Beloved, I am glad to share today the above theme taken from Jn 10:7,11. Indeed, unlike thieves and robbers skilled in stealing souls, Jesus presents himself as the good Shepherd. And He gives two proofs of this: The first is the voluntary gift of his life to acquire his sheep, supreme testimony of his love for them, and at the same time, the sovereign motive given to the Father’s love for him. The second is the knowledge that He has of His sheep and, conversely, that they have of their Shepherd. So such a close bond confirms his rights to his flock and to each of our hearts.
Indeed, the sheepfold represents Israel settled outside the pagan nations and separated from other peoples. For God had given him his law and many spiritual and material benefits. But this privileged people was soon corrupted; having abandoned the law, he immersed himself in idolatry and all the sins that accompany it. In the days when the Lord was here on earth, the forms of The Religion of Moses were observed since the return from Babylonian captivity; but there was violent opposition to Jesus and his teachings. However, there were those in this milieu who listened to the Lord and believed in Him; and he called them his sheep. But mixed with the people, they were governed by drivers, the religious leaders of the nation, so-called shepherds, who looked more after their own interests than those of the sheep. And to graze the sheep, you have to drive them outside. Then Jesus said of him who enters through the door (and it is himself): “The doorman opens to him, and the sheep hear his voice; he calls by their names the sheep that belong to him, and he leads them outside.” This is a brand new work.
In addition,the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd; this is what alone gives them the character of sheep. The shepherd knows their name and leads them outside, the Jewish sheepfold no longer being the place where the real sheep can stay, we have seen it with the blind-born. Until then no one had the right to leave it, and even many Jewish sheep had great difficulty in resolving to it; we see, in the book of Acts, many Christians showing zeal for the law which, however, had not given them life; but that is not the subject of this discussion. What the Lord affirms, on the contrary, is that the sheep listen to His voice, since He has called them by name, which shows that He knows each of them perfectly. “When he has brought out all his own sheep, he walks in front of them; and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger; but they will flee away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers. Jesus said this parable to them, but they did not understood what he was talking about.”
For the sheep begin by listening to the voice of the shepherd; she speaks to their hearts, gains their trust, which commits them to follow him out of the environment that is opposed to her, and where they find no pasture or freedom. Once outside, the shepherd goes before them to lead them; they follow him and he only requires them to listen to his voice and follow him. For one thing does not go without the other: He takes care of finding them the fat pastures and peaceful waters of which ps 23 speaks. Sheep never have the worry of looking for their food, when they are led by a shepherd attentive to all their needs. They do not follow a stranger, because they do not know his voice and know how to discern that of the shepherd.
The more the Lord advances in His talk about His sheep, the more He brings out what He is to them, what they are to Him, and all their benefits. “I am the good shepherd,” he said, “and I know my sheep, and they know me, as the Father knows me and as I know the Father; and I give my life for my sheep.”
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Christ carries it:
Jn 10:7 Jesus said to them again: In truth, in truth, I tell you, I am the door of the sheep. Jn 14:6 Jesus said to him: I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me. Rom 5:2 to whom we owe to have had by faith access to this grace, in which we remain firm, and we glorify ourselves in the hope of the glory of God. Ephe 2:18 because through him we all have access to the Father, in the same Spirit. Heb 9:8 The Holy Spirit thus showed that the way to the most holy place was not yet open, as long as the first tabernacle remained. Heb 10:19-20 Thus, brethren, since we have, by means of the blood of Jesus, a free entry into sanctuary 20 by the new and living road that he inaugurated for us through the veil, that is to say, of his flesh,
- Unfaithful pastors:
Isa 56:10 His guardians are all blind, without intelligence; They are all dumb dogs, unable to bark; They have daydreams, stand lying down, like to sleep. Jr 6:13 For from the smallest to the largest, All are greedy for gain; From the prophet to the priest, All use deception. Jr 23:11 Prophets and priests are corrupt; Even in my house I have found their wickedness, Saith the Lord. Lm 2:14 Your prophets have had for you vain and false visions; They have not laid bare thy iniquity, In order to divert from you captivity; They have given you false and deceptive oracles. Ez 33:6 If the sentry sees the sword coming, and does not sound the trumpet; if the people are not warned, and the sword comes to take someone’s life, he will perish because of his iniquity, but I will ask the sentinel again for his blood. Mi 3:11 Its chiefs judge for presents, Its priests teach for a salary, And its prophets predict for money; And they dare to lean on Jehovah, they say, Is Jehovah not in our midst? Misfortune will not reach us. Ph 1:15 Some, it’s true, preach Christ out of envy and out of a spirit of contention; but others preach him with benevolent dispositions.
- Mission of Christ:
Mt 5:17 Do not believe that I came to abolish the law or the prophets; I came not to abolish, but to accomplish. Mt 20:28 This is how the Son of man came, not to be served, but to serve and give his life as the ransom of many. Lk 4:43 But he said unseed to them: I must also announce to the other cities the good news of the kingdom of God; for that is why I was sent. Lk 12:49 I have come to throw a fire on the earth, and what do I have to desire, if it is already lit? Lk 19:10 For the Son of man came to seek and save that which was lost. Jn 3:17 God, indeed, did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world could be saved by him. Jn 9:39 Then Jesus says: I have come into this world for a judgment, so that those who do not see, and those who see become blind. Jn 10:10 The thief comes only to steal, slit my throat and destroy; I have come so that the sheep may have life, and may they be in abundance. Jn 12:47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, it is not I who judge him; for I have come not to judge the world, but to save the world. Jn 18:37 Pilate said to him: So you are king? Jesus answered, “You say it, I am king.” I was born and came into the world to bear witness to the truth. Whoever is of the truth listens to my voice. 1 Tim 1:15 It’s a word certain and entirely worthy of being received, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save the sinners, of whom I am the first.
- Christ the Shepherd:
-appeal: Ps 23:1-2 Song of David. Jehovah is my shepherd: I will not lack anything. 2 He makes me rest in green pastures, He directs me near the peaceful waters.
-shows tenderness: Es 40:11 As a shepherd, he will graze his flock, He will take the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his boson; He will lead the suckling sheep.
-sacrifices himself: Jn 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for his sheep.
-is resurrected: Hey 13:20 May the God of peace, who brought back from the dead the great pastor of the sheep, by the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus,
-welcome the lost: 1 P 2:25 For you were like wandering sheep. But now you have returned to the pastor and the guardian of your souls.
-crown the faithful: 1 P 5:4 And when the sovereign pastor appears, you will obtain the incorruptible crown of glory.
From all the foregoing, we note that the good shepherd knows his own, it gives unlimited confidence in him; he knows them not only by his omniscience, but by the interest in them by his great love, always active for each one. He says with certainty that the sheep know him. How could it be otherwise, if one enjoys one’s great love? For the Lord does not suppose that there is a weakening or failure in this knowledge; he says what characterizes him and his people, not to mention how the sheep realize this knowledge. For his part, everything is always perfect. But to what extent is this knowledge reciprocal? Indeed, the Father knows him, and as he knows the Father. So a perfect communion is established between the shepherd and the sheep, as between him and his Father. So, the good shepherd puts his life to make the thing happen. Such a position, such a blessed relationship, infinitely exceeds everything that the sheep left in the Jewish environment from which they came out, and all that the believer abandons today in the world of which he is no longer a part. Our prayers support you all in your efforts to recognize Jesus as the good shepherd.
PRAYING FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS A PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in truth, to say with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you next week on “Jesus’ lessons on Lazarus’ resurrection.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty Lord.