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1 “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. 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. (John 10:1-10 NIV)
A wonderful Monday be yours, dear Friend. May we continue to pray for one another and especially for those who have asked prayers of us. The Rev. John Fletcher underwent a biopsy and will not know the results until Wednesday. He continues to have episodes of high fever which is baffling doctors. Pray for his healing. Pray for comfort for his family. Pray for the needs of the world. Pray for your needs.
I was blessed in my childhood by being a member of two churches, one as a child, the other as a youth, both named El Buen Pastor, aka The Good Shepherd. I loved the name and more so when I came to know the power and beauty of this passage. With this passage Jesus is connecting with so many. Sheepherding was a common and respected trade of the day. Everyone knew someone who owned or worked with sheep. But Jesus is going really deep, for He is saying things we need to hear. Since David wrote that awesome 23rd Psalm the idea of a good shepherd as God was in the mindset, if not the DNA of the believers in God. David said, in a way, "God is out there as our shepherd," and here now, is God's Son saying, "It's me! I am the Good Shepherd, and proceeds to explain the how and why.
"Anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber." Jesus is addressing the Pharisees with a blunt accusation of their ministry, or lack thereof. The people of God, the sheep, were in need of a shepherd, but they had none. Their tactics and practices were leading the people further away from God. God was too "out there" to fully provide what the psalmist said God does provide. Yet, we are here with Jesus Who says He is he who "enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep." Jesus says, "The gatekeeper opens the gate for Him, " meaning the authority is Jesus'. "The sheep listen to His voice." The sheep, or believers, which are us, know Him for Who He is and we listen to Him because we know His voice." And like the psalmist wrote, He leads the sheep in the direction they should go. But unlike the Pharisees, Jesus cares for the sheep enough to know their name, and they follow because they know His voice, and they trust Him. And then Jesus remarks how sheep will not follow the voice of a stranger, saying that in fact, they will run away from those fake shepherds because they do not recognize the voice.
Jesus again says that He is the gate for the sheep; those who came before Him were nothing more than thieves and robbers, but they sheep did not listen to their voice. Then one of my favorite verses in the Bible ends this passage: The thief comes only to steak and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." The Easter message is that Jesus came so that we may have life, and beyond just existing, having an abundant life, a full life. And what Jesus came to destroy was the mission of the thief who "comes only to steal and kill and destroy." It's a great measure of temptations that come our way; "Will this steal something from me, like life, ethical behavior, righteousness? Will this kill me if I do it? Will this destroy my life or my relationships? If any of the responses meet that test, then run away and do not fall into that temptation or chase after distraction.
PRAYER: Loving God, lead us on to life and that in abundance, loving Savior. Help us know to make responsible choices so that nothing nor no one can steal, kill, or destroy from or to me. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Be vigiliant about listening to Jesus and not to the thief.
Receive my blessings of love and joy,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
