Thoughts on the Gospel of John (82) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and am known by my own. As the Father knows me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear my voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
John 10:13-16.

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (82)
One Person alone is the Good Shepherd: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He has the sheep at heart, unlike whoever works among God's people for payment; such do not worry about the sheep.

Is it not a relief and comforting that the Shepherd has a thorough knowledge of all our needs, our strengths and weaknesses, and even our inclination to wander off? And His great love towards us led Him to lay down His life for us. And the sheep, for their part, know their Shepherd, His perfection, wisdom, power and love.

Let us take note of the comparison: the Lord and His own know each other in the same way as do the Persons of the Godhead, Father and Son. Who would have imagined such a situation? It shows what an intimate relationship exists between believers and their Lord.

Apart from the Jewish flock there are yet other sheep: heathens who have also heard the Shepherd's voice and believed the gospel. For the Shepherd they do not belong to a separate sheepfold. Sheep kept together by external boundaries are found in the Old Testament, whereas those kept together through the Shepherd's charisma and attraction reveal true Christianity.

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today's reading: Exodus 37:17-29 · Luke 17:11-19