In John Chapter 10 in the New Testament, Jesus Christ is speaking in great detail about how he is the good shepherd of the sheep, and how he was going to bring them in so that there would be one flock and one shepherd.
As a disciple of Jesus my future is intimately linked with Israel, and bound up with the Jewish root.
Jesus Christ, the good shepherd, willingly and voluntarily laid down his life for the sheep. No one can claim the dubious honour of having taken the life of this religious trouble maker.
Jesus faced the cross with all its humiliation and agony and pain, and shed his blood. The Lamb of God dies to take away the sin of the world.
God the Father gave life back to the good shepherd so that he could offer eternal life to us today, that is, to all who believe.
Jesus Christ goes right to the limit, and beyond, and returns, to breathe life into us, and to forgive us all our sins, and also to anoint us and empower us for service. What other leader goes this far? Can you name me one? These are characteristics which make Jesus Christ utterly unique.
Once you have experienced all of that; conversion, forgiveness, cleansing, the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and you find your place and ministry in the body, never ever leave the safety and security which is to be found in the fellowship of the fold.
A sheep out of fellowship, without the watchful eye of a loving shepherd, can be much more easily spiritually harmed, with a potentially powerful witness destroyed, and their testimony to Jesus Christ dashed.
To experience the love of the Father, we have to hear and obey the shepherding voice of Jesus Christ the Son, and be prompted and nudged by the Holy Spirit.
All that normally involves laying down your life, and learning to walk as Jesus wants you to walk! I know of no other way.
I am the good shepherd. How did the people react to such a compassionate caring comforting reassuring statement?
Surely there would be no resistance, and surely not at these loving words! O yes, there was. Because of what Jesus said, the Jews were divided. Many said, he is demon-possessed. He is raving mad. Why do you bother listening to him?
These people missed Jesus. They missed what God was doing, and why? Was it because they realised they were the wolf, the hireling, the thief, the robber, to whom Jesus referred? But others did react differently.
Evil people leave behind them a trail of misery and suffering and sadness and havoc. They do damage.
Jesus was healing people, and opening blind eyes, and leaving behind him a trail of people who were praising God. This is dynamic positive encouraging powerful leadership, such as has never previously been seen.
I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd continues to call people to follow him and to belong to the flock and the fold. It is Jesus Christ, the good shepherd, who brings people in. Our task is to remain and abide.
Sandy Shaw
Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children’s Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu. He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled “Word from Scotland” on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column. His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.
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