John 10
Bible Passage: John 10
Just a short sharing today. Yesterday we read about how Jesus healed a blind man from birth in order that “the works of God should be revealed” (John 9:3). However the Jewish leaders simply could not accept this and refused to accept also that Jesus was from God. So while the blind man believed Jesus, the religious leaders rejected Jesus.
Today’s passage was Jesus’ response to these so called leaders. He wanted to show them what does it it mean to be a true leader or shepherd. And that He was that true Shepherd and Leader.
When I read today’s passage, I thought I was reading something new… cause although the passage is very familiar, I have never really noticed in depth John 10:1-6.
1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
Now the example given by Jesus was something that was easily understood at that time, but not many could perceive the meaning. Sheep are normally herded into a sheepfold that usually had only one door or entrance to the fold – which is usually made up of a wall of rocks and some may have a roof. But in the sheepfold, there could be sheep of a few shepherds. Therefore, they would normally have a doorkeeper who would guard the sheep in the fold and only allow the shepherds access to the door and their sheep.
So shepherds spend a lot of time getting to know their sheep – by name 🙂 and lead them with their voice.
The Pharisees, as religious leaders, ought to know and be known by their sheep. But they were not very good shepherds in that they cared only on themselves and were actually like thieves who only want to get more sheep to increase their religious standing. It reminded me of the words of Ezekiel in Ezekiel 34:3
You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock.
We who are shepherds in Church… we need to examine ourselves and see what kind of shepherd we are.
All of us are part of the sheepfold. And we need to learn to listen to the voice of our Shepherd. When the voice calls out to us… do we know is that the voice of a shepherd that is not our shepherd, or is the voice the voice of our true Shepherd. Or is that the voice of of a thief that only seeks to break in, steal and destroy?
Following the wrong voice will be terrible!