Jesus Promises He Will Lead You

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 leaves 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 binds himself to you. Three times he refers to laying down his life for his sheep. He is not a hired hand who may abandon the sheep when trouble comes. He is the owner, the Master, willing to stand between his flock and death.
   The Son is a fully committed Good Shepherd. The Father and the Spirit are not forcing him. No one takes Jesus’ life from him. The loving Savior willingly dies, so you will be alive forever. Humble, submissive and loving, the Savior offers himself to you. He loves the Father. He loves you.
   See, too, he teaches his salvation is for all people groups. “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also.” The Son of God has come for all nations. 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. They first rejected preaching to the Gentiles. But the Spirit sent Peter to the Roman Centurion Cornelius (Acts 10), paving the way for Paul to became the apostle to the Gentiles. Even the anointed apostles did not listen closely to their gentle, committed Savior. I hope we do.
   Yes, let’s savor the Savior’s love and obedience to God’s grand plan to save people of all nations into his sheepfold. Praise God you are among those the Good Shepherd leads to heaven. Pray for those who have not yet received the Savior’s eternal gift. Be his committed, gentle disciple to shepherd people’s hearts toward the gospel.