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. 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. 12The 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.”
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
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. 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. 12The 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.”
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims
22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.
Praise God!
Last May 23, 2011, I have shared a note in my facebook about the "Shepherd and His Sheep;"
Shepherd and Sheep
Monday, May 23, 2011
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."
John 10:27 NASB
Jesus explained that He knows His sheep, and they know Him. He is their "door," providing the way to safety and salvation. All around them, "thieves and robbers" (v. 8) try to deceive the sheep. They come "only to steal and kill and destroy," but Jesus "came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (v. 10).
This is the kind of relationship Jesus wants to have with each of us. He already gave His life for us. Now we must choose: We can follow the "thieves and robbers" in the world, wandering in our own direction, or we can surrender to the care of the Good Shepherd.
Today, seek to develop a more intimate relationship with Jesus. You can trust Him to provide for you, protect you, and guide you.
He is our Shepherd. (Inspiration Ministries)
MY THOUGHTS:
I vividly remember Pastor Ross when he mentioned why sheep are the most exemplified animals in the Bible (i.e. in parables) especially in the New Testament. He said that sheep and we, human beings, are almost of the same features.
Generally, sheep are of a gregarious nature...meaning they love to be with the herd, they are herbivores. Sheep must have a leader (Shepherd) and must be told what to do and where to go, other wise they'll wander off and get lost.
1. timid, fearful, easily panicked
2. dumb stupid, gullible
3. very vulnerable to fear, frustration, pests, hunger
4. easily influenced by a leader, by the shepherd
5. stampede easily, vulnerable to mob psychology
6. little or no means of self-defense; can only run
7. easily killed by enemies
8. relies on the shepherd, who always have the calming influence
9. jealous, competitive for dominance
10. constantly need fresh water, fresh pasture
11. have very little discernment in choosing food or water
12. best water source is early morning dew
13. perverse, stubborn - will insist on their own way , even eating poisonous plants or drinking dirty water
14. easily "cast" - flipped over on their back, unable to right themselves will die of starvation if not turned over by shepherd; helpless
15. frequently look for easy places to rest
16. don't like to be sheared, cleaned
17. too much wool can cause sheep to be easily "cast"
18. creatures of habit; get into "ruts"
19. need the most care of all livestock
20. need to be "on the move"; need a pre-determined plan, pattern of grazing
21. totally dependent of shepherd for every need
22. need "rod and staff" guidance
Pastor Ross' sharing are so true, we are really like sheep. And to continue to be sustained, we need to remember this: -
"continue to hear my voice and follow me."
His words- this is my sustenance, and I am thankful to our Loving Lord, with all my heart.
....as you grow in Him, you will come to terms in knowing Him more and more and He, sharing His will for you; it is not only wisdom that resides in the brain, but more than that, it is a burning flame in your heart. Amen :)
Today's Inspirational Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You that You are my Shepherd. Help me to hear Your voice more clearly. I long to have a more intimate relationship with You. In Your name. Amen.
Point to Ponder:
Every strong and enduring relationship is build upon mutual trust. It can never be one-way. Both parties must be into it. And with that principle, I built my full surrender to our Loving Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only One who can sustain me in this life, no one else, nothing else.
If you are assured that you have someone whom you can rely on and trust with all your heart and life, someone all-powerful, all-knowing and ever-present, but most of all, someone who loves you with an everlasting love, would you still doubt that He can deliver you from anything and everything in this world?
Glory to GOD!
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.
Praise God!
Last May 23, 2011, I have shared a note in my facebook about the "Shepherd and His Sheep;"
Shepherd and Sheep
Monday, May 23, 2011
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."
John 10:27 NASB
Jesus explained that He knows His sheep, and they know Him. He is their "door," providing the way to safety and salvation. All around them, "thieves and robbers" (v. 8) try to deceive the sheep. They come "only to steal and kill and destroy," but Jesus "came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (v. 10).
This is the kind of relationship Jesus wants to have with each of us. He already gave His life for us. Now we must choose: We can follow the "thieves and robbers" in the world, wandering in our own direction, or we can surrender to the care of the Good Shepherd.
Today, seek to develop a more intimate relationship with Jesus. You can trust Him to provide for you, protect you, and guide you.
He is our Shepherd. (Inspiration Ministries)
MY THOUGHTS:
I vividly remember Pastor Ross when he mentioned why sheep are the most exemplified animals in the Bible (i.e. in parables) especially in the New Testament. He said that sheep and we, human beings, are almost of the same features.
Generally, sheep are of a gregarious nature...meaning they love to be with the herd, they are herbivores. Sheep must have a leader (Shepherd) and must be told what to do and where to go, other wise they'll wander off and get lost.
1. timid, fearful, easily panicked
2. dumb stupid, gullible
3. very vulnerable to fear, frustration, pests, hunger
4. easily influenced by a leader, by the shepherd
5. stampede easily, vulnerable to mob psychology
6. little or no means of self-defense; can only run
7. easily killed by enemies
8. relies on the shepherd, who always have the calming influence
9. jealous, competitive for dominance
10. constantly need fresh water, fresh pasture
11. have very little discernment in choosing food or water
12. best water source is early morning dew
13. perverse, stubborn - will insist on their own way , even eating poisonous plants or drinking dirty water
14. easily "cast" - flipped over on their back, unable to right themselves will die of starvation if not turned over by shepherd; helpless
15. frequently look for easy places to rest
16. don't like to be sheared, cleaned
17. too much wool can cause sheep to be easily "cast"
18. creatures of habit; get into "ruts"
19. need the most care of all livestock
20. need to be "on the move"; need a pre-determined plan, pattern of grazing
21. totally dependent of shepherd for every need
22. need "rod and staff" guidance
Pastor Ross' sharing are so true, we are really like sheep. And to continue to be sustained, we need to remember this: -
"continue to hear my voice and follow me."
His words- this is my sustenance, and I am thankful to our Loving Lord, with all my heart.
....as you grow in Him, you will come to terms in knowing Him more and more and He, sharing His will for you; it is not only wisdom that resides in the brain, but more than that, it is a burning flame in your heart. Amen :)
Today's Inspirational Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You that You are my Shepherd. Help me to hear Your voice more clearly. I long to have a more intimate relationship with You. In Your name. Amen.
Point to Ponder:
Every strong and enduring relationship is build upon mutual trust. It can never be one-way. Both parties must be into it. And with that principle, I built my full surrender to our Loving Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only One who can sustain me in this life, no one else, nothing else.
If you are assured that you have someone whom you can rely on and trust with all your heart and life, someone all-powerful, all-knowing and ever-present, but most of all, someone who loves you with an everlasting love, would you still doubt that He can deliver you from anything and everything in this world?
Glory to GOD!
May Jesus' love abounds in us all everyday (".)
Bible in a Year:
Read the Bible in One Year- Here's a reading plan where you and I can focus on God's Words everyday....to make it a habit, make it a practice, Amen :)
Read with me; God speaks to us through His words :)
October 20, 2011- Genesis 25-26
Today is the day :)
If you have not received Jesus Christ yet in your heart, today is the day. May you embrace His love and His gift :)
"Lord Jesus, I believe You are truly the Son of God. I confess that I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Please forgive all my wrongdoing, and let me live in relationship with You from now on. I receive You as my personal Savior, accepting the work You accomplished once and for all on the cross. Thank You for saving me. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen." (ref prayer by: Mr. Charles Stanley)
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