John 10:4 - 10
When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.... I tell you the Truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
We are so privileged to be tended to and looked after by so good, kind and loving a Shepherd as Jesus. He truly is more beautiful than we could ever conceive. I once read a testimony of someone who encountered the very Person of Jesus and their description was that if everyone had to encounter Jesus in this way they would automatically surrender their lives to Him, because He is simply irresistible.
And like most passages in the Gospel of John, this one quoted above paints another stunningly glorious portrait of Jesus our Saviour and Shepherd. A King and close friend who wants to lead His people into abundant pasture, saves His people from the thief, and give abundant life to them.
I wanted to encourage and remind you this week that this is Jesus' objective: to impart Life to you. But while reading the context of the famous verse 10, a couple of other things jumped out at me...
1. Jesus walks ahead of His people, and His sheep follow Him because they want to
I am sure most of you have heard the comparison between a traditional Hebrew shepherd and shepherds of other cultures. Hebrew shepherds walk ahead of their sheep while other cultures walk behind their flocks with a stick making sure they are all in line. Jesus compares Himself to the former. He is a shepherd who is secure, and He wants people following Him who are hungry for more. If you want more of Jesus, His Word and His Presence, He is not going to force you.
But this means that we need to get to a place where we are so consumed by the beauty of who He is, we wouldn't be found anywhere else but in His Presence. This is more than just "saying a prayer to be saved from hell". This is a recognition that Jesus is the only True Source of Life, and to experience that True Life; His Presence is the best place to be!
Jesus wants us to recognise that for ourselves, from experience.
Jesus is secure. He doesn't want people "following Him" out of duty, He wants people following Him because there's nothing else in this life that satisfies like His Love.
2. Jesus ensures His people find pasture
Jesus wants His people to be looked after and cared for... well. Psalm 37:25 says the righteous will never be forsaken or will their seed ever beg for bread. You are righteous! That means you will never be forsaken, and even your children's children will be blessed.
Jesus wants to lead you into pastures of abundance. Abundant, luscious green pastures meant that the sheep could feed till their heart's content, and thus they were healthy and strong. Jesus wants you healthy and strong! He wants you to be in a place of abundance where all your worries are cared for by Him. After all, He is the one who will find those green pastures for you!
3. Jesus draws a clear distinction between what comes from the devil and what comes from Him
Anything that goes into the box of "Stolen, killed and destroyed" was put there by the devil. Not Jesus. Anything that goes into the box of "Full and Abundant Life" was put there by Jesus.
This is one of the most important verses in the Bible for our understanding of the character of God and the origin and place of evil in our world. Jesus doesn't will for evil to take place; but there is one who does, and his name is satan. I have heard it said that this verse is not referring to satan but to greedy men. That is untrue, because "men (and women)" in this verse are compared to sheep, and therefore the shepherds and hired hands are spiritual authorities. Jesus being the Good Spiritual Authority, satan being the evil one. It's quite simple.
My friend, Jesus wants to give you abundant life. A life filled with health, wholeness, provision, fun and joy! This should be the experience of the Christian! The child of God.
Don't lose touch of His Voice. It is sweet and always Loving. Pursue Him, and follow His leading with reckless abandon. There is nothing more satisfying in the Universe! Your soul will not be disappointed. Neither will you.
Jesus is our most Glorious Lover and Friend. The more we see Him, the more we are transformed forever.
When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.... I tell you the Truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
We are so privileged to be tended to and looked after by so good, kind and loving a Shepherd as Jesus. He truly is more beautiful than we could ever conceive. I once read a testimony of someone who encountered the very Person of Jesus and their description was that if everyone had to encounter Jesus in this way they would automatically surrender their lives to Him, because He is simply irresistible.
And like most passages in the Gospel of John, this one quoted above paints another stunningly glorious portrait of Jesus our Saviour and Shepherd. A King and close friend who wants to lead His people into abundant pasture, saves His people from the thief, and give abundant life to them.
I wanted to encourage and remind you this week that this is Jesus' objective: to impart Life to you. But while reading the context of the famous verse 10, a couple of other things jumped out at me...
1. Jesus walks ahead of His people, and His sheep follow Him because they want to
I am sure most of you have heard the comparison between a traditional Hebrew shepherd and shepherds of other cultures. Hebrew shepherds walk ahead of their sheep while other cultures walk behind their flocks with a stick making sure they are all in line. Jesus compares Himself to the former. He is a shepherd who is secure, and He wants people following Him who are hungry for more. If you want more of Jesus, His Word and His Presence, He is not going to force you.
But this means that we need to get to a place where we are so consumed by the beauty of who He is, we wouldn't be found anywhere else but in His Presence. This is more than just "saying a prayer to be saved from hell". This is a recognition that Jesus is the only True Source of Life, and to experience that True Life; His Presence is the best place to be!
Jesus wants us to recognise that for ourselves, from experience.
Jesus is secure. He doesn't want people "following Him" out of duty, He wants people following Him because there's nothing else in this life that satisfies like His Love.
2. Jesus ensures His people find pasture
Jesus wants His people to be looked after and cared for... well. Psalm 37:25 says the righteous will never be forsaken or will their seed ever beg for bread. You are righteous! That means you will never be forsaken, and even your children's children will be blessed.
Jesus wants to lead you into pastures of abundance. Abundant, luscious green pastures meant that the sheep could feed till their heart's content, and thus they were healthy and strong. Jesus wants you healthy and strong! He wants you to be in a place of abundance where all your worries are cared for by Him. After all, He is the one who will find those green pastures for you!
3. Jesus draws a clear distinction between what comes from the devil and what comes from Him
Anything that goes into the box of "Stolen, killed and destroyed" was put there by the devil. Not Jesus. Anything that goes into the box of "Full and Abundant Life" was put there by Jesus.
This is one of the most important verses in the Bible for our understanding of the character of God and the origin and place of evil in our world. Jesus doesn't will for evil to take place; but there is one who does, and his name is satan. I have heard it said that this verse is not referring to satan but to greedy men. That is untrue, because "men (and women)" in this verse are compared to sheep, and therefore the shepherds and hired hands are spiritual authorities. Jesus being the Good Spiritual Authority, satan being the evil one. It's quite simple.
My friend, Jesus wants to give you abundant life. A life filled with health, wholeness, provision, fun and joy! This should be the experience of the Christian! The child of God.
Don't lose touch of His Voice. It is sweet and always Loving. Pursue Him, and follow His leading with reckless abandon. There is nothing more satisfying in the Universe! Your soul will not be disappointed. Neither will you.
Jesus is our most Glorious Lover and Friend. The more we see Him, the more we are transformed forever.
No comments:
Post a Comment