During the Palestinian...
Illustration
Object:
During the Palestinian uprising in the late 1980s, a village near Bethlehem was punished for not paying its taxes to the Israeli government. All the animals of the village were confiscated and placed in a large barbed-wire pen and guarded by the Israeli army. During the week a woman approached the commander and asked that he release her flock because her husband was dead and the animals were her only source of income. The officer pointed to the pen where hundreds of animals were incarcerated and quipped that it was impossible to find her specific herd. She begged that if she could separate them herself, would he be willing to let her take them home. He agreed. An army private let her in and quickly her son came by her side with a small reed flute. He played a medley of notes repeatedly. Soon heads of sheep began popping up across the huge pen. Mother and son were followed by their flock of 25 sheep as they walked home to the sound of the music.
Jesus said his sheep would know the sound of his voice.
(Gary M. Burge, NIV Application Commentary on John, p. 302)
Jesus said his sheep would know the sound of his voice.
(Gary M. Burge, NIV Application Commentary on John, p. 302)
