Synonyms of Jesus
(Exhortation - March 2002)
Our objective this morning is to try to learn more about Jesus by exploring some of the synonyms used by the apostle John in the early chapters of his gospel. “The Light of the World,” “The Door,” “The Good Shepherd,” “The Bread of Life” are all well known and beloved titles.
Care must be taken to love the reality that the figures are meant to portray. Do we unreservedly love the Lord Jesus and the Father he revealed? If we are uncomfortable with our inner response, perhaps the reason is that we do not know him fully. Should this be the case, our eternal welfare is at stake: “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).
The
light of the world
During the exchange with the Pharisees over the woman caught in adultery,
Jesus taught that humankind does not naturally choose light. Left to
themselves, all are as blind men groping around in darkness. The only way
to diffuse that darkness is to follow the source of light – Jesus, the Son
of God. “I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not
walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).
In the account of the healing of the man born blind, the Lord reinforced this important fact: “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (9:5). After the man had washed in the pool of Siloam and removed the clay that Jesus had applied to his eyes, he came back seeing. Not only could he physically see, his mind was open to receive the light of the gospel.
This man, who had previously known nothing but darkness, with developing insight began to reflect the light of his physician. He chided the “blind” Pharisees: “Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing” (John 9:30-33).
True to form, the “blind leaders of the blind” deliberately shut out the light that was within their reach, confirming the Lord’s earlier statement: “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).
The light of the Gospel has shone into our hearts and we must respond with the same enthusiasm and conviction of the man born blind.
Shepherd and flock
Of all the analogies given to illustrate the position of Jesus in relation
to his followers, probably the most revered is the shepherd and his flock.
After the restoration of sight to the congenitally blind man, the Pharisees
asked: “Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye
should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth”
(John 9:40-41).
The conversation with these obdurate Jewish leaders may have caused the Lord to think of their forefathers described so well by the prophets: “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant…they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, everyone for his gain, from his quarter…My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains…they have forgotten their restingplace” (Isa. 56:10,11; Jer. 50:6). In contrast, he shows in parable form that his leadership and care of God’s people is far superior; he is the Good Shepherd who leads his sheep into the safety of the fold through the only door.
Some grasped the point and seeing the antithesis were furious: “And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?” (John 10:20-21).
The
door to the fold
A sheepfold is a place where sheep are enclosed at night to keep out thieves
and wild animals. In Biblical times, the fold was usually surrounded by a
stone wall covered by thorny branches. There was only one gate or door.
Several flocks would spend the night in one sheepfold, guarded by a hireling
or under- shepherd. When morning came, the shepherd would go to the
sheepfold and call. His own sheep, knowing the shepherd’s voice, would
follow him, whereas the rest of the sheep in the fold paid no attention.
Fresh in the mind of Jesus was the man, born blind, who had been cast out of the synagogue by the resentful Pharisees. He was now among the “found” and “enlightened” sheep of Israel, who had access to the safety of the fold under the care of the shepherd who would very soon lay down his life to protect his sheep. The Pharisees were trying desperately to enter the fold to rob the “Good Shepherd” of his latest protégé but to no avail; the door was secure having being fashioned by God himself. Also in His providence the sheepfold was large enough to accommodate many more sheep who would enter through the door in the future: “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (John 10:16).
How blessed we are to have the Lord Jesus as our shepherd, knowing that when dangers of even the darkest night threaten we can enter the protection of the fold. In the light of day, we can follow him to pasture and feed on spiritual food through the reading of the word. “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:14).
The comfort and warmth of these words radiate down the years to us. He knows us individually by name, so let us respond with trust and obedience to his commands. Inevitably we fail, but we are a redeemed people and can appeal to the Father for forgiveness. Though we encounter hardship and trouble on our approach to the inevitable “valley of the shadow of death,” with Christ as our shepherd, we are gently led beside the still waters of inner peace.
The
bread of life
Probably the declaration that caused most consternation even among his
disciples was the claim of Jesus to be “The Bread of Life.” The
feeding of the five thousand had astounded every one, so much so that they
rushed to make him king -- forcibly if need be. So urgent were the demands
of the euphoric crowd, now nearing hysteria, that the Lord of necessity took
refuge in the peace and quiet of a mountain. Although the temptation must
have been great, he knew that victory over sin and death through the
dreadful trial of the cross must come before he could ascend the throne.
The next day many of the five thousand searched and found Jesus. But, with the fickleness of human nature, their desire had turned from the heights of elation to the more mundane. They wanted another free meal! Of this Jesus was perfectly aware: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled” (John 6:26).
Then, heedless of the warning to look beyond their immediate gratification to the life-giving spiritual food he offered, they had the temerity to ask for a sign. With the advantage of hindsight, it seems incredible that they needed further validation that the Messiah was in their midst. Nevertheless, they proceeded to remind Jesus that Moses had provided manna for forty years. “Now if you can do the same, we will believe in you” was the implication. The response was dramatic: “I am the bread of life…your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die…I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever…except ye eat the flesh of the son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you” (John 6:35,49-51,53). Sadly many were offended by these difficult sayings and did not stay for further enlightenment.
Later at the last supper, Jesus explained the meaning of his teaching to the committed. He took bread and wine declaring them to be representative of His body and blood. In common with the disciples we partake of the emblems in remembrance of, “The Light of the World,” “The Door,” “The Good Shepherd” and “The Bread of Life,” recognizing that Jesus is the fullness of these wonderful titles.
Norm Styles