Tag: one flock
One flock and One Shepherd
Scripture reading for October 27th: John 10, Psalm 65, Proverbs 29
John 10:14-19 “”I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.” There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.”
Jesus Christ is the ‘One Shepherd’ Who alone is the ‘Good Shepherd’! God had designated Israel His ‘Flock’, the sheep of His pasture. But Jesus proclaimed that there were other ‘sheep’ that He was here to reach that were not of Israel’s fold. These sheep would accept Jesus as the ‘One Shepherd’ and listen to His voice and follow Him. His laying down of His life would come at the end of His earthly ministry. Jesus taught that this would be a voluntary act given to Him by the Father. He would lay down His life for the sheep and then take it up again, accurately predicting His resurrection, also decreed by His Father. These powerful prophetic Words brought division among the Jews. Some accused Him of having a demon, but others disagreed because of the miracle of the healing of the blind man. The Gospel would divide and bring some to faith in the ‘One Shepherd’ but others to eternal destruction.
Psalm 65:3-4 “When iniquities prevail against me, You atone for our transgressions. Blessed is the one You choose and bring near, to dwell in Your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, the holiness of Your temple!”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for giving Your Son authority to lay down His life as the “Good Shepherd” of the ‘One Flock’ of sheep who hear Your voice and follow You. Thank You for atoning for my sins and bringing me near to You to dwell in Your House forever. I am satisfied with the goodness of Your House and the Holiness of Your temple! Through Jesus My Shepherd, I sing and rejoice forever and ever!
Proverbs 29:6 “An evil man is ensnared in his transgression, but a righteous man sings and rejoices.”
Thankful for One Shepherd!
Scripture reading for November 6th: John 8-12
Key Scriptures: John 10:14-16 “I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me–just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father–and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd.”
Jesus took the Book of Ezekiel and used an analogy there applying it to Himself. He told the people that He was the good Shepherd who would lay His life down for them, the sheep. He was talking to the Jews but also told them of other ‘sheep’, not of the Jewish fold who also belonged to Him as the good Shepherd. Gentiles would also be included in the Good Shepherd’s flock! In the end there would be one flock and one Shepherd! Praise our Lord one and all!
Thankful for Jesus our Shepherd: “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says to them: See, I Myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, I will save My flock and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will place over them One Shepherd, My servant David, and He will tend them; He will tend them and be their Shepherd.”” (Ezekiel 34:20-23)
Jesus: Shepherd and Gate
Scripture reading for May 18th: John 10:1-21
Jesus taught using illustrations that were familiar to the people of that day and time. One of the teachings recorded by John was that of the shepherd, sheep, and gate. Jesus used this illustration to help those understand that were teachable and to confound those who were convinced that He was demon possessed.
“The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” (John 10:2-5) Jesus told this story about the sheep and the shepherd to illustrate how a good shepherd and his flock relate to each other. The good shepherd of the sheep knows each one by name. He leads his sheep, he doesn’t drive them. They follow him because they know his voice and it is comforting to them. They run away from a stranger because the voice is not familiar.
“Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.” (John 10:7) The good shepherd, after he has gathered his sheep for the night, places them inside a pen with one opening. This opening is the “gate” into the pen and the shepherd then lays down in the opening, becoming the gate or door to give access to the sheep. Jesus went on to tell them that only by entering through Him could they be saved. (John 10:9) Through Him they could go in and out and find safe pasture.
“I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” …”I am the good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me–just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father–and I lay down My life for the sheep.” Jesus further identified Himself as the good Shepherd who would lay down His life to save and protect His sheep! Jesus would willingly do this because He loved the Father. Have you entered by the Gate who is the Good Shepherd? Jesus Christ is His Name!