John 10 - The Voice!

Click Here To Read John 10



The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

10 “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.
Today Jesus uses the metaphor of a shepherd to differentiate who he is as the Good Shepherd and the Pharisees.  The shepherd's role with the sheep was well known to Jesus' culture.  A good shepherd knew the sheep and the sheep knew him.  A shepherd had different types of whistles for the sheep and they would respond because they knew and trusted him.  Most importantly when a sheep was in danger, the good shepherd would go and find him. 
What a difference from the self seeking, power wielding Pharisees who laid heavy burdens on their people.  They cared more about their position as the "shepherd" than the sheep they cared for.  
Most importantly Jesus uses this analogy to show us the type of relationship he wants to have with us today.  Jesus called us by name.  Before we called upon him, he knew us and called us to follow him.  As we begin following Jesus and obeying what he has commanded to do, we begin to experience the abundant life Jesus came to give us.  The more we follow the clearer his voice becomes.  
But we are also prone to wander.  We wander away from the fold sometimes thinking there is something better out there in other pastures.  But the Good Shepherd looks for us and we hear his familiar voice as he calls us, and we realize it is time to come home.  
Are you hearing the Good Shepherd's voice lately?  It it familiar to you, or have you wandered away so you can barely hear his voice?  The thief wants to steal you away from the Good Shepherd. He wants you to listen to his voice, but you know it isn't true.  But you know the true voice of the one who called you and made you his own.  The only question is will you listen and obey and find life and life abundantly.     

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