In The Word
Read: John 10:1-21
Parable of the Good Shepherd
10 “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2 But the one who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 However, a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus told them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what the things which He was saying to them meant.
7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.
11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters the flock. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and 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; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd.17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. This commandment I received from My Father.”
19 Dissension occurred again among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?” 21 Others were saying, “These are not the words of one who is demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of those who are blind, can it?”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Jesus used the example of shepherds and sheep to help His listeners understand His role as the Good Shepherd and their role as sheep. Jesus stated the shepherd’s responsibility is to know, lead, protect, and care for the sheep. Then the sheep’s obligation is to distinguish the shepherd’s voice from all other voices and follow wherever the shepherd leads. The sheep’s role is important as there are false shepherds, enemies, and dangers that want to steal, harm, and kill. If the sheep will only follow the shepherd and do as he says, then the sheep will have life, protection, and its needs met. Jesus distinguished Himself from the religious leaders by knowing His role as the Good Shepherd to care for the sheep.
There are many voices that speak to us and will even use things that appeal to us hoping we will follow them. These voices include our enemy, Satan, people with selfish and ungodly motives, the world and its culture, and our own flesh that likes sin. However, Jesus said that those who belong to Him would not only hear and know His voice, but they would also follow Him and no one else. Some Christians say they are followers of Christ, but their lives reveal they are merely talking and not actually following Jesus. The way for you to know Jesus’ voice is to spend significant time daily with Him in His Word.
The question is to whom will you choose to listen and follow?