Scripture Study for

Animosity arose between the apostles and certain segments within the Jewish community. This caused Paul to discontinue ministering to the Jews and to turn to the Gentiles. The passage might suggest that all the Jews rejected the gospel and only Greek-born Jews were open to it, when in fact it was probably only the leaders of the synagogue who contradicted Paul and blasphemed against Jesus. Paul reinterprets a Servant Song of Isaiah, which declares that salvation will come to the Gentiles through the agency of the people of God. He thus claims that he,  Paul, will be God’s light to the Gentiles. 

The multitude in John’s vision is international in character. The people come from every nation, race, people, and tongue, thus fulfilling a promise made to  Abraham that he would be the father of a host of nations (Genesis 17:4). The  “blood of the Lamb” is a reference to Christ’s redemptive sacrifice. It is also a reference to the baptism of the individuals gathered together, for it was through baptism that they were incorporated into Christ’s death. It is because they have endured and have been made pure by Christ that they can stand before God and worship day and night without end. 

Jesus’ sheep hear his voice, recognize it, and follow him. This image implies intimate knowledge between Jesus and his followers and unquestioning trust on the part of the followers. Jesus promises that if the sheep heed his voice they will never perish. Since he wields power over death, he will certainly protect them from lesser evils. He has the right to exercise this kind of authority over the sheep because they have been given to him by God. All that Jesus says and does is the actual embodiment of God’s will and not just behavior that conforms to it. Since  Jesus and his Father are so closely joined, the shepherd who cares for the sheep is indeed one with God.