Joh 10:1
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.
Joh 10:2 But
he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
Joh 10:3 To
him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own
sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
Joh 10:4 And
when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow
him: for they know his voice.
Joh 10:5 And a
stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the
voice of strangers.
Joh 10:6 This
parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were
which he spake unto them.
Joh 10:7 Then
said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of
the sheep.
Joh 10:8 All
that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear
them.
Joh 10:9 I am
the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and
out, and find pasture.
Joh 10:10 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.
Joh 10:11 I am
the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Joh 10:12 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.
Joh 10:13 The
hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
Joh 10:14 I am
the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Joh 10:15 As
the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for
the sheep.
Joh 10:16 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.
Joh 10:17
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take
it again.
Joh 10:18 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.
Joh 10:19
There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
Joh 10:20 And
many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
Joh 10:21
Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open
the eyes of the blind?
Joh 10:22 And
it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
Joh 10:23 And
Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
Joh 10:24 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.
Joh 10:25
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.
Joh 10:26 But
ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
Joh 10:27 My
sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28 And
I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any
man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My
Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck
them out of my Father's hand.
Joh 10:30 I
and my Father are one.
Joh 10:31 Then
the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
Joh 10:32
Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for
which of those works do ye stone me?
Joh 10:33 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.
Joh 10:34
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Joh 10:35 If
he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot
be broken;
Joh 10:36 Say
ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou
blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
Joh 10:37 If I
do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
Joh 10:38 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.
Joh 10:39
Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their
hand,
Joh 10:40 And
went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and
there he abode.
Joh 10:41 And
many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John
spake of this man were true.
Joh 10:42 And
many believed on him there.
*******
Most Christians know
that our Savior is the Good Shepherd, and most can recite the Lord's Prayer
which begins--- 'The LORD is my Shepherd…'
We comprehend that a shepherd cares for sheep which are helpless without
him. Sure, there are sheep that don't have shepherds and they survive. Before
sheep were bred to keep their wool growing year round they would lose their
coat naturally every year and grow it back. They didn't need sheering. Wild
sheep stayed in herds and their predators - like predators worldwide- would
pick off the weak, the young, the old, the sick. They survived. Once sheep
became domesticated and used in herds and became a great commodity they needed
shepherding they couldn't be left to the wild to wander on their own, to face
predators by themselves. The shepherd made sure the sheep had food to eat,
pastures to graze in. They made sure they had water to drink, and that they
were kept as safe as possible. When the Lord tells us He is the Good Shepherd
He is telling us that HE is the one that can protect us, feed us, make sure
have water - all SPIRITUALLY. Being HIS sheep we have to recognize Him as our
Shepherd. When we recognize HIM s our Shepherd we can KNOW without DOUBT that
He will care for all our spiritual needs. I say spiritual needs because too
many people get caught up in the physical things believing that if God is for
them they'll never hunger, they'll never thirst, they'll never be without
proper clothing, but that's not true. A lot of people, God fearing people,
Christians who love the Lord with all their hearts will go hungry and such. If
we judge God's love for us based on what we receive in this life - even life
sustaining things- then we are going to be very disappointed when we don't
receive things we may truly need to live.
If we judged God's love by His giving us good health, good food, good
clothes etc, by His taking care of our loved ones then we will find God on the
wrong side of things and not a good Shepherd at all. Yet, HE is our Good Shepherd and He will care
for ALL our spiritual needs. He will make eternal life available to us no
matter our existence in this world now. Our Spiritual Shepherd, we must HEAR
His voice, we must listen to our Shepherd and follow wherever He leads.
Following the Good Shepherd, knowing He leads us to eternal existence down a
spiritual road is what we must do as His sheep.
All by His love, His grace, His mercy now and forever!!!!!!!
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