Other Sheep

And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  

Matthew 8:11  

And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.   

John 10:16  

Christ indicated the broadness of His plan of salvation on more than one occasion. The first portion of our text lies within the account of His healing of the centurion’s servant. The second portion lies within the general context of His public ministry in Jerusalem shortly after He had healed the man who was born blind. Christ says, in the first portion, ‘many will come from east and west.’ In the second portion He speaks of ‘other sheep I have which are not of this fold.’ He came primarily to Israel, knowing that the gospel would ultimately expand far beyond Israel to a host of people of every stripe and variety. The end result would be the fulfillment of His promise to Abraham, the father of the faithful, to make his descendants as many ‘as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore.’ This was a promise of spiritual descendants, not simply physical ones. We see in the book of Acts the beginning of the expansion of Christ’s kingdom to the gentiles and ultimately over the whole earth. The end is not yet. Christ is still drawing souls unto Himself. He shall continue to do it until all His sheep are gathered in and His saving work is complete. We have the privilege to point all and sundry to Him. It is always worthwhile to make much of Christ.   

Our Great God and our Savior,
we hope in You and in Your grand redemption.
We praise You that you will save many
and that all whom the Father has given You shall come to You.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning