March 11 Committed Shepherd

John 10:11-18 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 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. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life — only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
 
JOHN has a wonderful way to share our Savior’s commitment to the Father and to mankind. The Servant Savior firmly and gently commits himself to you. Three times he refers to laying down his life for his sheep. The Father and the Spirit are not forcing him. No one takes Jesus’ life from him. He loves the Father. He loves you. The loving Savior willingly dies, so you will be alive forever. Humble, submissive and loving, the Savior offers himself to you and the entire world.
   See, too, he teaches his salvation is universal. “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.” The Son of God has come for all people. The Gentiles are not yet in the sheepfold. Soon, though, they will be welcomed into God’s flock. Jesus’ Jewish disciples and early church leaders found this difficult to accept. But Peter was first sent to the Gentiles, paving the way for Paul became the apostle to the Gentiles. Even though Jesus said he came for all the world, they first rejected this universal view of the Messiah. They did not listen closely to their gentle, committed Savior. I hope we do.
   I hope, indeed, we savor the Savior’s love and obedience to God’s grand plan to save people of all the world into his sheepfold. Praise God you are among those called. Pray for those who have not yet received the Savior’s eternal gift. Be his committed, gentle disciple to tell the gospel news.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for being a Good Shepherd. You lead us not into temptation, but you deliver us from evil. Amen.