Monday, November 2
In 2004, Ukraine held a presidential election that ought to make us feel better about our own system. During the campaign, someone poisoned Viktor Yuschenko, who was challenging the Russian-backed incumbent. He survived, but was permanently disfigured, going from a vibrant middle-aged man to a pockmarked, haggard shell practically overnight. During the voting, many outside observers were convinced that the election was not being carried out fairly. The night of the election, the government-run television network (to repeat, the sitting government was essentially a puppet administration of Russia) announced that the challenger had been soundly defeated. But down in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, a woman translating the message for the hearing impaired said something different. In sign language, she said, “The government spokesman is saying that the incumbent has won, but he’s lying. The government has stolen the election from us. We must protest this. Please come to the square in Kyiv to protest this injustice.”
Ironically, the deaf were the first ones to hear the truth. So they told their hearing friends, and suddenly a movement was born. The people took to the streets, as many as a million at one time. They stood in the square in Kyiv in freezing temperatures peacefully demanding a new election. Many wore orange, the color of Yuschenko’s campaign, and so their movement became known as the Orange Revolution. They won. The government submitted to new elections, and Yuschenko was elected president with a decisive majority of the votes. One small person had challenged the party line and started a revolution.
2000 years ago, a man was born to poor parents in a tiny, occupied country. He had the audacity to challenge the party line. He told us that this world was stealing life from away from us. He said that He could show us a better way to live. And He started a revolution. That man was Jesus, and He is still fighting that revolution today. John 10:1-10 contains two of our seven “I am” statements. Next week, we’ll see how Jesus is the Good Shepherd, but this week, we’ll see how He is the Door.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
“Lord, thank you for telling me that the thief is out to destroy. Please keep your people from believing his lies. Help us to follow you faithfully, diligently, that we might live abundantly. In your name, amen.”
Senior Pastor
First Baptist Conroe
More from Pastor Jeff at his website: jeffbergerwriting.com
