Read verses 16-21
Q: Who are the “other sheep, which are not of this fold” to whom Jesus is referring?
A: The Gentiles so that everyone will become one flock.
Q: How is this going to be accomplished? Why was this a powerful message to the Jews at that time?
A: “…they will hear My voice” (v.16)—that is, they will respond to His Word.
Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
— Ephesians 2:11-13
And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
— Ephesians 2:17-18
By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
— Ephesians 3:4-6
There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
— Ephesians 4:4-6
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
— Galatians 3:26-29
Q: What is significant about v.18? What dual aspects of Christ’s First Coming are co-equally mentioned?
A: Both Christ’s death and resurrection.
Q: In the course of the argument of whether Jesus was demon-possessed, what is the point of contention? Are they arguing about whether or not Jesus performed the miracle?
A: They both agree when it comes to healing the man born blind, but they disagree on whether it gives weight to Christ’s accompanying message: “A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words”. (v.19) One group says, “Why do you listen to Him?” (v.20) while the other says, “These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed.” (v.21) They are not divided over the miracle but the message.
Q: How is this contrary to the objection which is usually raised concerning Christ?
A: Most often they ask for a sign that He is the Messiah—what can be literally translated “an attesting miracle”, and in doing so completely ignore the message. Here they have “an attesting miracle” and yet they still dispute the message. (Mt. 12:38; 16:1; Mk. 8:11-12; Lk. 11:16; Jn. 2:18; 6:30)
Q: What is the greater point of the message which they do not seem to grasp?
A: Under the Old Testament system it was the sheep who died for the shepherd, but the Good Shepherd has instead come to die for the sheep! This is what John the Baptist established from the outset which continued to be largely ignored:
Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
— John 1:35-36
Application: Christ is the True Shepherd who dies for the sheep. Through His Word He calls them, and those who believe step through the Door, leaving their old fold to become part of the true, united flock of Christ, the Church.
