Upheld at the Sheep Gate #1

The Sheep

In visiting Ireland, I observed stone gates and paddocks keeping sheep in place. A dog herds the flock and the shepherd directs the dog like a violinist lovingly plays his instrument. The sheep pay attention and go whichever way they are commanded.

Jerusalem’s Sheep Gate is located about where the little toe is on the right footprint. Imagine standing before this first entrance in our walk around gates. The priests labored to restore this gate, after which they offered perfect and well cared for sheep as sacrifices for the sins of the people. 

Get Up And Walk 

Near the Sheep Gate once lay the Pool of Bethesda. Sick and injured people hovered around the pool because an angel went to the pool at certain times to stir the waters. The first one in after that got to be healed. One man had been immobilized for thirty-eight years and could never get to the pool. One day, Jesus came by.

“Do you want to be made well?”

“Yes, but there’s nobody to help me into the pool and I can never get there before anyone else.”

“Rise, take up your bed and walk.”

Can you guess at the surprise, chagrin, and utter wonder of those around them as the man got up and walked? What kind of faith did that take for him to do so? Or maybe it had more to do with the power of Jesus?

The Shepherd 

The shepherd loves and cares for his sheep. Day and night. Through disease, discomfort, buzzing critters around their heads, weather, always looking for the best places to water and rest. Even going after the ewe who knows better as she squeezes through the rocks to run over cliff. He uses his staff to hook her and lifts her safely back to the fold.

Jesus saw the man who laid by the Sheep Gate at Bethesda Pool. He saw a shriveled, helpless lamb. Because compassion is His nature, He commanded this helpless man to get up and walk. The man, recognizing his Shepherd, obeyed. 

The Sacrifice 

The legalistic religious leaders opposed Jesus for this healing as well as many others. Eventually, they put Him to death, with their rallying cry, “Better that one man should die for the people, so the whole nation should not perish.” How could they know they spoke eternal truth?

Jesus, the Shepherd, became the Lamb of God. On the Cross, He was both priest and sacrifice: The Ultimate High Priest offering Himself for our sin. Through His Resurrection, He became the Gate through which we must pass into eternal life.

For Consideration

Have you thought lately about the Sacrifice of Jesus for you? How about believing in that Sacrifice enough to pick up your matt and walk?

“Jesus said to him, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’” John 5:8.

“He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm” Isaiah 40:11a.