As we read in John 10 below we find this proclamation made by Jesus Christ to the purpose of His coming to earth in the form of man. It was to be the Shepherd to the lost sheep of Israel and to be Shepherd to the lost gentiles. To be a Shepherd is to be one who cares for their sheep, keeps them protected, guides them, and feeds them. Jesus Christ not only provided for the sheep's needs but He also laid down His life for His sheep. The one thing that the children of Israel and even Satan himself never expected the Messiah to do was to voluntarily die a sinner's death. No King comes to have power and authority just to turn around and give it up willingly. This truly still confuses the wisdom of the world. If this was the Son of God, why did he die like a criminal and not stay to rule the earth for centuries as He should have!!! "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts", (Isaiah 55:9).
The mission of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was to establish a true relationship between Man and God as it should have been. By becoming the second Adam and living a sinless life, He fulfilled the requirements to become the sacrificial lamb for man, once and for all. No power on earth or in heaven could have taken the life of Christ, but He Willingly laid it down for mankind on the cross. Jesus Christ had all power before coming to earth as being part of the Trinity. There was nothing to gain, because He already had everything!!! One who strives to gain something is ultimately admitting that he is lacking something. Satan is truly lacking glory, a throne, a kingdom, and especially time. This is why we as the children of God, who have come to the Father through the Son, truly have no lack. All that we ever needed and wanted has already been provided by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!! Therefore we can lay down our lives daily as we follow the example of our Savior!!! Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of dying so that others may live on purpose!!!!!
John 10
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
No comments:
Post a Comment