The Shepherd of the Sheep

 Morning Bible Reading and Meditation from the book of John 10 KJV Eec 16, 2024

For Mithcah Bible Baptist Church Bahrain

Morning Online Devotional Bible Study Dec.17, 2024

 

[1]Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that enterethnot by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. [2] But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

 

Lesson: The Shepherd

 

From our last bible study, we mentioned the two “I Ams” the LORD JESUS spoken that He is.

It is a great privilege for us to know these spoken words of The LORD to strengthen the more our spiritual understanding; that we will not want to carelessly forsake to have everything recorded in our bible study. To name them are these:

 

I Am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that beleiveth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35

I Am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12

Verily, verily, I say unto you, I Am the door:by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. John 10:9

I Am the Good Shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:11

 

These are the first four of the established, commonly preached and teach “I Am of JESUS” in the pulpit, even by the most popular Christian evangelist. However, we may add this verse the LORD has spoken in questioning manner, in front of them who fiercely tried to arrest Him to stone Him: v.32-35

“[36] Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thoublasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?”

 

In the simple way we can interpret this sentence spoken by the LORD: “you are saying to this man of whom the Father has sanctified and sent into this world, you are blaspheming; because I said, I am the Son of GOD? by which these hateful people disregard what JESUS has done, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, the wisdom He manifested in teaching GOD’s words and the many miracles He had done, that they are so fierce in accusing Him and about to stone Him to death. 

 

Even until now, most of the Jewry didn’t believe the word of JESUS CHRIST, that their hate speech to the Christianity is still boiling; which was just pacified a bit because the Christians are their most zealous lover and supporter in praying for them, even helping them fight their enemies. They despised and would not acknowledged the four gospels even the writings of the Apostles in the New Testament. They are still waiting for their Messiah to come. These have been the root cause of all confusion and mockery about Christianity.

But no matter how they tried to refute the gospel and the sound teachings about JESUS as the Son of GOD, it appears to be working marvelously in the conversion of many believers: from their idolatrous worship to following JESUS and His Redeeming Grace. That we, who have accepted, believed and constantly calling and relying in prayers in the Mighty Name of our LORD and Savior JESUS CHRIST, should have within ourselves the testimony that JESUS is the “I Am” who spake with Moses on that burning bush in this passage from Exodus 3: “13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.” 

JESUS is indeed “The I Am”, to whom we listen and obey. And because we bear within ourselves the witness that JESUS is our blessed Hope, the completion of our Faith, and the Designer of Love, we should keep on reading and studying the whole scriptures: The Old and New Testament of the bible, and should never be ashamed to share His words to everyone who take notice of the difference of our way of living.  

We should be His witness because of these following reasons; base on what our LORD JESUS have spoken in these following verses:

 

1. [27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 

➢ we are among His flocks because we follow Him and hearken unto His voice while He sustains us in everything we need.

 

2. [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

➢ we are forever protected and securely homed in His hand.

 

3. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. [30] I and my Father are one.

➢ We are faithfully chosen by GOD the Father in Heaven and His hand safely covered us in His hand, sealed by the blood of CHRIST with the power of the HOLY SPIRIT that indwells us.

Yes, this should be our testimony: JESUS The “I Am” sustains us, secures us and safely sheltered in His hand. That through the faith He bestowed upon us, the love of our Heavenly Father carries us throughout the days we remain living in this world. This is the blessed gift of Christmas we have. There will be thieves who will try to tempt us, to steal our peace, even the angry people who will despise our being zealous: what they called “fanatics” of our faith. We may become disappointed and low morale at some point: but none among them should entirely snatch us from His hand.

They may try to divert our faith, we may fail Him many times, and like a dumb sheep, we may be allured by the sweet voice of the Tempter, but JESUS our Good Shepherd, His loving hand will surely carry us back to be restored in His secure folds of protection.

 

So, while the world celebrates the birth of our Good Shepherd, our Savior JESUS CHRIST; for their selfish purpose, might be for money making or deceiving people, let us make them known why we also celebrate with them, what is the essence of the celebration and by whom should be given the honor of the celebration, even make them known the when and where the celebration started.

Let JESUS CHRIST: our Good Shepherd’s Name be glorified every day and forever!

 

John 10:1-42 KJV

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. [2] But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. [3] To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. [4] And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. [5] And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. [6] This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. [7] Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. [8] All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. [9] I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. [10] The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. [11] I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. [12] But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. [13] The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. [15] As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. [17] Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. [18] No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. [19] There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. [20] And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? [21] Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? [22] And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. [23] And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. [24] Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. [25] Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. [26] But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. [27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. [30] I and my Father are one. [31] Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. [32] Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? [33] The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. [34] Jesus answered them, Isit not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? [35] If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; [36] Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thoublasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? [37] If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. [38] But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. [39] Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, [40] And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. [41] And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. [42] And many believed on him there.