John 10:1-18
Dear brethren,
Good Morning!!
We like to think of ourselves as being smarter than sheep. Yet, like sheep being led to a slaughter, human beings are often willing to blindly follow a leader without considering the consequences. A well trained man can step into a person's life, entice that person with eloquent words, and lead that person wherever he desires, especially if the person is willing to blindly follow the man. This is especially true within the realm of religion.
How do we protect ourselves from being led astray? The answer is simple: We must follow Jesus Christ, the true shepherd. In John 10:1-18, Jesus used a parable illustrating the need to follow only Him. With this parable and His explanation, Jesus taught the people that only He can be the true Shepherd. There will always be those religious leaders who will attempt to lead those who would follow Jesus. However, these religious leaders are simply robbers and they do not care for Jesus' sheep.
Who will you allow to lead your life? We may have spouses who greatly influence us. We may have friends who we admire and want to imitate. We may have parents whose footsteps we want to follow. However, in all this, in matters of religion, morality, right and wrong, etc. we must only follow Jesus Christ and His teachings. We must follow the true Shepherd.
Here is John 10:1-18 presented for your consideration.
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. Jesus the Good Shepherd
7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.
13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
In Love,
John Duvall
Good Morning!!
We like to think of ourselves as being smarter than sheep. Yet, like sheep being led to a slaughter, human beings are often willing to blindly follow a leader without considering the consequences. A well trained man can step into a person's life, entice that person with eloquent words, and lead that person wherever he desires, especially if the person is willing to blindly follow the man. This is especially true within the realm of religion.
How do we protect ourselves from being led astray? The answer is simple: We must follow Jesus Christ, the true shepherd. In John 10:1-18, Jesus used a parable illustrating the need to follow only Him. With this parable and His explanation, Jesus taught the people that only He can be the true Shepherd. There will always be those religious leaders who will attempt to lead those who would follow Jesus. However, these religious leaders are simply robbers and they do not care for Jesus' sheep.
Who will you allow to lead your life? We may have spouses who greatly influence us. We may have friends who we admire and want to imitate. We may have parents whose footsteps we want to follow. However, in all this, in matters of religion, morality, right and wrong, etc. we must only follow Jesus Christ and His teachings. We must follow the true Shepherd.
Here is John 10:1-18 presented for your consideration.
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. Jesus the Good Shepherd
7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.
13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
In Love,
John Duvall
posted by John | 6:09 AM
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