Read John 10:1-10

Friday

Read John 10:1-10

10  Jesus said, “I am telling you the truth: the man who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who goes in through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him; the sheep hear his voice as he calls his own sheep by name, and he leads them out. 4When he has brought them out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. 5They will not follow someone else; instead, they will run away from such a person, because they do not know his voice.”
6 Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand what he meant.
7 So Jesus said again, “I am telling you the truth: I am the gate for the sheep. 8All others who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever comes in by me will be saved; they will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.

Think

Jesus tells this passage just after he has healed a blind man - who was then shoved from pillar to post as the authorities tried to determine whether healing him was a sin.  Jesus compares himself to the leaders of Israel, shepherds who care nothing for the sheep.  He is The Good Shepherd - the gatekeeper.  Remember this.  Jesus is the one who decides who belongs in his Kingdom.  Not you or me.

Pray

Lord open the gate that I may come in.  In a world of so much hate, judgment and rejection - we need a shepherd like you.