Is Jesus Your Good Shepherd!

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. 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. 
Jesus says in the gospel of John, "I am the bread of life", "I am the light of the world", "I am the way, the truth and the life, and today he says, "I am the good shepherd".  Everyone in Jesus' day would know what a good shepherd represents.  It was one of the most common occupations in Jesus' society.  So Jesus uses a term that all the people would understand and he applies it to himself.  So what made Jesus a good shepherd?  
1. He knows his sheep by name and they know him. 
2. When the sheep hear his voice, they follow after him.  
3. He provides safety for his sheep from wolves. 
4. He leads them out into a good pasture and gives them abundant life. 
5. He is willing to lay down his life for the his sheep. 
Isn't it amazing how many of these qualities relate to our own personal relationship with Jesus, our good shepherd. Many people do not enjoy a relationship with Jesus as he describes it here.  Many people think that following Jesus will make their life dull and boring.  But Jesus came to bring us life and life abundantly.  Many see God as impersonal and distant, but Jesus describes his relationship with us like someone who knows us and we know him.  As we grow to know him more, we begin to recognize his voice and follow him.  Finally, Jesus shows us the most important quality of a good shepherd.  A good shepherd is willing to lay down their life for the sheep.  A good shepherd is more concerned with saving his friend's lives than his own.
Is Jesus your good shepherd?  Do you know he wants to know you personally by name?  Do you know he wants to lead and guide you into abundant life?  Is there any greater friend than someone who would lay down his life for you?  This is the Jesus we follow.  As we learn to hear his voice, he watches out for us, protects us and gives us the life we've always wanted!  

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