E.T., with aching longing written all over his alien face, and his elongated finger pointing to outer space, says, sonorously, “E.T. home phone”!… These words automatically struck an emotional chord with every human being who heard them. We always remain in the grip of heart-breaking longing for our true, ultimate ‘home’.
If we are ‘sheep’, then our true ‘home’, is the ‘sheepfold’ of Christ, the Good Shepherd, who laid down His life to save us from all evil (John, chapter 15). In this parable, Jesus said that there are those already in His sheepfold (believers), and those whom He still had to bring into it (unbelievers).
Jesus said, “When I am lifted up from the earth…” (meaning, lifted up on His Cross, lifted up in His Resurrection and lifted up in His Ascension) “…I will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32).
True, some astonishingly refuse His gracious traction, and can ultimately cut themselves off from Him and His salvation. Sheep can do this with even the best of shepherds! But how much more readily can they accept, submit to His powerful shepherding, and be carried home to the fold by Him, “right close to His heart”?! (Is 40:11)
Jesus has ‘thrown a lasso’ around the human race, and He is hauling them in! Our witness – what we are called to do – is simply to lay our hand on the rope. Easy!
Grace and cheers, Jonathan.