Getting Real with God

Read John 10:1-21

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me" John 10:14

I grew up up on a sheep farm, and spent a great deal of time moving sheep from one paddock to another. Not wanting to scare or scatter them I would move slowly and deliberately. The sheep would eventually get where they needed to be. I love this passage, yet I shake my head in wonder at the difference between Jesus’ shepherding and mine. Look at verses 3-4

“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.”

What a contrast to my own meagre efforts. Where I stayed behind the flock, Jesus goes in front of his. Where I drove, Jesus leads. Where sheep ran from my voice, Jesus’ sheep know and follow His voice.

Having spent so much of the first 9 chapters showing Jesus is God, this section is remarkable for the familiarity of its’ language.

Jesus is the shepherd who knows his sheep. The relationship is close, committed, personal.

Jesus is the shepherd who loves his sheep. He lays down his life for them!

Jesus is the shepherd who blesses his sheep. He calls them to a rich, full, joyful life. (vs10)

Jesus is the shepherd who brings us through every trial, even death. Because death cannot hold him, it cannot hold us either.

If you think of God as distant, uncaring, removed, or absent – this passage is the antidote.

I encourage to pause your day now, read Psalm 23 (it won’t take long), and reflect not just on the beautiful truth that the Lord is your shepherd, but what it means for your day ahead.

Mitch