Read:

John 10:11-21

¹¹ I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  ¹² But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.  ¹³  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.  ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  ¹⁵ As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.  ¹⁶ And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.  ¹⁷ Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  ¹⁸ No man taketh 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 commandment have I received of my Father.  ¹⁹ There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.  ²⁰ And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?  ²¹ Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

Hebrews 13:20-21

²⁰ Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,   ²¹ Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Exhortation:

Often, Palestinian shepherds took their flocks so far from the village in search of pasture and water, especially in the dry season, that many a time they could not get back to the fold at night. Thus they spent the night outdoors. And this was the time when the shepherd’s protection was most needed.

He dies for his sheep (vv.11–13): Many shepherds died while defending their flocks. They had to counter the knives and clubs of robbers and the attacks of wild animals. In their cases, however, death was always unintended. Christ, on the other hand, came to die for His sheep in order to save them. He died voluntarily, for His sheep were in danger of hell.

Such sacrificial action of the shepherd is in stark contrast to the hireling, whose only real interest was his personal gain. The reference would seem to be to the religious leaders who profited from their religious labours but had no real concern for the “sheep.”

He knows his sheep (vv.14–15): This Shepherd protects His sheep because He has perfect knowledge of them. He knows their proneness to wander, and all their infirmities. None of them can wander away and be lost because He knows all about them. Jesus could say to His Father, “Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost” (17:12).

He gathers his sheep (vv.16–18): As the Good Shepherd, Christ also has an interest in gathering “other sheep” which were never a part of the “fold” of Israel. The reference is clearly to the Gentiles, whom the Shepherd would be gathering from all parts of the world through the preaching of His gospel. When His sheep respond to His voice in the gospel, they become “one flock” with “one shepherd.” All who respond to Christ in faith, whether Jew or Gentile, are members of one flock with Christ as the Shepherd (cf. Eph 3:6; Col 3:11). Sadly, the unbelieving Jews could only see this wonderful Shepherd as a devilish person.

Thought:

Am I in His fold?

PRAYER

Lord, lead me into the peace, joy and hope of Your Gospel.