By PASTOR ALWIN – 30th April 2017
Passage for meditation — John 10:1-18
Background
Here, Jesus is speaking to the group of Pharisees and His disciples near the temple. The people of that time or at least the Pharisees and teachers of the law were fully aware of this figure of speech where God is addressed as the shepherd and the human beings as the sheep. This analogy has been used many times in the Old Testament. Here in this passage, Jesus reveals Himself as the Good Shepherd and we (human beings) as the sheep. God is our shepherd and we are His own.
What does a Shepherd do?
– A shepherd is an authorised person hence he goes into the sheepfold only through the door. He may be the owner of the sheep or a person employed to tend the sheep, but He is the only person who has the right to enter the sheep pen through a door.
– A shepherd calls his sheep by name. Isaiah chapter 43 verse 1 says “But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Jesus is our great shepherd and He calls each one of us by name.
– He leads them out wisely. God leads each one of us in all the ways of our lives. In the Bible in the book Psalm chapter 32 verse 8 it is written “The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”
– A shepherd goes before the sheep and protects them. Jesus always goes before us, so if we are going through any difficulty, remember that our God has already been through it. (v-4)
What does the Good Shepherd do?
– A Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, just as Jesus laid down His life for each one of us. (v-11 “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His [own] life for the sheep.”)
– A Good Shepherd brings the other lost sheep into His fold as written in Ezekiel chapter 34 verse 16 where the Lord says, “I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed.” He reaches out to the sheep who are not in the fold.
– The Good Shepherd is the door for the sheep through which the sheep can go in and out and find pasture. Jesus is the only door of salvation for anyone who believes. There is always safety and nourishment in Jesus. A Sheepfold is a secure place for the sheep. The gathering of saints is called the church. Church represents God’s Sheepfold, where Jesus Himself is the door to salvation. (in v-9 Jesus says, “I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security).”)
Who is a Thief and a robber?
– Any person who comes through another way in an unauthorised manner is a thief.
– Anybody who is not from God is a thief and a robber.
– A thief always comes to steal, kill and destroy.
Dear people we need to be aware of the different ways, the thieves and robbers come or enter our lives to steal, kill and destroy every blessing.
– A person who does not have Jesus in his/her life always has his way, he/she may be a sweet talker, a good orator, a good musician, a lovely singer, etc but he/she can turn out to be a thief or a robber, who will take us away from sheepfold and distract us from the shepherd himself.
– Be aware of all these positive thinkers who replace the Word of God with their own philosophies and lies. Always listen carefully to what different people are teaching. Their intention may be to steal, kill and destroy.
- i)Stealus away from the safety of the sheepfold.
- ii)Killthe joy, peace that we have
iii) Destroy the unity and the love we have among us.
Who is the Sheep?
– We (the children of God) are the sheep.
– We might have several voices around us but the ultimate voice for the sheep/us should be the voice of our shepherd.
1 John 4:1-2 says “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist”
We as a sheep need to
– “Know the voice of your shepherd”.
– “Listen to the voice of your shepherd”.
– “Follow the shepherd”.
– “Flee from the stranger”.
– Our God is a good shepherd. He wants everyone to experience His salvation and the love and comfort of His Sheepfold.
As God declares in Ezekiel 34:16 “I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice”, Jesus is our Good Shepherd who left everything and came to seek and save the lost sheep like us.
