Open Gate

Read John 15:18-16:4
 
John 15:24-25 “If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason.'”
 
IN this entire passage, Jesus is teaching his disciples that the world hates God’s way to life. The resurrected Jesus is the Way to eternal life. What is the reason we prefer to approach God “My way.” instead of “The Way.”? Why does the world “hate” Jesus and all who are his disciples, even as the evidence of God is before all? 
    When I was farming and working with animals every day, there was sometimes a remarkable “my way” behavior in cattle when we tried to move them to a new pasture. Our purpose was to take them from a pasture with very little grass remaining into a new pasture with long, lush grass to eat and comfortably lie down. When we opened the gate from the old pasture to the new, did they eagerly run through? No, they did not. Instead, they refused to go. They were used to the gate being closed. Their habit was to walk by it in their daily routine with no possibility of getting through it. When we then offered the richness of a new pasture to them, their old habits were a barrier to a richer life.
    We spent a good deal of effort coaxing them into the new pasture. Eventually, one or two would walk through the opening. When the others saw the possibility, they, too, began to go. Finally the entire herd went through the gate. What fun to watch the cattle in the new pasture as they romped, kicked up their heels and feasted on the grass.
    The Jews were used to life with too many man-made laws that blocked hope from their hearts. Jesus, the Master Gardener, came in love and grace to open Heaven’s Gate (See Psalm 24). But even when the Jewish authorities saw the miracles, experienced Jesus’ forgiveness, and heard his love, their hatred kept them confined to the world’s ways.
    We can be the same, can’t we? We become too anchored to our limitations. We do not look for the Lord’s boundless, full life Jesus promises to us. When the world seems to say, “I hate you, Christian.” remember Jesus’ words in John 10:9 “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” 
    Then rejoice to know that when you walk in in Jesus’ resurrection power, he will “make (you) lie down in green pastures, he will lead (you) beside quiet waters; he will restore (your) soul. (from Psalm 23).
 
Resurrection Truth: Jesus has lovingly opened the gate of life for you.