Thoughts on the Gospel of John (81) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

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. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.
John 10:10-12.

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (81)
What a blessing it is that Jesus Christ came into the world! Quite unselfishly He keeps His eye on the well-being of His sheep, granting not only salvation and liberty, as we have seen, but also life in abundance. This is a quality that far exceeds natural life. It means being perfectly happy in the love of God the Father. But for this the Good Shepherd had to "taste death" - a proof of the love that led Him to sacrifice Himself for the sheep.

Apart from the Good Shepherd, three other activists are mentioned here: the thief, the hireling and the wolf.

The thief stands for people and religious systems that rob the flock of biblical truths and blessings. How much is offered under the name of Christianity today that does not promote faith, but proves rather to be spiritual impoverishment!

The hireling is someone who sees the possibility of gain in the flock. His prime motive for serving is not the sheep but himself. Should the situation become dangerous, he thinks only of his own safety and convenience and flees, leaving the sheep alone, when they are in the greatest need of care.

Finally, the wolf stands for false prophets who monopolise the flock for their own purposes and thus scatter the sheep.

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today's reading: Exodus 34:11-26 · Luke 15:1-10