sake of another person? |