March 10: Jesus the good shepherd
John 10:1-21 TNIV from Biblegateway.com
1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of someone possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Devotional Comments:
I have always loved the analogy of Jesus as shepherd and we are his sheep. There is comfort in the thought that someone is watching over me (and all of us) at all times, even when we don’t know it or acknowledge it. Knowing that ‘there are other sheep not of this sheep pen’ that He will bring to the Father also is very encouraging because my heart is often heavy for those I know (especially those in my immediate family) who do not hear His voice.
The words “I am the Good Shepherd” mean more than one might think at first glance. As a parent, I have been a watchful steward of the children God has put in my care. However, with that responsibility I find myself more focused on worry and even desperation at times, when my sheep aren’t hearing my voice and following what I believe to be the right way under God’s direction.
Jesus is a loving and concerned protector of His children. That means that at the times where I feel despair in my walk with Him, He is watching over me and protecting me. He is doing the same for my children, my friends, my family. I do not have to lose sleep over anything when I listen to His voice. Just as He chose to give His life for me, I have the choice to listen to His voice or follow another path.
Lord, open my ears to your voice. Shepherd me through this life journey. Help me trust that you are my Protector and that You love me. Amen.
Laurie Motley
Pray for openness and ears to hear his voice.