The 1st Century Rescue Mission
Did it ever occur to you to ask why Jesus arrived at this point in history? Why did Jesus show up when he did? What would have happened if he had waited. When we arrive on the scene in the New Testament, John the Baptist is already calling the Pharisees a brood of vipers. That particular term is used again by John and twice more by Jesus.
Why the Jews first? I would argue that the entry of Jesus in the first century begins as a rescue mission. First to save the sheep that are not just lost but stolen.
It really wasn't until I read John 10 did I even think to start asking these questions. Once I understood the answers, re-reading John 10 opened up in a whole new way!
Let's explore The Rise of the Pharisees. Before we jump straight into John 10, I think it might be helpful to summarize the rise of the Pharisees. When we enter the New Testament, the Pharisees are just there. We don't even think about it. We decided to ask a simple question. Where did they come from? The Pharisee – you may be surprised to know – is not part of the mosaic law.
The issue addressed in John 10 is false shepherding — claiming authority over God’s people without God’s authorization. Who did have God's authorization? Before Christ, what should the Jewish church have looked like? This is worthwhile asking so as not to repeat the errors. This is a foundational question, and Scripture answers it with clarity. John 10 does not invent the idea of “authorized shepherds”; it exposes how far Israel’s leaders had drifted from the biblical model.
Understanding John 10 in this way also leads us to ask about our own church. So we went there too! Fortunately, my church fairs very well against the checklist that we derived but for the listener, please understand that the checklist was derived from scripture, not from modeling any one church. Hopefully you find it helpful... particularly if you might be seeking a new church or denomination.
Notes for The 1st Century Rescue Mission
Episode Link:
https://www.rabbitholesandmeditations.com/the-1st-century-rescue-mission/
