Sheep follow the Good Shepherd, and that is what distinguishes those who follow Jesus on the narrow path from those who take the broad road of the world. Jesus speaks to us about this narrow road. Matthew 7:13You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its …
The refusal to believe in Jesus is sad because the consequences of not having faith are eternal. Perhaps you have friends or loved ones you have been praying for to come to faith, but they haven’t taken that step yet. Don’t give up praying for people to come to Jesus. Intercessory prayer involves praying on …
The “I am” statements created a controversial identity of Jesus. The Jewish scholars were well aware of the name that God had given Moses. Exodus 3: 14 God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.[1] To this point, Jesus had said: …
Jesus spoke about bringing other sheep into the fold. John 10: 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. [1] Who were these other sheep? They were the Gentiles. Jesus, as a …
Jesus tells us about the sacrifice of the good shepherd. John 10:11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.[1] Jesus’ audience was well aware that the life of a shepherd could be dangerous. Large predators, like wolves, love a meal of lamb. The shepherd had to protect his sheep, …
Jesus describes the failure of the hireling or false shepherd as harmful to the sheep. John 10:12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired …
Have you ever thought about how the characteristics of the Good Shepherd have impacted your life? Scripture often calls believers “sheep” because they share many traits. Psalm 100:3Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” [1] Sheep lack a sense of …
What is satan’s purpose on this earth? Jesus tells us. John 10:10a The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.[1] We first see this thief in Genesis chapter three, where he seeks to deceive Adam and Eve, whom God had created. Genesis 3:1The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the …
We see the danger of false shepherds throughout God’s word. Jesus provides insight into the difference between a real and a false shepherd. John 10:1“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one …
Jesus is the Gate. He was using a common image to explain a spiritual reality. His first-century listeners would have been knowledgeable about sheep and shepherds. Those of us in the twenty-first century are not as familiar with a sheepfold and need more information. A first-century sheepfold was a rock wall enclosure of loosely stacked …