John 10:1-18
1 “Anyone refusing to walk through the gate into a sheepfold, who sneaks over the wall, must surely be a thief!
2 For a shepherd comes through the gate.
3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 He walks ahead of them; and they follow him, for they recognize his voice.
5 They won’t follow a stranger but will run from him, for they don’t recognize his voice.”
6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant,
7 so he explained it to them.
“I am the Gate for the sheep,” he said.
8 “All others who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them.
9 Yes, I am the Gate. Those who come in by way of the Gate will be saved and will go in and out and find green pastures.
10 The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.
11 “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 A hired man will run when he sees a wolf coming and will leave the sheep, for they aren’t his and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf leaps on them and scatters the flock.
13 The hired man runs because he is hired and has no real concern for the sheep.
14 “I am the Good Shepherd and know my own sheep, and they know me,
15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 I have other sheep, too, in another fold. I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice; and there will be one flock with one Shepherd.
17 “The Father loves me because I lay down my life that I may have it back again.
18 No one can kill me without my consent—I lay down my life voluntarily. For I have the right and power to lay it down when I want to and also the right and power to take it again. For the Father has given me this right.”
Message
The church is likened to a sheepfold, and then an army. Sheepfold represents love and care, while the army teaches on responsibility.
Let us consider the kinds of people that you find in the church using the picture of a sheepfold:
- The Chief Sheepfold: Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd, the Bishop and Shepherd of our souls (1 Peter 2:25).
In every true Church, the Chief Shepherd takes the preeminence.
Anyone who seeks to put himself in the place of greater reverence and preeminence than Jesus, is a thief and a robber.
Today's passage shows us five kinds of relationship every believer should have with the Chief Shepherd, namely:
a. Intimacy and Knowing: He wants you to learn of Him and know Him intimately. This is the priority of God in saving you, that you may have a living relationship with Him.
b. Leadership: He wants to lead you into His highest purpose for your life and He will accomplish this many times through your pastor.
c. Feeding the flock: God is particular about how His children turn out and He will always give you shepherds after His heart that will feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:15
d. Hearing: The written word of God introduces you to the Living Word and you must prioritise God's word in order to have your ears attuned to the Lord's voice
e. Assignment: Your salvation and Church membership should lead you to take up kingdom responsibility assigned to you by your pastor.
Prayer point
Lord Jesus, I receive grace to relate properly with You as Chief Shepherd, that I may know You more this year in Jesus' name. Amen.