John 10 Part 1

Sheep are among the most helpless animals in the world. They entirely depend on the shepherd to provide everything for them. In John 10, Jesus uses the metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep to illustrate the relationship between Jesus and His followers. Jesus declares Himself as the "Good Shepherd" who knows His sheep and is known by them. He contrasts Himself with "hired hands" who are not truly committed to the sheep, much like the religious elite that only wanted the ‘sheep’ for their own benefit. However, Jesus is willing to lay down His life for the sheep as the true shepherd, not a hired hand or cheap imitation. Jesus is the gate through which the sheep enter the sheepfold. He protects His sheep from thieves and predators. He protects them and loves them. And the sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd and follow Him. This raises a challenging question: Do you know the voice of the True Shepherd? Can you distinguish His voice from the many voices in the world? This chapter invites us to deepen our relationship with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by recognizing His voice, trusting His guidance, and following Him faithfully to experience the abundant life He offers.

Do YOU know the voice of the TRUE Shepherd? How can we distinguish His voice from the distractions of this world?