In John’s gospel, Jesus’ healing of a man born blind[1] sets the stage for his words about being the Shepherd.[2] John’s gospel then continues with these words, “Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.”[3] With this, “the hour” of which Jesus spoke that “the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live,”[4] came. The Shepherd has the stone taken away from Lazarus’ tomb. He calls to the dead man to come out. And then Jesus says to those who have come with him to the tomb, “Unbind [Lazarus], and let him go.”[5] Jesus’ sheep hear his voice, they follow him, and as he says, “No one shall snatch them out of my hand.”[6]
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