All...Before Me

John 10:4-11,14-16,25-26,28-30 – 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.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “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. 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 answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep…I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

John 6:35 – Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Ezekiel 34:2 – “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?

Application:

• ·         Palestinian shepherds led their sheep, and the sheep followed because they knew their own shepherd’s voice.
• ·         “The gate” is the one way into salvation. Inside there is safety, and one is able to go out and find pasture, i.e., the supply of all needs.
• ·         “Shepherds of Israel” were those responsible for providing leadership, especially the kings and their officials, but also the prophets and priests.
• ·         The thief’s interest is in himself. Christ’s interest is in His sheep, whom He enables to have life to the full.
• ·         Shepherds might risk danger for their sheep, but they expected to come through alive. Jesus said that the good shepherd is willing to die for His sheep.
• ·         “I know…my sheep know” is a deep mutual knowledge, like that of the Father and the Son.
• ·         All God’s people have the same Shepherd.
• ·         Eternal life is Christ’s gift.
• ·         The sheep’s security is in the power of the shepherd, who will let no one take them from Him.
• ·         The Father’s power is greater than that of any enemy, making the sheep completely secure.
• ·         This great truth, “I and the Father are one”, is what warrants Jesus’ “I am” declarations.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV