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Sheep from the other fold
Jesus had given these pastoral words to the Jews during the Feast of the temple Dedication in Jerusalem in the winter. (John 10:19-29). Most of the inhabitants of the capital did not believe in Him. That is why Jesus had to tell them: You are not My sheep. Only those who believed in the divine Shepherd managed to understand and follow Him. Believing in Jesus alone leads to knowledge of Him, to salvation, to power and obedience. Anyone who believes in Him will not be lost, but have eternal life. (John 3:15-16)
Jesus was sent by His Father to the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:24). He commanded His disciples not to walk the streets of the unclean people, but to go only to the lost children of Abraham (Matthew 10:6) He Himself went seeking the dispersed, who answered His voice when He found them. He confessed: "I am come to seek and to save that which is lost" (Matthew 18, 11). The shepherd-loyalty of Jesus to Israel was great. He wanted to free His people from all of their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
But the majority of His people rejected Jesus. The false shepherds and the leaders of His people sentenced Him and handed Him over to the Roman occupiers for crucifixion. The good Shepherd, abandoned by His sheep, died on the cross outside of Jerusalem. But before that Jesus revealed He possessed other sheep as well, that did not belong to the people of the Old Testament. He also desires to call them:
JOHN 10:16
16 I have other sheep, which are not from this fold. I must bring them also. They will hear My voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
Before His ascension, the risen One had commanded His disciples to preach the gospel to all nations. (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8). Peter, whom Jesus had appointed to shepherd His sheep and lambs (John 21:15-19), was instructed by his Lord not to despise the ungodly Gentiles, but to baptize them if they believed in Christ (Acts 10:1-48). Therefore, the leader of the apostles found the courage and the authority to introduce all believers in Christ from the despised nations into the rights of the Old Testament, as shepherd-kings and priests of God. (1. Peter 2:9-10). A huge change was brought about. Not only the followers of Jesus from Israel, but also believers in the good Shepherd from all nations were recognized as belonging to the flock of Jesus. They heard His voice and entrusted their lives to the leadership of the risen Lord.
Within a few years the Gospel went from Jerusalem, through Samaria, and on to Rome. Paul, being a Semitic scholar of the law and Spirit-filled theologian, was the missionary to the nations, who introduced the secrets of God's plan of salvation into the rationalistic thinking of the Indo-Germanic nations. The Orthodox Copts regard Mark, the Apostle’s disciple, as their evangelist, and the Christians of South India believe that Thomas, the doubter among the apostles, and who was the first to call Jesus his God and Lord, brought the Gospel to them. The victory of the Gospel is still progressing today, day and night, overpowering nations, languages and philosophies. The Lord leads His flock. Will you also come and be a part of His fold?
6 Billion People are living today on the planet earth. 29-32% of them, about 1.5-1.8 billion, call themselves Christians. The name of their Lord became imprinted upon them.
Islam, with about 900 million - 1.2 billion adherents, claims 18-21 percent of the world´s population, and is growing faster than all other religions because of high birth rates.
A similarly large number as the Muslims is represented by atheists and the non-religious.
Hindus, with about 700-800 million people, make up 13-14 percent of the world population, Buddhists, with 6-8%, have 300-450 million followers. In the Far East there are other religions that include another 6-8% of the human race.
Still 3-4 percent follow Animism, comprising 170-200 million people.
Most of the 15-19 million Jews (0.3 per cent of the world population) are still opposing the call of the good Shepherd.
World mission is not yet ended. Barely one-third of all people have heard the Gospel so far and been converted by it. That is why responsible Christians should listen carefully when Jesus says He has other sheep that are lost and are still not following Him. He will also call them, and bring and incorporate them into His flock. The urgency of world mission is as valid today, nearly 2,000 years later, as it was the first day.
We should not let our Lord and good Shepherd go alone to these people, but should hurry after Him in witnessing to non-Christians, as well as Christians in name only. We should help make His salvation known in all possible ways. We must not live for ourselves or have everything revolve only around ourselves. We can, however, learn from our good Shepherd, in seeing how He served both the wicked and the pious. We should repent and seek the lost, and lead them to Jesus.
In all religions and nations many are frustrated. They have a feeling their laws and programs will not redeem them, and that their deceased religious leaders will bring no salvation to them. Only the living Christ is the good Shepherd, who gave His life for His flock. Whosoever follows Him will be justified and receive eternal life. Who will search for the ones waiting for the salvation of Christ and offer them the secure hope of the gospel?
Today we are witnessing the grace that Jesus is offering to the children of Abraham, to Jews and Muslims. Thousands of Jewish Christians and tens of thousands of converts from Islam are consciously following the good Shepherd. They suffer loneliness, oppression and persecution for His name's sake. They need our interest, our sacrifices and our intercession. Jesus is fulfilling His promise that he will lose or forget none of His sheep, even under the most difficult conditions. The plan of salvation of Jesus Christ is truly being realized. The love of God compels us to preach the Gospel to all people, and to pray for them, that they might be saved from sin, death and Satan.