A Gate, a Shepherd, and a Lamb (Part 3) – #148

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John to see the last of the three metaphors Jesus refers to Himself as in John 10.

So let’s dive in.

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John 10:17–21

The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.” Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus’ message. Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?” But others replied, “These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

My Thoughts

And now we come to the last of the three metaphors. But this one is hidden in plain sight. It is the Sacrificial Lamb. Jesus has been painting a picture about His identity and purpose. He starts with calling Himself the Gate of the sheep pen. He is the only legitimate passage to God, the only way. Then in transition, He calls Himself the Good Shepherd. He is the only One who can lead the sheep in and out of the Gate. And now He alludes to Himself as the Sacrificial Lamb in an even more mysterious way.

“The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again.“

He actually alluded to this earlier in verse 11.

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

Tucked away in Jesus’ discourse with the religious leaders is the most significant event in human history, God the Father and God the Son collaborate in His sacrificial death for the redemption of mankind.

Earlier in the Old Testament, God the Father actually institutes a foreshadowing ceremony called the Passover to point to what Jesus is saying here. Before the last plague inflicted on Egypt the Children of Israel were instructed to kill a lamb and paint the blood on the doorposts and lintel of their dwellings. This was a sign for the Destroyer to “pass over” them when slaying the first born of every creature in Egypt (Exodus 12:1-27). They were commanded to keep it as a perpetual ceremony to point them to THE Lamb of God who ultimately shed His blood and would pass over their sins. Unfortunately, many in Israel then and today missed the full intent of this prophetic observance.

This was the message of many prophets throughout history and John the Baptist put it most clearly.

“Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

That brings us to the role of the disciple maker. It’s our responsibility to help people see the significance of Jesus being that Passover Lamb. We bring the gospel message and train others to preach the death, burial, and resurrection of the Christ. We teach them how to live in a never ending state of passover rather than just practicing a ritual once a year. As disciple makers we point to a life in Christ that is guided, protected, and empowered by the Blood of the Lamb.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,

“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. (Revelation 12:10-11)

My Story

As a soldier I saw a lot of blood even though I was never really on the frontlines, so to speak. But I saw enough in training and accidents where it became kind of “normal.” I went from being a little queasy at the sight of the red stuff to “such is life.” I even watched our Physician Assistant in the Ranger Battalion surgically remove a piece of metal jammed into my knee cap. So I had become pretty accustomed to the sight of blood.

Until…my four year old son, Charles William Wood III, cut himself so bad we had to take him to the emergency room. The sight of that blood, the blood of my son, made my head spin and I almost couldn’t drive because I thought I was going to pass out. I don’t want to use the word “faint” because it sounds kind of wimpy. But I have to admit, at the time, I was feeling pretty wimpy. The sight of my son’s blood was not “normal.” It was gut-wrenching!

I can only imagine what God the Father was feeling as His Son’s blood was being spilled out for you and I. It’s not the sanitized kid’s version of the torture and crucifixion. It’s watching the horrifying nauseating reality of a loved one’s life drain from them. That’s how much God loves us and I am compelled to tell others His story about the sacrificial Lamb.

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s some questions and ideas;

What other insights from the Old Testament point to the sacrifice Jesus makes on the cross?
How are you as a disciple maker helping people connect the dots between the Old and the New Testaments?
Help those you are discipling prepare a Discovery Bible Study on the Passover and its significance to us as followers of Jesus.

Jesus points to the Old Testament often to shed light on His identity and purpose. This makes it important to have a handle on both the Old and the New in order to see Jesus clearly and plumb the depth of His richness. As disciple makers, we should encourage those we mentor to read and study the whole counsel of God.

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added

Una puerta, un pastor y un cordero (Parte 3) – #148

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Juan para ver la última de las tres metáforas con las que Jesús se describe a sí mismo en Juan 10.

Así que, ¡comencemos!

Juan 10:17-21

Mis Pensamientos

Y ahora llegamos a la última de las tres metáforas. Pero esta está oculta a plena vista. Es el Cordero Sacrificial. Jesús ha estado describiendo su identidad y propósito. Comienza llamándose a sí mismo la Puerta del redil. Él es el único camino legítimo hacia Dios, la única vía. Luego, en la transición, se llama a sí mismo el Buen Pastor. Él es el único que puede guiar a las ovejas dentro y fuera de la Puerta. Y ahora alude a sí mismo como el Cordero Sacrificial de una manera aún más misteriosa.

La razón por la que el Padre me ama es que doy mi vida para volver a tomarla.

De hecho, ya había aludido a esto anteriormente en el versículo 11:

Yo soy el buen pastor; el buen pastor da su vida por las ovejas.

Escondido en el discurso de Jesús con los líderes religiosos se encuentra el acontecimiento más significativo de la historia de la humanidad: Dios Padre y Dios Hijo colaboran en su muerte sacrificial para la redención de la humanidad.

Anteriormente, en el Antiguo Testamento, Dios Padre instituyó una ceremonia prefigurativa llamada la Pascua para señalar lo que Jesús está diciendo aquí. Antes de la última plaga infligida a Egipto, a los hijos de Israel se les ordenó matar un cordero y pintar la sangre en los postes y el dintel de las puertas de sus casas. Esta era una señal para que el Destructor los “pasara por alto” al matar a los primogénitos de todas las criaturas en Egipto (Éxodo 12:1-27). Se les ordenó que la guardaran como una ceremonia perpetua para que recordaran al Cordero de Dios que finalmente derramaría su sangre y perdonaría sus pecados. Desafortunadamente, muchos en Israel, tanto entonces como ahora, no comprendieron el significado completo de esta observancia profética.

Este fue el mensaje de muchos profetas a lo largo de la historia, y Juan el Bautista lo expresó con mayor claridad:

«He aquí el Cordero de Dios, que quita el pecado del mundo» (Juan 1:29).

Esto nos lleva al papel del hacedor de discípulos. Es nuestra responsabilidad ayudar a las personas a comprender la importancia de que Jesús sea ese Cordero Pascual. Llevamos el mensaje del evangelio y capacitamos a otros para que prediquen la muerte, la sepultura y la resurrección de Cristo. Les enseñamos a vivir en un estado constante de Pascua, en lugar de simplemente practicar un ritual una vez al año. Como formadores de discípulos, señalamos una vida en Cristo que es guiada, protegida y fortalecida por la sangre del Cordero.

Entonces oí una gran voz en el cielo que decía:

«Ahora ha llegado la salvación, el poder, el reino de nuestro Dios y la autoridad de su Cristo, porque el acusador de nuestros hermanos ha sido derribado, el que los acusaba día y noche delante de nuestro Dios. Y ellos lo vencieron por medio de la sangre del Cordero y por la palabra de su testimonio, y no amaron sus vidas hasta la muerte.» (Apocalipsis 12:10-11)

Mi Historia

Como soldado, vi mucha sangre, aunque nunca estuve realmente en la primera línea de combate, por así decirlo. Pero vi suficiente durante el entrenamiento y en accidentes como para que se volviera algo “normal”. Pasé de sentirme un poco mareado al ver sangre a pensar: “Así es la vida”. Incluso vi al asistente médico de nuestro batallón de Rangers extirpar quirúrgicamente un trozo de metal que se me había incrustado en la rótula. Así que me había acostumbrado bastante a la vista de la sangre.

Hasta que… mi hijo de cuatro años, Charles William Wood III, se cortó tan gravemente que tuvimos que llevarlo a la sala de emergencias. La vista de esa sangre, la sangre de mi hijo, me hizo sentir mareado y casi no pude conducir porque pensé que me iba a desmayar. No quiero usar la palabra “desmayarme” porque suena un poco cobarde. Pero tengo que admitir que, en ese momento, me sentía bastante débil. La vista de la sangre de mi hijo no era “normal”. ¡Fue desgarrador!

Solo puedo imaginar lo que sintió Dios Padre al ver la sangre de su Hijo derramada por ti y por mí. No se trata de la versión edulcorada para niños de la tortura y la crucifixión. Se trata de presenciar la horrible y nauseabunda realidad de ver cómo la vida de un ser querido se escapa. Así de grande es el amor de Dios por nosotros, y me siento impulsado a contarles a otros su historia sobre el Cordero sacrificial.

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es el momento de la aplicación. Aquí tienes algunas preguntas e ideas:

¿Qué otras enseñanzas del Antiguo Testamento apuntan al sacrificio que Jesús hizo en la cruz?

Como formador de discípulos, ¿cómo ayudas a las personas a conectar el Antiguo y el Nuevo Testamento?

Ayuda a quienes estás discipulando a preparar un estudio bíblico de descubrimiento sobre la Pascua y su significado para nosotros como seguidores de Jesús.

Jesús se refiere a menudo al Antiguo Testamento para arrojar luz sobre su identidad y propósito. Por lo tanto, es importante comprender tanto el Antiguo como el Nuevo Testamento para ver a Jesús con claridad y profundizar en la riqueza de su mensaje. Como formadores de discípulos, debemos animar a quienes discipulamos a leer y estudiar toda la Palabra de Dios.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

Kingdom Kernel #38 – The King’s Expectation to Multiply – Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:11-27

As Co-Regents We are Expected to Multiply the King’s Resources

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“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

“Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

“And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

“But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(Matthew 25:14-30)

Introduction

The Parables of the Talents and Minas both point to the King’s expectations for His Co-Regents to multiply what they have been given for the sake of His kingdom and glory. In this essay we will look at both the rewards of wise investment and the consequences of inaction. We will also investigate the potential “resources” the Master has entrusted to us and how to multiply them.

Key Words and Phrases

“For it is just like…” – In the context of Matthew 25 Jesus first starts with a different parable; “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins…” Jesus is explaining the kingdom. The Parable of the Ten Virgins emphasizes the need to be ready for Christ’s return by being vigilantly prepared. Jesus continues to talk about the kingdom of God in the Parable of the Talents using the pronoun “it” to refer back to the kingdom He is still describing in parabolic fashion.

“They supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately…” – Luke sets the stage for Jesus’ Parable of the Minas with this statement. He uses it as a transition and explanation on why Jesus is telling the parable. The parable of the Minas is both instructive of “when” the kingdom will be coming and “what” we should be doing as we wait for its arrival.

Talents – τάλαντον (Strong’s G5007 – talanton) A sum of money weighing a talent and varying in different states and according to the changes in the laws regulating currency. A talent of gold in Israel weighed about 200 pounds (91 kg) So ten talents would be worth approximately $120,320,000 at today’s US rates (Sep 2025).

Minas – μνᾶ (Strong’s G3414 – mna) In the NT, a weight and sum of money equal to 100 drachmae, one talent was 100 pounds, a pound equalled to 10 1/3 oz. (300 gm) So ten minas would be worth approximately $60,028,800 at today’s US rates (Sep 2025).

“Each according to his own ability…” – This is an interesting distinction Jesus makes between the two parables. In the Parable of the Minas, each is given the same amount (Ten Minas). In the Parable of the Talents, each steward is apportioned an amount based on their abilities or managerial skills.

Messianic Model – Focus on Jesus’ example

Jesus’ parables of the Talents and Minas cover two basic principles; Stewarding God’s kingdom resources and being ready to give an account for that stewardship on a moment’s notice. Jesus modeled both of these principles in an exemplary manner. He was always ready to do what the Father wanted done when He wanted it done. Jesus had perfect compliance and stewardship and His timing was completely synchronized with the Father.

Jesus’ Complete Obedience to the Father (Matthew 26:39; John 6:38; 8:29; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 5:8)

Stewardship According to the Father’s Will (John 4:34; 12:49; 17:4)

Jesus’ Perfect Synchronization with the Father (John 2:4; 7:6; 7:30; 12:23; 13:1)

Key Theological Implications

Understanding our identity and purpose is essential to making any sense of these two parables. They emphasise God’s expectation for us to steward and multiply what He has given us. We must go back to the beginning for our first clues.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26-28)

We were designed from the very beginning to be “like” God, created in His image. This is our identity. As we look further at His plan we see it also includes a creative element (be fruitful and multiply) and a stewardship element (fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over). This is our purpose. Of course once sin entered the picture, we were subject to confusion and abuses that derailed our understanding and application of our identity and purpose. Every event in history either proves our absolute failure to embrace God’s intentions for us or examples of people totally dependent on Him to bind, nurture, and direct His poor fallen people.

This can be seen in the Old Testament from the Tower of Babel to the flood to the waywardness of God’s chosen nation (Israel) and the murders of His spokesmen. We need go no further than the crucifixion of Jesus the Christ in the New Testament. We have mismanaged the creation and God’s kingdom from the start.

Part of Jesus’ mission was to restore our original identity and purpose. From “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19) to His definition of discipleship, “A disciple is not above His teacher but when he is fully trained he becomes like the teacher” (Luke 6:40). He became everything we were meant to be and provided a model for what being a good steward looks like.

Jesus’ parables remind us that we are God’s stewards and we have been entrusted with His creation. God expects us not only to maintain what has been created but to “be fruitful and multiply” what He has given. This extends from the relationships in our lives, our property, our gifts and talents, our personalities, our time, even down to every breath we take. We are to have dominion and multiply all that He has given us for the sake of His glory. This is the way of the King and His kingdom.

Contemporary Spiritual Significance

As we survey all that God has entrusted to us and align ourselves with the example Jesus set during His time on earth, we are challenged to make good on the gifts God has given us. We are to be good stewards with the realm and capacity He has provided and even bring increase to what we have. When we align ourselves with God’s original intentions, we obey His first commands and reap incredible benefits at the same time.

The Transformative Power of Being Fruitful and Multiplying

God’s design for us was meant to help us thrive under the responsibility to create, manage, lead, and nurture. We were placed in a supreme place of significance in His creation with a purpose. Our identity as image bearers reflects the very purpose of God. Alignment with these principles and activities makes life adventurous, fulfilling, and meaningful. Drifting from the original mandate and design of God causes us to become unmoored and confused as to why we were created and what we were meant to do. Jesus finished the work He was given. (John 17:4) Paul finished his work. (2 Timothy 4:6-8) In the parables the servants finished their work and received praise and reward from the Master; “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master.” Now we too are challenged to finish the work set before us. (Ephesians 2:10)

Conclusion

Jesus is describing not only the King’s expectation in these two parables but gives direction for the kingdom’s citizens. We are to be faithful stewards of the gifts He had given and to multiply them for His glory. Obedience brings great praise, reward, and more responsibility. Failure has disastrous consequences.

Disciple-Maker’s Short Story

Ducks, Devotion, and Discipleship

The decoys bobbed like dark apostles in the pre-dawn gray, their silhouettes sharp against water that held the last of the night. Chad watched them through the brush screening, his breath condensing in small clouds that disappeared into the Louisiana cold. Beside him, Burt sat rigid as a heron, his shoulders hunched forward.

They’d been out here since four-thirty, wedged into the blind Chad had built on the property his grandfather left him—a slip of wetland that flooded reliable every winter, pulling pintails and teal down from the sky. The coffee in Chad’s thermos had gone lukewarm an hour ago. The two hadn’t spoken in forty minutes.

“So,” Chad said finally, his voice low and gentle. “You want to tell me what’s actually going on, brother?”

A flight of coots chattered past, too far out. The eastern sky was starting to leak orange at its edges.

Burt’s hands worked the stock of his shotgun, thumb tracing the checkering pattern over and over. The silence stretched until it felt like something physical between them.

“I’m not ready,” Burt said finally, his words barely audible.

“For what?” Chad asked, though he already knew.

“What you’re asking. Discipling someone.” Burt’s voice was tight. “Danny asked me two months ago if I’d meet with him weekly. I keep putting him off.”

Chad waited, letting the question form itself.

“Because what if I mess it up?” The words came faster now, pressure releasing. “What if I tell him something wrong, or I can’t answer his questions, or—what if he ends up worse because of me? I’m barely keeping my own head above water most days. How am I supposed to pull someone else up?”

Chad poured himself another cup of coffee, the thermos cap catching the growing light. He took a sip, let the warmth settle.

“There’s this parable,” he said. “The talents. You know it?”

“Yeah.”

“Walk me through it.”

Burt exhaled slowly. “Rich man goes on a trip. Leaves money with three servants. Different amounts—five talents, two talents, one talent. First two double what they’re given. Last guy buries his in the ground.”

“Why’d he bury it?”

“He was afraid.”

“That’s right.” Chad’s voice carried no judgment, just invitation. “Master comes back, and that servant’s got his excuses ready. ‘I knew you were a hard man,’ he says. ‘I was afraid of losing it, so I kept it safe.'”

Burt was quiet, watching the water.

“And the master calls him wicked,” Chad continued softly. “Not for lacking ability—for lacking action. For choosing fear over faithfulness.”

A crow called from the tupelos behind them, harsh and certain.

“But here’s what I want you to hear, Burt. Really hear.” Chad shifted to face him more directly. “The master didn’t give everyone the same amount. It wasn’t about equal distribution—it was according to ability. The guy with five talents could handle five. The guy with two? That was his measure. Even the one-talent man had exactly what he could steward if he’d just tried.”

Burt’s face had gone pale in the growing light.

“I’m not asking you to be me,” Chad said. “I’m not asking you to teach seminary classes or lead a ministry. I’m asking you to be faithful with what God’s already given you. One talent. One guy. One hour a week.”

“But what if—”

“What if you fail?” Chad’s tone was kind. “Brother, the failure’s already happening. That talent’s already in the ground.”

The words landed soft but solid.

“You know what the master told that servant?” Chad continued. “‘At least you could’ve deposited it and earned interest.’ The bare minimum would’ve been better than nothing. Meeting with Danny once a week over coffee—just showing up, being honest about your own struggles, pointing him toward Jesus when you can—that’s not nothing. That’s something. And something beats a hole in the ground every time.”

Burt’s eyes were wet. “I just don’t want to let him down.”

“So don’t let Jesus let him down.” Chad’s hand found Burt’s shoulder. “That’s what discipleship is. Not you being perfect. You being faithful to what you’ve got. You being willing to multiply what God’s given you, even when it feels small.”

Movement on the water—a small raft of teal, still too distant.

“Jesus finished the work He was given,” Chad said quietly. “Not anyone else’s work. His. And He did it perfectly, so we could do ours imperfectly and still hear ‘well done.’ That’s grace, brother. You get to steward what you’ve been given, and Jesus covers the rest.”

Burt nodded slowly, something loosening in his posture. “I want to be like that. Like Jesus. Finishing what I’m given instead of running from it.”

“Then start with Danny,” Chad said simply. “Text him this afternoon. Set up coffee for this week. Don’t wait until you feel ready—you’ll never feel ready. Just be faithful with the one.”

The sky had turned from orange to pale blue, darkness retreating to the treeline.

“Okay,” Burt said. “Okay. I’ll text him today.”

A whistle of wings—sudden, close. Both men looked up as a pair of mallards cupped their wings and dropped toward the decoys, their approach steep and committed. Chad’s hand moved to his call, but he didn’t blow it. The birds were already coming, already convinced.

They landed in a splash of white water, settling among the decoys like they’d always belonged there.

“Legal light in two minutes,” Chad whispered.

They waited together in the blind, two men with different measures but the same call, watching the sky fill with possibility as morning broke clean and cold across the Louisiana marsh. The decoys rocked gently in the wake of the real ducks.

Burt checked his safety, and for the first time in weeks, his hands were steady.

And Chad watched the sky, praying silently that his friend would find the courage to multiply what he’d been given—one conversation, one get-together, one faithful step at a time.

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A Gate, a Shepherd, and a Lamb (Part 2) – #147

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ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John to see what Jesus says about being the Good Shepherd.

So let’s dive in.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document)

John 10:11–16

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

My Thoughts

As we continue to explore Jesus’ metaphors about Himself we come to His moniker of the Shepherd. But not just any shepherd, the Good Shepherd. What makes Him so good? Four distinct characteristics. First, His sheep know His voice. In verses 3-4 of chapter 10, He says,

“The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

A true disciple of Christ hears and knows the voice of the Savior. They follow Him. They flee from other voices.

Secondly, He lays His life down for His sheep. The hired hand will run at the first sign of danger because the sheep don’t belong to them. Not Jesus, He proved His sacrificial love by the way He lived and by the way died.

Third, He knows the sheep. He knows them as well as the Father knows Him and He knows the Father. How well do they know each other? Completely! How does it feel to be known and understood to the nth degree?

And lastly, He gathers the whole flock. He says,

“I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well”

This is what He came to do, “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). And it’s all the lost people, not just the Jews but Gentiles alike. And not just in one particular place but the entire globe (Acts 1:8).

When Jesus says He’s the Good Shepherd, He is not exaggerating. He has an accurate assessment of His identity and purpose.

What does this mean for us as disciple makers? Well, simply put, we are not THE Good Shepherd, He is. We hate to admit it but we’d probably cut and run when the flock is assaulted. So it’s essential that we keep pointing people to Jesus as THEIR Good Shepherd and help them follow His lead and look to Him for ultimate protection.

My Story

When you ask me what my spiritual gifts are, shepherd comes up as one of the top. I have a compassion for people and want to see them taken care of. I like to pray for people and I try to think the best of them and paint them in a good light. But there is a weakness that comes with the gift of shepherding and that is letting your shepherding get in the way of The Good Shepherd. You can start to think that you are the answer to everyone’s problems and over estimate your abilities to be the solution.

This has some significant consequences. The first error in thinking this way is that you begin to lead the sheep astray. People start making you their “Holy Spirit” and depending on you to answer all the questions and fix all their boo boos. This is a huge mistake for a disciple maker. So I’ve trained myself to ask the questions, “What did Jesus say? Or “What do you think Jesus wants you to do?” This keeps me in the right place of authority, an under-shepherd.

Another thing that I have learned is that you can’t shepherd people adequately by just preaching at them. You have to roll up your sleeves and get down into the messes of the flock’s lives. Making disciples takes a “hands on” approach. You can’t very well take care of the sheep if you have no clue what’s going on in their lives (Proverbs 27:23). Being with them and asking a lot of questions helps you be a better shepherd.

Lastly, I’ve learned that I can’t shepherd everyone and solve every problem. I have capacity issues. But you know what? So did Jesus! He was confined to time, space, and energy just like us and He had to rest, steward relationships, and even say “no” when it was appropriate. Not even the Messiah had the ”messiah complex.” Remember, burn out is not a badge of honor. It’s a character flaw.

So disciple makers, shepherd wisely. Know your limitations. Know your lane. Point them to THE Good Shepherd.

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s some questions and ideas;

Are we becoming a Jr. holy spirit to those we are discipling?
What are some indicators that we are interfering with what the Good Shepherd is doing?
Ask those you are discipling “What does Jesus want you to do?”

Are we pointing people to Jesus as THE Good Shepherd? Or are we getting in the way of an intimate vibrant relationship He wants to have with His own sheep. Let’s keep reminding them and ourselves that there is only one Good Shepherd.

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added

Una puerta, un pastor y un cordero (Parte 2) – #147

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Juan para ver lo que Jesús dice sobre ser el Buen Pastor.

Así que, ¡comencemos!

Juan 10:11-16

Yo soy el buen pastor. El buen pastor da su vida por las ovejas. El asalariado no es el pastor, ni las ovejas son suyas. Cuando ve venir al lobo, abandona las ovejas y huye. Entonces el lobo las ataca y dispersa el rebaño. El hombre huye porque es un asalariado y no le importan las ovejas. Yo soy el buen pastor. Conozco a mis ovejas y mis ovejas me conocen, así como el Padre me conoce y yo conozco al Padre. Y doy mi vida por las ovejas. Tengo otras ovejas que no son de este redil; también a ellas debo traerlas, y oirán mi voz. Entonces habrá un solo rebaño y un solo pastor.

Mis Pensamientos

Mientras continuamos explorando las metáforas que Jesús usa para describirse a sí mismo, llegamos a su título de Pastor. Pero no cualquier pastor, sino el Buen Pastor. ¿Qué lo hace tan bueno? Cuatro características distintivas. Primero, sus ovejas conocen su voz. En los versículos 3 y 4 del capítulo 10, dice:

“Las ovejas oyen su voz; él llama a sus ovejas por su nombre y las saca. Cuando ha sacado a todas las suyas, va delante de ellas, y las ovejas lo siguen porque conocen su voz. A un extraño no lo seguirán, sino que huirán de él, porque no conocen la voz de los extraños.”

Un verdadero discípulo de Cristo oye y conoce la voz del Salvador. Lo siguen. Huyen de otras voces.

En segundo lugar, da su vida por sus ovejas. El asalariado huye al primer signo de peligro porque las ovejas no le pertenecen. No así Jesús; demostró su amor sacrificial con su vida y con su muerte.

En tercer lugar, conoce a las ovejas. Las conoce tan bien como el Padre lo conoce a Él, y Él conoce al Padre. ¿Qué tan bien se conocen? ¡Completamente! ¿Cómo se siente ser conocido y comprendido a la perfección?

Y por último, reúne a todo el rebaño. Dice:

“También tengo otras ovejas que no son de este redil; a esas también debo traerlas.”

Esto es lo que vino a hacer: “buscar y salvar a los perdidos” (Lucas 19:10). Y se refiere a todos los perdidos, no solo a los judíos, sino también a los gentiles. Y no solo en un lugar en particular, sino en todo el mundo (Hechos 1:8).

Cuando Jesús dice que es el Buen Pastor, no exagera. Tiene una evaluación precisa de su identidad y propósito.

¿Qué significa esto para nosotros como hacedores de discípulos? Bueno, en pocas palabras, nosotros no somos EL Buen Pastor, Él lo es. Nos cuesta admitirlo, pero probablemente huiríamos cuando el rebaño sea atacado. Por lo tanto, es esencial que sigamos señalando a Jesús como SU Buen Pastor y que les ayudemos a seguir su ejemplo y a buscar en Él la protección definitiva.

Mi Historia

Cuando me preguntan cuáles son mis dones espirituales, el de pastor es uno de los primeros que me vienen a la mente. Siento compasión por las personas y deseo verlas bien atendidas. Me gusta orar por ellas e intento pensar lo mejor de cada una y verlas con buenos ojos. Pero este don de pastoreo conlleva una debilidad: dejar que nuestro papel de pastor se interponga entre las personas y el Buen Pastor. Podemos empezar a creer que somos la solución a los problemas de todos y sobreestimar nuestra capacidad para resolverlos.

Esto tiene consecuencias importantes. El primer error de este modo de pensar es que empezamos a desviar a las ovejas del camino correcto. Las personas comienzan a vernos como su “Espíritu Santo” y a depender de nosotros para que respondamos a todas sus preguntas y solucionemos todos sus problemas. Este es un grave error para quien se dedica a formar discípulos. Por eso, me he acostumbrado a preguntar: “¿Qué dijo Jesús?” o “¿Qué crees que Jesús quiere que hagas?”. Esto me mantiene en el lugar de autoridad que me corresponde: el de un subpastor.

Otra cosa que he aprendido es que no se puede pastorear a las personas adecuadamente solo predicándoles. Hay que arremangarse y adentrarse en las dificultades de la vida del rebaño. Formar discípulos requiere un enfoque práctico. No se puede cuidar bien de las ovejas si no se tiene ni idea de lo que ocurre en sus vidas (Proverbios 27:23). Estar con ellas y hacerles muchas preguntas ayuda a ser un mejor pastor.

Por último, he aprendido que no puedo pastorear a todos ni resolver todos los problemas. Tengo mis limitaciones. ¿Pero saben qué? ¡Jesús también las tenía! Él estaba limitado por el tiempo, el espacio y la energía, al igual que nosotros, y tenía que descansar, cultivar sus relaciones e incluso decir “no” cuando era necesario. Ni siquiera el Mesías tenía el “complejo de mesías”. Recuerden, el agotamiento no es una medalla de honor, sino una debilidad de carácter.

Así que, formadores de discípulos, pastoreen con sabiduría. Conozcan sus limitaciones. Manténganse en su lugar. Señalen a las personas hacia EL Buen Pastor.

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es el momento de la aplicación práctica. Aquí tienes algunas preguntas e ideas:

¿Nos estamos convirtiendo en una especie de “mini Espíritu Santo” para aquellos a quienes discipulamos?

¿Cuáles son algunos indicadores de que estamos interfiriendo con la obra del Buen Pastor?

Pregúntales a quienes discipulas: “¿Qué quiere Jesús que hagas?”.

¿Estamos guiando a las personas hacia Jesús como EL Buen Pastor? ¿O nos estamos interponiendo en la relación íntima y vibrante que Él desea tener con sus ovejas? Recordemos, tanto a ellos como a nosotros mismos, que solo hay un Buen Pastor.

Escritura orgánica: sin inteligencia artificial ni aditivos.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

A Gate, a Shepherd, and a Lamb (Part 1) – #146

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John to discover the right for Christianity to be exclusive.

So let’s get started.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document)

John 10:1–10

“Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice.” Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them. So He said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.

My Thoughts

In John 10:1-21 Jesus describes Himself in three ways; a Gate, a Shepherd, and a Sacrificial Lamb. We were taught in High School English to never mix metaphors. Apparently, the greatest story teller to ever live didn’t get the memo. In this first part of a three part series we will concentrate on the aspect of Jesus being the Gate.

Jesus uses the metaphor of a gate to point to His being the only way to have a right relationship with the Father. Anyone trying to get in through alternate means is considered sinister, a thief and a robber. Then He talks about the Gate Keeper who opens the gate for the Shepherd. We can safely assume that the Father is the Gate Keeper as He is the One who sent Jesus to facilitate entrance into the kingdom of God. But in this part of His story He explicitly says, “I am the gate.”Jesus points to His exclusive right to determine who enters and who doesn’t.

Many are put off by the exclusivity of Christianity. But it is Jesus Himself who makes this claim. He is the One who says “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6) I’ve even heard Christians talk about how unfair this sounds and that it couldn’t possibly be true. But the Author of the Way is the one who determines the standards for eternal life, not us.

Every religion is exclusive at some point. Even to say “Christianity can’t be the only way to God” is an exclusive statement. To state something is not true about a religion is to exclude an essential truth of that religion and therefore the one making this assertion is by nature exclusionary. The problem is not being exclusive. The problem lies in which exclusionary statement is true. Jesus rightly claims not only to be exclusionary but the very truth as well.

As disciple makers this is the “narrow way” we proclaim, live, and direct others in. To seek to be “inclusive” to avoid hurting feelings, conflict, or even persecution, is to lead people astray and deny the faith. This is not popular but critically true nonetheless. Jesus is the Gate, the only way.

My Story

When I was a chaplain in the Army I would often get questions like this;

“Chaplain, aren’t all religions the same? I mean, we are just using different names for God aren’t we?”

Or the more hostile would make statements like, “How could a loving God possibly send a Buddhist or Muslim to hell when they are just believing what they were brought up as.” Or “All religions are the same, you just have to be a good person.”

When I would try to explain that Jesus was the only way to the Father, it was most often met with disbelief, anger, and contempt. They would say something to the effect of “Your God is narrow and mean.”

Then I would put on my story teller’s hat and give them this illustration;

You and your platoon had come upon a minefield and there is no way around it. Your Platoon Leader designates a Squad Leader to find a safe path through using mine detection techniques and instructs the rest of you to follow right behind him. The Platoon Leader reiterates, “Stay right behind him, do not stray to the left or to the right. Where he steps, you step.”

Then I would ask these questions. “Is your PL being mean or unreasonable?” and “Why is he giving such narrow detailed instructions about staying in the path of the Squad Leader.”

It would dawn on most of my soldiers that just like the PL’s instructions in a very dangerous situation, Jesus is trying to save us and not just being narrow minded. His exclusive statements like “I am the Gate” are not cruel or ignorant. They are the most true and informed words of compassion ever uttered.

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s questions and ideas;

Do those you are discipling hold to the exclusive claim that Jesus makes when He says He is the gate?
How are you helping them answer pluralistic or universalist arguments?
Have them memorize John 14:6 to have a ready answer for those who wonder if Jesus is indeed the only way.

Jesus, the Son of God, God Himself, describes Himself as a Gate. He is the passage in which mankind must enter in order to inherit eternal life and enter God’s kingdom. All other ways are deceptive lies of the enemy, Satan. This is a truth with life or death consequences.

Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

Una puerta, un pastor y un cordero (Parte 1) – #146

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Juan para descubrir la justificación de la exclusividad del cristianismo.

¡Comencemos!

Juan 10:1-10

«De cierto, de cierto les digo: El que no entra por la puerta al redil de las ovejas, sino que sube por otra parte, ese es ladrón y salteador. Pero el que entra por la puerta es el pastor de las ovejas. El portero le abre la puerta, y las ovejas oyen su voz. Él llama a sus ovejas por su nombre y las saca. Cuando ha sacado a todas las suyas, va delante de ellas, y las ovejas lo siguen porque conocen su voz. Pero a un extraño jamás lo seguirán; al contrario, huirán de él porque no reconocen su voz.» Jesús les contó esta parábola, pero ellos no entendieron lo que les decía. Entonces les dijo de nuevo: «De cierto, de cierto les digo: Yo soy la puerta de las ovejas. Todos los que vinieron antes de mí fueron ladrones y salteadores, pero las ovejas no los escucharon. Yo soy la puerta. El que entre por mí será salvo; entrará y saldrá y hallará pastos. El ladrón solo viene para robar, matar y destruir. Yo he venido para que tengan vida, y la tengan en abundancia.»

Mis Pensamientos

En Juan 10:1-21, Jesús se describe a sí mismo de tres maneras: una puerta, un pastor y un cordero sacrificial. En la escuela secundaria nos enseñaron a no mezclar metáforas. Al parecer, el mejor narrador de historias de todos los tiempos no recibió ese mensaje. En esta primera parte de una serie de tres, nos centraremos en el aspecto de Jesús como la Puerta.

Jesús usa la metáfora de la puerta para señalar que Él es el único camino para tener una relación correcta con el Padre. Cualquiera que intente entrar por otros medios es considerado malvado, un ladrón y un asaltante. Luego habla del portero que abre la puerta para el pastor. Podemos suponer con seguridad que el Padre es el portero, ya que Él fue quien envió a Jesús para facilitar la entrada al reino de Dios. Pero en esta parte de su relato, dice explícitamente: «Yo soy la puerta». Jesús señala su derecho exclusivo a determinar quién entra y quién no.

A muchos les incomoda la exclusividad del cristianismo. Pero es Jesús mismo quien hace esta afirmación. Él es quien dice: «Yo soy el camino, la verdad y la vida; nadie viene al Padre sino por mí» (Juan 14:6). Incluso he oído a cristianos decir que esto suena injusto y que no podría ser cierto. Pero el Autor del Camino es quien determina los estándares para la vida eterna, no nosotros.

Toda religión es exclusiva en algún punto. Incluso decir «el cristianismo no puede ser el único camino a Dios» es una declaración exclusiva. Afirmar que algo no es cierto sobre una religión es excluir una verdad esencial de esa religión y, por lo tanto, quien hace esta afirmación es, por naturaleza, excluyente. El problema no es ser exclusivo. El problema radica en qué declaración excluyente es verdadera. Jesús afirma con razón no solo ser excluyente, sino también la verdad misma.

Como hacedores de discípulos, este es el «camino estrecho» que proclamamos, vivimos y en el que guiamos a otros. Buscar ser «inclusivos» para evitar herir sentimientos, conflictos o incluso persecución, es desviar a las personas y negar la fe. Esto no es popular, pero es una verdad fundamental. Jesús es la Puerta, el único camino.

Mi Historia

Cuando era capellán en el ejército, a menudo me hacían preguntas como estas:

«Capellán, ¿acaso no son todas las religiones iguales? Es decir, solo usamos nombres diferentes para referirnos a Dios, ¿no es así?»

O los más hostiles hacían afirmaciones como: «¿Cómo podría un Dios amoroso enviar a un budista o a un musulmán al infierno si simplemente creen en lo que les enseñaron desde pequeños?». O: «Todas las religiones son iguales, solo hay que ser buena persona».

Cuando intentaba explicar que Jesús era el único camino hacia el Padre, la respuesta solía ser incredulidad, enojo y desprecio. Decían algo así como: «Tu Dios es intolerante y cruel».

Entonces, me ponía mi sombrero de narrador y les contaba esta historia:

Ustedes y su pelotón se encuentran ante un campo minado y no hay forma de rodearlo. El jefe de pelotón designa a un jefe de escuadra para que encuentre un camino seguro utilizando técnicas de detección de minas e instruye al resto para que lo sigan de cerca. El jefe de pelotón reitera: «Manténganse justo detrás de él, no se desvíen ni a la izquierda ni a la derecha. Donde él pise, pisen ustedes».

Luego les hacía estas preguntas: «¿Acaso el jefe de pelotón está siendo cruel o irracional?» y «¿Por qué da instrucciones tan precisas y detalladas sobre cómo mantenerse en el camino del jefe de escuadra?».

La mayoría de mis soldados comprendían entonces que, al igual que las instrucciones del jefe de pelotón en una situación muy peligrosa, Jesús intenta salvarnos y no está siendo intolerante. Sus afirmaciones exclusivas como «Yo soy la puerta» no son crueles ni ignorantes. Son las palabras de compasión más verdaderas y sabias que jamás se hayan pronunciado.

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es el momento de la aplicación práctica. Aquí tienen algunas preguntas e ideas:

¿Aquellos a quienes están discipulando creen en la afirmación exclusiva que Jesús hace cuando dice que Él es la puerta?

¿Cómo los están ayudando a responder a los argumentos pluralistas o universalistas?

Pídales que memoricen Juan 14:6 para que tengan una respuesta lista para quienes se preguntan si Jesús es realmente el único camino.

Jesús, el Hijo de Dios, Dios mismo, se describe a sí mismo como una puerta. Él es el camino por el cual la humanidad debe entrar para heredar la vida eterna y entrar en el reino de Dios. Todos los demás caminos son mentiras engañosas del enemigo, Satanás. Esta es una verdad con consecuencias de vida o muerte.

Escritura orgánica – Sin inteligencia artificial ni aditivos.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

Just Fess Up – #145

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John to see how pride can get in the way of forgiveness.

So let’s dive in.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document)

John 9:35-41

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, He found the man and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” “Who is He, Sir?” he replied. “Tell me so that I may believe in Him.” “You have already seen Him,” Jesus answered. “He is the One speaking with you.” “Lord, I believe,” he said. And he worshiped Jesus. Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?” “If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”

My Thoughts

All they needed to do was to fess up. The religious leaders were so proud they couldn’t even see their own errors and weaknesses. They were in the presence of a person who received a miracle and the Miracle Worker and they were afraid to be seen as inferior, weak, or imperfect. This is a serious case of pride. I mean, who doesn’t at least say, “Well nobody’s perfect.” The audacity of these guys is off the charts.

But before we pick up stones to hurl at them, let’s do a little self reflection. Have we ever made our last stand on the hill of “Not Me?” Have we ever said, “I would never do that!” I think of what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans as they were probably thinking, “Well…I’m not that bad.”

Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. (Romans 2:1)

OUCH!

See, the problem is that we’ve been hiding our sin since the Garden of Eden. First behind fig leaves and now through elaborate sophisticated schemes in order to deflect guilt and blame someone else. It’s not just a Pharisitical problem. It’s an everybody problem. It’s the grotesque side effect of sin. It’s the “Not Me!” syndrome.

So what does this have to do with disciple making? Well, there are some things we disciple into people and there are some things we disciple out of people. This is one of those we disciple out. It starts with helping them confess their sins when we share the gospel. It’s part of coaching people in transparency so that they have a clear understanding of who they are and who they are becoming in Christ. It’s teaching people how to be life long learners and to never be such an expert that they can’t humbly admit they don’t know or they made a mistake.

And our very first step as disciple makers is to personally confess, “I’m Blind Too.”

My Story

I was attending an Army School, Operations and Intelligence, for NonCommissioned Officers. It was pretty evident, based on the language and conduct of my fellow NCOs, that I was probably the only Christian. One day one of my classmates made the outlandish statement that the Bible was written in three languages; Hebrew, Arimaic, and Greek. I argued vehemently that it was only two; Hebrew and Greek.

Most of you know where this is going.

When I got back to my home station, I attended our local gathering. The preacher begins his sermon with; “The Bible is written in three different languages…” I’m sure those sitting around me thought I was having a stroke with how pale my face had suddenly turned. I reflected on my attitude during the course and my pagan buddy who knew more about the Bible than I did. I was so proud and so sure I had all the answers, that I had not only acted a fool but actually ruined a good opportunity to witness to the guy. Even a broken clock can be right twice a day.

Stay humble and stay teachable.

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s some questions and ideas;

When was the last time you told someone you made a mistake or said you were wrong?
Ask those you are discipling if they ever struggle with the “Not Me!” syndrome.
Do a Bible study on humility or teachability.

The truth is that we all have our weaknesses, shortcomings, and failures. Walking in the truth means admitting these to others and being willing to change. And the reality is that if we do so, most people will have more respect for us being honest and not hiding behind the facade of perfection.

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added

Confiesa la verdad – #145

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Juan para ver cómo el orgullo puede interponerse en el camino del perdón.

Así que, ¡empecemos!

Juan 9:35-41

Cuando Jesús se enteró de que lo habían expulsado, encontró al hombre y le preguntó: «¿Crees en el Hijo del Hombre?». Él respondió: «¿Quién es, Señor? Dímelo para que crea en Él». Jesús le contestó: «Ya lo has visto; es el que está hablando contigo». Él dijo: «Señor, creo». Y lo adoró. Entonces Jesús declaró: «He venido a este mundo para juicio, para que los ciegos vean y los que ven se queden ciegos». Algunos de los fariseos que estaban con Él oyeron esto y le preguntaron: «¿Acaso nosotros también somos ciegos?». Jesús les respondió: «Si fueran ciegos, no tendrían culpa. Pero como dicen que ven, su culpa permanece».

Mis Pensamientos

Lo único que tenían que hacer era confesar. Los líderes religiosos eran tan orgullosos que ni siquiera podían ver sus propios errores y debilidades. Estaban en presencia de una persona que había recibido un milagro y del Hacedor de milagros, y tenían miedo de ser vistos como inferiores, débiles o imperfectos. Este es un caso grave de orgullo. Es decir, ¿quién no dice al menos: “Bueno, nadie es perfecto”? La audacia de estos hombres es increíble.

Pero antes de que los juzguemos, reflexionemos un poco sobre nosotros mismos. ¿Alguna vez nos hemos aferrado a la idea de “Yo no soy así”? ¿Alguna vez hemos dicho: “¡Yo nunca haría eso!”? Pienso en lo que el apóstol Pablo escribió a los romanos, quienes probablemente pensaban: “Bueno… yo no soy tan malo”.

Por lo tanto, no tienes excusa, tú que juzgas a los demás, porque al juzgar a otro, te condenas a ti mismo; pues tú que juzgas practicas las mismas cosas. (Romanos 2:1)

¡Ay!

El problema es que hemos estado ocultando nuestro pecado desde el Jardín del Edén. Primero detrás de hojas de higuera y ahora a través de elaborados y sofisticados planes para desviar la culpa y culpar a otros. No es solo un problema de los fariseos. Es un problema de todos. Es el grotesco efecto secundario del pecado. Es el síndrome de “¡Yo no soy así!”.

Entonces, ¿qué tiene que ver esto con el discipulado? Bueno, hay cosas que inculcamos en las personas a través del discipulado y hay cosas que erradicamos. Esta es una de las cosas que erradicamos. Comienza ayudándoles a confesar sus pecados cuando compartimos el evangelio. Es parte de guiar a las personas hacia la transparencia para que tengan una comprensión clara de quiénes son y en quiénes se están convirtiendo en Cristo. Es enseñar a las personas a ser aprendices de por vida y a nunca ser tan expertos como para no poder admitir humildemente que no saben o que cometieron un error.

Y nuestro primer paso como discipuladores es confesar personalmente: “Yo también soy ciego”.

Mi Historia

Estaba asistiendo a una escuela del Ejército, de Operaciones e Inteligencia, para suboficiales. Era bastante evidente, por el lenguaje y la conducta de mis compañeros suboficiales, que probablemente yo era el único cristiano. Un día, uno de mis compañeros hizo la extraña afirmación de que la Biblia estaba escrita en tres idiomas: hebreo, arameo y griego. Yo discutí con vehemencia, asegurando que solo eran dos: hebreo y griego.

La mayoría de ustedes ya se imaginarán cómo continúa la historia.

Cuando regresé a mi base, asistí a nuestra reunión local. El predicador comenzó su sermón diciendo: “La Biblia está escrita en tres idiomas diferentes…”. Estoy seguro de que los que estaban sentados a mi alrededor pensaron que me estaba dando un ataque al ver lo pálido que me puse de repente. Reflexioné sobre mi actitud durante el curso y sobre mi compañero, que no era creyente, pero que sabía más de la Biblia que yo. Estaba tan orgulloso y tan seguro de tener todas las respuestas que no solo hice el ridículo, sino que también desperdicié una buena oportunidad para compartir mi fe con él. Hasta un reloj averiado da la hora correcta dos veces al día.

Manténganse humildes y dispuestos a aprender.

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es el momento de la aplicación práctica. Aquí tienes algunas preguntas e ideas:

¿Cuándo fue la última vez que le dijiste a alguien que habías cometido un error o que te habías equivocado?

Pregúntales a las personas a las que estás discipulando si alguna vez luchan contra el síndrome de “¡Yo no fui!”.

Realiza un estudio bíblico sobre la humildad o la disposición a aprender.

La verdad es que todos tenemos nuestras debilidades, defectos y fracasos. Vivir en la verdad significa admitirlos ante los demás y estar dispuestos a cambiar. Y la realidad es que, si lo hacemos, la mayoría de las personas nos respetarán más por ser honestos y no escondernos tras una fachada de perfección.

Escritura orgánica: sin inteligencia artificial ni aditivos.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

The Fear of Losing Community – #143

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John to see how an older couple chose to fear the wrong relationship.

So let’s get started.

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John 9:17-23

So once again they asked the man who had been blind, “What do you say about Him, since it was your eyes He opened?” “He is a prophet,” the man replied. The Jews still did not believe that the man had been blind and had received his sight until they summoned his parents and asked, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? So how is it that he can now see?” His parents answered, “We know he is our son, and we know he was born blind. But how he can now see or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already determined that anyone who confessed Jesus as the Christ would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”