Psalm 23; John 10:11-13
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
(John 10:11)
Why would any shepherd willingly die to save the flock he's watching over? They are, after all, only sheep. If we think about it, it sounds absurd. Only a shepherd of remarkable courage and benevolence would so commit himself, even to his own death. Such a selfless shepherd would act so devotedly because he knows the importance of the one who owns the sheep.
The answer to the question, of course, is that Jesus is no ordinary shepherd. He is God. He is the Good Shepherd. From eternity past, God the Father entrusted every precious believing soul to the Son. The Son honors the Father in His perfect care of and sacrifice for the Father's flock.
While He was with them, the Good Shepherd protected them and kept them safe, losing none except the one destined to be lost (John 17:12). Yet His greatest act of love and devotion would be His own obedient death for their sakes - for our sakes. We are those sheep! Through it He did what no one else could do; He secured our safety and peace for all eternity.
INSIGHT
THE GOSPEL IS BEAUTIFUL NOT BECAUSE OF THE SHEEP BUT BECAUSE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD. OUR WORTH IS DUE ENTIRELY TO HIM.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Isaiah 16-17
Palms 79
John 20
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 23:4 Or through the darkest valley
John 10:11-13
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns 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.
CAN A MORMON BE A CHRISTIAN [PART 2]
with Shawn McCraney
Mormonism is all over the media. As major networks run specials on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, many people are wondering what Mormons truly believe. Can a Mormon be a Christian?
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