The Good Shepherd (1)
Thursday January 23, 2014
Several times Jesus tried to explain to the Pharisees, the Jewish Leaders, who He was, but they were unable or unwilling to understand. Even though the Jewish scriptures clearly foretold the coming of Jesus to earth, and Jesus told the Pharisees over and over again to search the scriptures which spoke of Him, they refused to believe who He was.
"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. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. …. 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.” (John 10:1-2; 7-12 NKJV)
The above scripture was spoken by Jesus while trying to explain to the Pharisees who He was. What do you think He meant? He said that he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. If anyone gets into the sheepfold by another way then he is a thief or a robber. He also said that He is the door of the sheep. Jesus said that anyone who enters the sheepfold by Him will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. He said that all who came before Him were thieves and robbers. They came to steal, to kill and to destroy the sheep. Jesus said that He came to give the sheep life and this life would be more abundant. He then called Himself the Good Shepherd and said that He gave His life for the sheep.
Jesus entered into our world through the door of a virgin’s womb. He came as a human baby, in a human earth suit, so that He could legally pay the price of our sin. By Jesus’ sin bearing death on the cross, and His life giving resurrection, he opened up a way for us to come into His sheepfold and to be one of His sheep. He said that anyone who enters by Him will be saved. Those sheep that come into the Sheepfold by the Shepherd will go in and out and find green pastures. Now, what about the thieves and robbers that Jesus said climbed into the sheepfold another way, they are the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly realm. Their main objective is the destruction of the sheep.
Do you know who the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd is? Have you considered why He came to this earth? Today take time to reflect on the scriptures and get to know Jesus, the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep.
Christ didn’t have any sin. But God made him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIRV)
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