The Shepherd & The Sheep

“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.

 There is a flock. There is a door, a way, to enter. Those who climb in some other way, are thieves and robbers. Borders and doors and proper points of entry are Biblical principles.

 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

Those who enter by the door, the right & proper way, (The Way, The Truth, The Life, Jesus), they are shepherding (leading). Conversely, those who climb in, sneak in, are rustlers (thieves & robbers).

To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

Doors open for those willing and obedient to enter the right and proper way. They are given a voice that rings true to those of their flock; those they are called to shepherd. To lead out, to green pastures, still waters. 

And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

Shepherds bring out their own sheep, their own flock (not someone else's). They lead by example and communication; thus, their sheep know, trust and follow the shepherd's voice.

Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Security isn’t found by knowing the sound of a wolf, by following the Voice of The Shepherd.

Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  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.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 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.  The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.  I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.  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.

“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  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.”

They didn’t understand. So, Jesus made it perfectly clear. He is all at once, The Door & The Shepherd. The Way. The Truth. The Life. HE is the ONLY way. Only Gate. Only Door. Only Shepherd...to lead & save.

The ONLY way to truly be a shepherd (one who helps others find green pastures, still waters, peace and provision) is to know and follow The Shepherd.

 

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

We all, like sheep have gone astray. 

Forgive us. 

Help us we pray, to stay, with You.

To listen for Your Voice; not strangers. 

To focus our eyes on You, not others.

We trust You, to provide our every need.

We thank You, for keeping us from evil.

To know You, is our greatest goal.

For You to know us, is our heart’s desire.

Your will, not ours, be done, in us and those You’ve entrusted us to shepherd.

Thank You for listening, and answering

Expectantly yours,

Amen.