We have for years seen pictures of Christ as a Shepard, with
the lamb in one hand and looking so peaceful.
As we read chapter ten of John’s gospel we read how Christ gives us a
picture of Him being the Shepard. In the
first part of chapter ten, Christ speaks of how the flock knows Him, how thieves
and imposter came but the sheep ran away.
Who are these thieves and imposters He speaks of, they are those who at
that time came into the world and claimed to be Christ, or claimed to be the
way to heaven and eternal life. The
thief is anyone trying to steal us from Christ there are still many false religions
and false teachings even inside supposed churches teaching a Different Christ,
this is nothing new to our culture, in the books of Jude and 2nd
Peter believers are warned of false teachers.
This is why it is so important we read and study the bible along with
prayer so that we know God. Christ
Explains to them how it is through Him that we come to God.
“Yes, I am
the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they
will find green pastures. The
thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in
all its fullness”(John 10:9-10). Do not misunderstand
what Christ is saying here, because what He is saying here is so important. He’s saying the only path to eternal life to
Heaven to God the father is through
Him. No other Gate is going to get you
out of Hell, only Christ can do that , there is no other way only through
Christ. Many into today’s society and
around the world are going to tell you that this is a hateful way of thinking,
and wrong. But if God were a hateful God
why then would He send His son to die on a cross for our sins. Christ says in verse 11 “I am the good
shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” Christ is saying to them I am going to the
cross to die so you may have life, once again letting them know of the love God
has for them.
The
reality is, this is great news for us, because God came down to us, we do not
need to go up to God. We do not need to
go anywhere to meet God, we can on a daily basis read His word and pray to Him
and know that He knows us. The Psalmist
writes “You saw me before I was born. Every
day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a
single day had passed.” (ps 139:16) God knew
us before we were even born. God is not
some impersonal God who is up in Heaven looking down at us trying to figure out
what He can do to keep us out of reach.
He is everywhere and knows everyone whether they want to know Him or not.
He came up with a plan to allow us to come into a relationship with Him. Through Christ dying and on a cross, then defeating
death for us on the third day raising again.
Christ says in verses 15 thru 17, “ just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And
I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this
sheepfold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice; and there
will be one flock with one shepherd The Father loves me because I lay down my
life that I may have it back again. No one can take my life from me. I lay down
my life voluntarily. For I have the right to lay it down when I want to and
also the power to take it again. For my Father has given me this command.” We are the Sheep and He gives His life for us
to be able to come to know God who loves us and knows us already.
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