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. 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.aThey will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The 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. 12The 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. 13The 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— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I 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.
Thoughts: It is not only possible, but it happens that some religious leaders are deceptive. Jesus points out that some are in it just for the money- and there is no sacrifice on their behalf for the people. Jesus was speaking to a group of religious leaders who focused on the exterior without the heart. Jesus reminds us that religion is not about exterior rules or physical reqards- but a matter of the soul and heart which effects the body.
Jesus says he knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. This points out that the visible church is not all there is. God looks to see who is His. But it is also possible for us to know we are His. There is an assurance of salvation that comes from believing in God. Assurance is not made by being good- for no one is perfect. Assurance is not from a simple experience, for we may also experience distance from God (or the dark night of the soul). Assurance comes from knowing God and His love. There is a difference between knowing about God and really knowing God. I may know about the president but I do not know him. If we know Jesus, we know He is trustworthy and loving. Just as we can be assured of a friend's love, we can be assured of God's love. There are some people who are not worthy of our trust- and have proven themselves fickle, selfish and undependable. Jesus has proven His love by His sacrifice of coming down for us, and giving Himself for us on the cross. The Holy Spirit gives us assurance to trust and know God so that we might not live in fear but confidence in Him. Jesus knows His sheep, but it is also possible for His sheep to know Him.
Prayer: Help me to grow in knowledge and trust in you, O Lord.
No comments:
Post a Comment