John 10 is one of my favorite chapters in the entire book. Throughout the book of John, we have seen different attributes/characteristics pertaining to who Jesus is: Son of God, Messiah, performer of miracles, Lamb of God, sacrifice, Eternal Word, friend, brother, son, healer.
Each of the characteristics listed above is encouraging to me as a follower of Christ, but chapter 10 introduces a title that soothes my soul and brings peace to my heart. In this chapter, we read about Jesus, The Good Shepherd.
Shepherd: (noun) 1. a person who tends and rears sheep. (verb) 2. guide or direct in a particular direction.
Chapter 10:3-4 says, “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.”
At this point those listening to Jesus were like, “Say what?!” They didn’t understand what Jesus was trying to tell them. Thankfully, He doesn’t leave them in suspense.
Chapter 10:7-10 says, “…so he explained it to them: ‘I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
A few things here: I love the way Jesus communicates here because while he is illustrating a sheep (docile, passive creature), he is also, like the BOSS that He is, laying down the law that He alone is the way to salvation. CHYEAH!
Let’s backtrack a little. Take a look back at verses 3-4 and read them slowly. Maybe you’ve read this verse a million times, or maybe this is your first time reading it. Either way, can you believe this truth? “He calls his OWN sheep by NAME and leads them out.” Not only that, but he walks ahead of them, and they follow because they know and trust His voice.
People have accused Jesus of being a lot of different things: liar, lunatic, false prophet, father of lies. I imagine many people didn’t trust Jesus because they viewed Him as another lying politician trying to gain fame and fortune from innocent, vulnerable people who were waiting for their promised Messiah. What sets jesus apart from any other politician/fame-seeker is the truth we read at the beginning of chapter 10.
Jesus didn’t perform miracles, offer forgiveness, and befriend the sick and lost simply to gain a certain number of followers and reach a specific level of popularity. He wasn’t trying to rack up the highest number of “fans” to reach an impersonal and out-of-reach level in society. He did it for you. You are not just another sheep in His flock. Jesus calls you by name, He knows you, and He loves you.
No matter how inadequate you feel at this moment, Jesus loves you enough to take ownership of you as his child. Isn’t that comforting to think about? You belong to his flock. Think about the times your parents were most proud of you as a child. Was it the first time you rode your bike without training wheels, swam without floaties, tied your shoes on your own, made a goal in your soccer game, or caught your first fish? Do you remember seeing their faces beaming with pride and joy as they reveled in what you had done? God looks at you in the same way and he takes pride in you. He claims you as His own, and seeks to give you a rich and satisfying life.
Maybe right now you’re thinking, “But I’m not good enough-I still mess up”. News flash: The salvation and life we get by entering that gate has absolutely nothing to do with what we do or how good of a life we live. If it were up to us to save ourselves and be “good enough” we’d probably spend our whole lives looking for the set of keys to get us in the gate. We need the shepherd that goes before us and leads the way to not only an abundant life on earth, but eternal life with Him in Heaven.
It’s not about us-it’s all about Him. Some things to think about as you finish your week:
- Do you believe Jesus is good? That he has your best interest in mind and a plan for your life that is rich and satisfying?
- Are you pursuing Jesus in a way that would allow you to recognize His voice as you navigate through life?
Today's Contributing Author: Kendra Murray
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