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Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John to see how the safest place to be is in Jesus.
So let’s dive in.
(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document)
John 10:22–31
At that time the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple courts in Solomon’s Colonnade. So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” “I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf. But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him.
My Thoughts
Can you imagine what it was like to tag along with Jesus? Sure, He made a lot of people happy by healing the sick and raising the dead. He even got a few winks from people who found His teaching entertaining, even if they didn’t quite get the punchline. But on the other hand, there were contingents who hated His guts and wanted Him—and His followers—dead.
Jesus walked right into the lion’s den on multiple occasions, seemingly poking the biggest lions right in the eye. I can just picture His disciples wincing and taking a few steps back in response to some of His replies to the religious leaders of the day. And yet, Jesus insisted that the safest place to be in the midst of all that hostility was right by His side. His sheep know His voice, know they are secure, and know they will never perish.
As disciple-makers, we are not only meant to possess this kind of confidence and courage, but we must also instill it in others. How do we do that? First and foremost, by helping them know their Master personally instead of vicariously.
Too often, “disciple-making” causes those being discipled to lean on the disciple-maker rather than on Jesus Himself. We need to take any dependence they might have on us and help them radically secure it on the Savior. This happens by teaching them to feed themselves on the Scriptures and encouraging them to go to God for answers, rather than coming to us. This also includes the vital element of prayer.
We may also have to endure the pain of not coming to their rescue in dire situations, simply to avoid getting between the sheep and the Shepherd. Really, when you think about it, it’s a lot like raising kids. You don’t want your children to remain completely dependent on you forever. They have to learn how to navigate life on their own, with Jesus as their true comforter and guide.
My Story
There’s an old joke in the Army: The fastest way to get promoted to corporal is to go to Korea as a sergeant.
If you aren’t familiar with the rank structure, that’s a direct demotion. Between the sexual temptations and the off-base distractions the second a soldier steps off the plane, it is notoriously easy to lose your stripes. So, when my orders came down for the “Land of the Morning Calm,” I was a brand-new believer—and inside, there was zero calm happening. I was terrified.
I put myself on a strict, self-imposed curfew. The moment the sun started dipping below the horizon, I was safely tucked away in the barracks. In those early days, I looked out at the chaos around me and honestly wondered, Can God even be in a place where sin is this easy?
It turns out, He doesn’t just operate there; He takes the ground.
When we treat Jesus as our actual, day-to-day battle buddy, the intimidation factor starts to shrink. It wasn’t that the environment magically lost its hazards, but that our shared mission brought clarity. Within a week, I had a small Bible study off the ground. I found some exceptional missionaries to mentor me, and within the first month, I started discipling a couple of guys who were trying to find their footing, too.
I even managed to brave inter-branch rivalry, win the heart of an Air Force colonel’s daughter, and marry her without a single ounce of trepidation. Well maybe a little. 🙂
What started as an assignment I dreaded turned into one of the greatest ventures of faith, relationship, and mission of my life. It taught me a fundamental truth about following Him: when we are actively stepping into what He has for us, anywhere in the world can be a wildly dangerous, perfectly safe place to be with Jesus.
Our Action Plan
Now it’s time for application. Here’s some ideas:
- What scares you? Look at Scripture to address this very specific fear.
- Are you instilling confidence in those you are discipling in the Master Himself?
- Do something “dangerious” with those you are discipling and learn to trust the Good Shepherd together.
It’s no secret that both we and those we disciple live with various fears. The real question is: Are we overcoming them by trusting in Jesus, or have we become so risk-averse that our faith is rarely tested? Choose to walk in total confidence in the Good Shepherd.
Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added
| Gospel Sync | Kingdom Kernels | Discipleship Matters Podcast | Website |
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