16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
Hallelujah for this verse indeed! The “other sheep” Jesus mentions in our verse for today refers to the Gentiles which must be brought in to His fold and which are not of the Jewish sheep pen. Jesus maintains that this inclusion of the Gentiles is indeed a compulsory necessity – again, Hallelujah for that! The actual wording Jesus uses here meaning “an unavoidable, urgent, compulsory necessity”. Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible - New Testament Lexical Aids. The fulfillments of all God’s promises are just that - unavoidable, urgent, compulsory necessities – not one of His good promises will every fail. The prophet Isaiah had prophesized the following promise in light of our verse for today:
6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant-- 7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." 8 The Sovereign LORD declares--he who gathers the exiles of Israel: "I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered." Isaiah 56:6-8 (NIV)
Of course this was in light of fulfilling the covenant promise given by God to Abraham all the way back in Genesis:
3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Gen 12:3 (NIV)
Paul puts it the following way in Galatians linking Abraham and his spiritual descendants - both Jew and Gentile alike - as being made righteous through faith. Abraham was saved by faith and so too are all of his spiritual descendants:
8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." 9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Gal 3:8-9 (NIV)
Peter states this revolutionary Truth clearly in Acts:
34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Acts 10:34-36 (NIV)
This is very sweet news for Gentiles indeed! Paul brings this point home in Ephesians by telling us just how great this sweet news is by describing our condition prior to it:
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men) -- 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, Eph 2:11-14 (NIV)
“We came into this world wretched, miserable, and undone creatures, in cruel bondage to sin and Satan, under guilt and under wrath, hostile toward God—the fountain of blessedness—and in a state of condemnation leading to everlasting destruction. But when a man is converted, he is brought out of that state of woe and misery into a sure title to glory, honor, and peace forever. When once a man is converted, all this blessedness that we have heard of is his; he has an absolute right to it. God’s work is accomplished for it; His faithful promise is given.” Jonathan Edwards
All who are believers in Christ - Jew and Gentile alike - are now in one body – being one flock - with Christ the great Shepherd as the Head – and sharers together in all the promises of Christ. We find this confirmed in Ephesians as Paul writes:
6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Eph 3:6 (NIV)
Interestingly, Jesus tells us that like His Jewish believers, we as His Gentile believers will listen to His voice as well. Isaiah tells us we will bind ourselves to Him and serve and worship Him – not neglecting the Sabbath and holding fast to His covenant. These are all appropriate responses for those who once were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel, foreigners of the promise, without hope and without God. I am reminded of Paul’s words in Romans that present us with an acceptable response to what God has done for us through Jesus:
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will . Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
Once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vise, constrained by the love of God.” Oswald Chambers