TOPIC: THE GOOD SHEPHERD
TEXT: John 10:1-21(NKJV)
- 10:1. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
- 10:2. “But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
- 10:3. “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
- 10:4. “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
- 10:5. “Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
- 10:6. Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
- 10:7. Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
- 10:8. “All who [ever] came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
- 10:9. “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
- 10:10. “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly.
- 10:11. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
- 10:12. “But a hireling, [he who is] not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.
- 10:13. “The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
- 10:14. “I am the good shepherd; and I know My [sheep,] and am known by My own.
- 10:15. “As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
- 10:16. “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock [and] one shepherd.
- 10:17. “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
- 10:18. “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
- 10:19. Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings.
- 10:20. And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?”
- 10:21. Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
STUDY:
In verse 11 of our text, Jesus calls himself “the good shepherd.” Some characteristics of a good shepherd are given in verses 4, 10, 11 and 14. A good shepherd knows his sheep, goes before them, guides them and is ready to give his life for the sheep.
He protects the sheep and goes all out to look for and bring back the straying ones (v. 16; Matt. 18:12-13). He also feeds them with green pasture (Psalm 23:1-2).
In contrast, the hireling does not care about the sheep. He may run away in the face of danger, leaving the sheep vulnerable (vv. 12-13). Some may even feed on the sheep and do other terrible things described in Ezekiel 34:1-4.
You are a shepherd by virtue of your position as pastor, fellowship leader, teacher, parent, employer or mentor. How committed are you in the care and protection of those God has entrusted to your care?
Remember too that Jesus is our Chief shepherd. As a Christian, decide today to know and follow only the voice of the Lord Jesus.
PRAYER:
O Lord, help me to be a good shepherd to all those under my watch, Amen!
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