40 Days in the Book of JOHN
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
40 Days in the Book of JOHN
Day 21 | THE GOOD SHEPHERD | John 10:10-11
40 Days in the Book of JOHN
Day 21 | THE GOOD SHEPHERD | John 10:10-11
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
John 10:10-11
“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.” (NKJV)
In the sheep-farming business of Jesus’ day, there were three groups: thieves who wanted to steal sheep and get something for nothing, “hirelings” (hired-hands) who were only there for the pay and ran away from any danger, and the good shepherds who truly cared for their sheep.
These verses also speak into the bigger picture of the world from the “In the beginning” of Genesis 1:1. Since that time, there has been an ongoing battle between God and Satan. (It’s important to know that they are NOT equals. Only God is God and unlimited, whereas Satan is a fallen created angel with limitations.) However, for now, Satan is alive and well on planet earth and is trying “to steal, to kill and to destroy” anything and anybody. (Think: sickness, disease, evil – all from Satan.)
Jesus, however, has come that WE might have LIFE and have it more abundantly!
Jesus goes on to state that HE is the good shepherd (His fourth “I am” statement) and that the “good shepherd” (that’s Jesus) “gives His life for the sheep.”
Isaiah the prophet said: “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.” (Isaiah 53:6)
WE are the sheep, and Jesus gave His life for us so that we might – if we choose – have everlasting life.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Thus, why Jesus came to earth: to become our “Good Shepherd,” to give His life for we (dumb) sheep so that we might be born again and have eternal LIFE with God our Heavenly Father.
Prayer: LORD, thank you for being such a Good Shepherd for me. I admit that I need your shepherding every day and am thankful for the abundant and everlasting life you have provided me. Amen.
John 10:10-11
“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.” (NKJV)
In the sheep-farming business of Jesus’ day, there were three groups: thieves who wanted to steal sheep and get something for nothing, “hirelings” (hired-hands) who were only there for the pay and ran away from any danger, and the good shepherds who truly cared for their sheep.
These verses also speak into the bigger picture of the world from the “In the beginning” of Genesis 1:1. Since that time, there has been an ongoing battle between God and Satan. (It’s important to know that they are NOT equals. Only God is God and unlimited, whereas Satan is a fallen created angel with limitations.) However, for now, Satan is alive and well on planet earth and is trying “to steal, to kill and to destroy” anything and anybody. (Think: sickness, disease, evil – all from Satan.)
Jesus, however, has come that WE might have LIFE and have it more abundantly!
Jesus goes on to state that HE is the good shepherd (His fourth “I am” statement) and that the “good shepherd” (that’s Jesus) “gives His life for the sheep.”
Isaiah the prophet said: “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.” (Isaiah 53:6)
WE are the sheep, and Jesus gave His life for us so that we might – if we choose – have everlasting life.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Thus, why Jesus came to earth: to become our “Good Shepherd,” to give His life for we (dumb) sheep so that we might be born again and have eternal LIFE with God our Heavenly Father.
Prayer: LORD, thank you for being such a Good Shepherd for me. I admit that I need your shepherding every day and am thankful for the abundant and everlasting life you have provided me. Amen.