February 23
JOHN 10
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”– John 10:14-21
JOHN 10 THE GOOD SHEPHERD LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
If you believe in Jesus Christ, you are secure
He is the good shepherd who lays down his life for you
The good shepherd takes loving care of his flock
He watches them and ensures they are intact
The good shepherd protects his sheep from danger
The sheep that belongs to him doesn’t follow strangers.
In this account, Jesus uses the relationship of the sheep and the shepherd and likens it to all those who believes in him. From preceding verses, he talked about those who do not enter through the door who are hirelings and thieves. They do not care for the sheep because they are only there to steal what is profitable for them. They would not lay down their lives for the sheep when they are threatened by wild animals. Spurgeon comments
“In the Latin tongue the word for money is akin to the word ‘sheep,’ because, to many of the first Romans, wool was their wealth, and their fortunes lay in their flocks. The Lord Jesus is our Shepherd: we are his wealth.” This commentary only confirms how precious we are to our Lord Jesus Christ. He will lay down his life for anyone who belongs to him, but also in verse 16 he mentions the Gentile believers or those who have not yet heard the gospel but belong to him. He will gather them also and bring them in his flock.
REFLECTION
• What do you think it means when it said he lays down his life for the sheep?
