This week’s gospel text from John begins with Jesus’ favorite call to “listen up.” Variously translated as “verily, verily I say unto you” or “very truly I tell you” or as a double “Amen” (I translate it as “I tell you the truth”), Jesus uses this exclamation to call attention to an important theme or thrust he is about to make. Most often Jesus’ “Amen” does not introduce a completely new subject, but rather follows an event or dialogue or parable with a further important conclusion.

In the case of John 10:1, Jesus’ “very truly I tell you” points back to his words to the healed blind man and to the harsh behavior and doubting words of the Pharisees. In verses 1-10 Jesus offers two different metaphors describing the role and nature of himself as the “Son of Man” (v.37) or “The Human Being…