Whose Sheep Are You??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #217

I want to share some passages from The Gospel of John, and consider what Jesus was and is telling us.  Scripture is replete with the picture of “shepherds and sheep” from one of the most familiar, Psalm 23, to the message from Jesus Himself in John 10.  Let’s rehearse the passages below and see what conclusions we can take away.

Jesus was often in conflict with the religious leaders of His day, and sometimes it seems that we have come full circle to a day when people, even professing Christians, would rather stand on the opinions of men rather than The Word of God.  What are you standing on?  Let’s see what Jesus has to say.

“This parable spake Jesus unto them:

but they understood not what things they were

which he spake unto them.

7 Then said Jesus unto them again,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me

are thieves and robbers:

but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

 and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life 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.”  Portions of John 10:6-18

Do you see the flow?  Jesus came to not only be the “good shepherd”, but He came to be “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world…”, as John the Baptizer proclaimed.  Jesus would die as “the lamb” but remain the “good shepherd”—the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin; and in verses 17 and 18, Jesus makes it clear that He willingly laid down His life, knowing that HE had the “power to take it again”!  All because He was obeying what, “I received of my Father”.  God’s plan, as Peter proclaimed at Pentecost:

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God among you

by miracles

and wonders

and signs,

which God did by him

 in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him, being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands have crucified

and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible

that he should be holden of it.”   Acts 2:22-24

Jesus is the one way to God:

“This is the stone which was set at nought

of you builders,

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12

Jesus is the way—the only way—to God; and as Jesus goes on to say in John chapter 10, it’s our choice whether we will believe what He says, believe what He did for us and trust to His death on the cross for our salvation, finding the forgiveness and transformation His blood supplies.  It’s your choice, but remember each choice has a consequence.  If you receive Jesus’ work of salvation accomplished at Calvary and verified in His resurrection from the dead, repenting of your sin, and trusting to His saving grace, you will find not only grace, but power, and the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth, via The Word of God!  Dig in!

“Jesus answered them,

I told you,

and ye believed not:

the works that I do in my Father’s name,

they bear witness of me.

26 But ye believe not,

because ye are not of my sheep,

as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

 is greater than all;

 and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:25-30

“31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.”

The leaders then wanted to kill Him, and many today feel the same way.  It’s your choice—believe or reject His voice which is calling you. (See Rev. 3:20.) If you hear His voice, will you respond today?  If you are His sheep, will you obey, and dig into His Word to know what obedience looks life?  Paul said it best:

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me, and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

Amen and Amen!!!