New Beginnings - The Shepherd & The Sheep

 JOHN 10

John 10:3-5; 14-16

"The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice. 

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I 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".

A shepherd would call his sheep; the sheep recognising their shepherds voice, would follow him to the pasture. Shepherds could name each sheep, and each sheep would respond to the shepherd calling its name. True believers, belonging to the true Shepherd, would never follow someone pretending to be their shepherd. The shepherd knows his sheep and he loves them, so much that he would die for them. The shepherd also know the shepherd and trust him with their lives.

Jesus added that he had "other sheep... not in the sheep pen". The audience for this parable was Jewish and they would have understood the "sheep pen" to be made up of Jews who were following the Messiah. Jesus's reference to "other sheep" means that he would save Gentiles as well as Jews. Jesus had come to die for sinful people all over the world, not just in Palestine. Eventually the Jewish believers and the Gentile believers would form one flock all over the world -- United in Christ (Galatians 3:28).

Getting Personal

1. What can you do to "listen" to the Good Shepherd?
2. What, if anything keeps you from fully hearing his voice?
3. The difference between listening and hearing is that hearing involves understanding. How can you distinguish his voice from your own reflective thinking?
4. What can you do to better understand what God wants you to do?
5. Even if we hear the Shepherd, we still must choose to follow where he leads. Where does He want to lead you? Will you follow?

In this parable the sheep "listen", they hear the shepherd, and they "follow". The result is that these sheep find good pasture and are protected. The Bible often uses the word sheep to describe people -- and not always positively. Isaiah 53:6, for example, says , "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." How foolish -- yet how often we stray away from the Shepherd. Just like sheep we are weak and vulnerable (to sin). We need our Shepherd and dare not follow our own path.

Putting it into Action

In comparison to God's omnipotence and omniscience, our ability and reasoning seems very small. Admit to the LORD your great need for his protection and guidance. Ask him to draw you close and keep you there.

Bible Verse

"I 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". John 10:16, NIV

Prayer

Lord our God, bring us together as one. Give us your Spirit so that we may know you, so that joy may fill our hearts, not only for ourselves but also for others. Root out evil from the earth. Sweep away all that offends you, all lying, deceit, and hate between nations. Grant that all people may come to know you, so that disunity and conflict may be swept away and your eternal kingdom may arise on earth and we may rejoice in it. For your kingdom can come to people even while on earth to bring them happiness and to make them your own children. Yes, Lord God, we want to be your children, your people, held in your hand, so that your name may be honored, your kingdom may come, and your will be done on earth as in heaven. In Jesus name. Amen.

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