John 10B - Poaching

So many players, so much going on. We have shepherds, doorkeepers, sheep, wolves, thieves, hired hands and robbers. Shifting from the allegorical to the historical we have Father, Son and the Jewish people with the Jewish Leaders behind the scenes.

When I started reading this passage I kept thinking of the idea behind poaching.

As an idea, poaching has always caught my attention. In the modern context it refers to the illegal hunting or trapping of protected wildlife. Mostly punishable by the Modern State with fines or jail terms. In the Feudal European context it meant stealing from the King. The King, as the ultimate landowner, owned everything. If I tool control of a sheep, even as one of the Kings shepherds, I was guilty of poaching and would probably be executed.

Bottom line. You treat the King's property with disrespect and your life was on the line.

A useful backdrop for John's sheep / shepherd discussion is Ezekiel 34. If you haven't read it may I suggest you stop reading now, read it and come back! Well hopefully! ;-)

In the context of the Feudal idea behind poaching and Ezekiel 34 this passage starts to make sense. It also explains the strong language; theieves, robbers, wolves. This is all predatory language. Language of self-centredness and self-interest. Treating people like objects to be mis-used and used. Jesus comment on self-sacrifice is not merely a comment on the pending cross, it is a declaration of the implicit nature of the Father God Shepherd over the natural order of men appointed by men.

Jesus problem is simple. He is dealing with poachers who are masqerading as shepherds. The sheep are trapped and preyed upon by the very ones who should be caring for them. He is preaching in the midst of an environment where these poachers have the sway of the people. That is why He runs the comparison over shepherds. The sheep are His. If you are an authorized carer of His sheep then you had better acknowledge His ownership of the sheep. The implicit warning is to tread warily when handling His sheep. Treat the Kings sheep carelessly and watch out! He has no problem moving them on when His appointed shepherds start poaching. He has no problem judging those who mis-treat the sheep.

The treatment of sheep, in the feudal context, is fear based. Hurt the sheep, cop the Kings wrath. In the context of Ezekiel 34 it is all about the voice. If the Shepherds who are meant to take care,don't, Father will step in and take over. That is why John keeps mentioning more and more people believing in Jesus. There are echoes of Ezekiel 34. The Chief Shepherd is calling His sheep. He is taking back control. Redemption is coming...

Either way, the sheep are always the King's. How much damage has the church done through the ages by not treating the sheep with the same tenderness He shows His own sheep? Let us treat His sheep with increadible carefulness.

Father preserve us from the crime of poaching...