Parables Of Jesus

Part 9

 

Self Image Parables of The Saviour

The Bread of Life, John 6:32-60. Bread was part of the staple daily diet in the Jewish economy.  Mary & Joseph would have used public and possibly private ovens for baking bread everyday to feed Jesus and his brothers & sisters.  Jesus was raised on it and is often quoted, "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God", Matthew 4:4.  Historically, the Jews talked of bread as representing the whole substance of humanity's physical needs.  Ezekiel calls bread the 'staff of life' three times, Ezekiel 4:16, 5:16 & 14:13.  Jews also talked of the bread of tears, sorrows, wickedness & deceit, as part of daily life, Psalm 127:2, 80:5, Proverbs 4:17, 20:17.  When Jesus claimed his identity was the bread of life, he was referring to an essential part of spiritual survival and salvation.  After Jesus performed the miracle of feeding over 5000 people bread & fish, he used the bread as an illustration of his own purpose for humanity, while speaking in the Capernaum Synagogue, John 6:1-63.  Jesus made reference to his flesh and his words being like bread.  Therefore we can see Jesus today as the bread of life in his words we read in the Bible and in the communion we share on the Lord's Day.  Christians held the Apostle's teaching and the Lord's communion as an essential part of their worship, Acts 2:37-42.  We know their teaching contained the words of Jesus and the communion as the bread of life, from which their spiritual life was maintained.  It was so important to Paul, that he designed his journeys to incorporate the Lord's Days activities of communion and the Apostles teachings every first day of the week, Acts 20:1-7.  The first day of the week became so important to them, that John describes it as "The Lord's Day", Rev. 1:10.  The wonderful reward for Christians that overcome sin, is described as 'hidden manna', Revelation 2:17, an obvious reference to miraculous food from God, Numbers 11:4-9. Spiritual food is taught and offered in different ways.  The Hebrew writer spoke of the meat & milk of God's word, Heb. 5:11-6:6.  Paul spoke of spiritual food, being Jesus himself, 1st Corinthians 10:1-4.  Peter said we should desire the milk of God's word as a baby yearns for milk, so we may be saved, 1st Peter 2:1-3.

The Good Shepherd & Door, John 10:1-21. A Shepherd that knows all of his sheep by name is unusual in our culture, but in Palestine many shepherds still have names for their sheep. Sir W. Ramsey records accounts of eastern shepherds doing this in the 20th century.  Most shepherds today intend on shearing and eventually slaughtering their sheep and therefore have no desire to become personally attached to them.  However, shepherds in the first century often slept at the opening of the stable or fold, therefore becoming 'the access' or door to the flock. Jesus is a unique shepherd; he is willing to sacrifice his life for them, being truly a good one.  Jesus sacrificed his earthly life, in order to raise himself up again for his sheep's eternal future in a spiritual life.  It is most interesting that sheep are the only domesticated animals that need constant herding, or else they quickly loose their unity and are easy prey for predators.  You can often see herds of sheep spread out aimlessly and in need of unity.  Our spiritual protection and nourishment is in Jesus Christ.  Humanity needs enough humility to enable us to recognize our inevitable ability to get lost!  Matthew 18:3-4.  The analogy of sheep and children is a good one to point out our need for humility.  Have you got memories of your childhood when you experienced 'getting lost in a crowd'?  Have you ever seen the terror and tears of a child when they realize they have lost their parents?  Have you ever seen the gruesome leftovers from a wolf ravaging a lost lamb?  If you have, you can easily admit the need of a shepherd in Jesus Christ. The identity of Jesus as a Good Shepherd is shown clearly in the image a shepherd, providing protection and feeding pasture as a father would his children. However, children & sheep do sometimes grow to rebel though, but even so, The Father still waits for the prodigal child to return, Luke 15:18-22. The Father will not let anything take you out of his hand or the fold, John 10:25-30 & 6:35-40, no matter what problem arises, at the end of the day, it is your decision as to whether or not you will stay in his flock.  In this parable, hired helpers for the shepherd turn out to be thieves, preying from inside the flock, and from the outside of the flock, the sheep are threatened by wolves.  Christians need to stay alert to the voice of Christ's Spirit in his word to maintain spiritual security from inside and outside the church, the flock of God, Acts 20:28-30. It is no coincidence, but rather divine providence in the genealogy of Jesus, that King David was once a shepherd and was willing to risk his life for his sheep, (1st Samuel 17:34-37).  The courage and strength of Jesus is beyond our imagination, His Spirit is with us to this day to protect our spiritual welfare.  In Jesus we have the access and ability to grow spiritually and help God to save other spirits, Galatians 6:15 & 3:26-29. In Jesus, our spirit can worship in truth and please God, giving us strength spiritually and giving us the ability to bless God, John 4:21-26.  Without the Spirit of Christ we can not know and indeed truly please God.  How do we receive His Spirit?  Acts 5:30-32.  Obey the Shepherd, become one of His sheep and follow Him.  Hear Him, Romans 10:17.   Believe Him, Hebrews 11:6.    Confess Him, Romans 10:9.   Obey Him in Repentance, Luke 13:3.   Obey Him in Baptism. Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, 1st Peter 3:21 & Romans 6:3-4.    Daily Follow Him in Holy Living, 1st Peter 2:11-12.

The True Vine, John 15:1-19. The Old Testament Background is that one of God's chosen symbols for Israel is the Vine or Vineyard, Ezekiel 15:1-8.  In Deuteronomy 32:32-33, the reference is used of unfaithful Israel who are likened to a "vine of Sodom and Gomorrah".  In Psalm 80:8-16, Israel is described by God as a "vine out of Egypt", planted by God, but which became a broken and ravaged vine.  In Isaiah 5:1-7, Israel is God's vineyard.  The description here is of God's dealings with his people.  His care and their response "yielded wild grapes", literally meaning that they never ripened and shows that God is the husbandman.  In Jeremiah 2:21, the picture here is of Israel planted as a choice vine, which became degenerate, a wild vine.  Choice here is used as chosen and elect, as in noble and the best seed was used to plant the vine, but it became unfruitful. The teaching of Jesus claimed he was "The True Vine".  This is meant to teach the contrast between Israel who failed to be what God intended and Jesus who 'grew up before him like a tender plant', He revealed the beauty of holiness.  The fruit of the Spirit adorned his life always and made men stand in awe.   The phrase, "My Father is the husbandman", means that the vineyard owner is tending and caring to produce the best fruit.  He gives direction of where the branches grow.  The phrase, "Ye are the branches", means the disciples but ultimately applies to all Christians. Every branch that bears no fruit, is not part of God's purpose. The consequence of this is to have God the husbandman, take away the branch.  Any vinedresser would do the same.  Recognize what is obvious.  Dead - No Life - No fruit, then remove it.  Do you have the fruit of the Spirit?  Paul asked in Acts 19, "Have you got the Spirit?" Every branch that bears fruit, that is, the only purpose of the vine is to bear fruit.  Ezekiel 15 asks the question, what use is the wood of the vine?  It has none, you can't even make a peg out of it, bearing fruit is its only purpose.  See Galatians 5:20-22.  He “prunes”, this implies severe treatment, but the purpose is clear, it's for the good.  "Mortify the flesh", Gal. 5:24, that it may bear more fruit.