John 10: 1-10 (NRSV)
Read John 10: 1-10 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 10"Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. Verse 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. Verse 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Verse 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. Verse 5They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." Verse 6Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. Verse 7So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. Verse 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. Verse 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. Verse 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Devotion
In some places of the world shepherds still tend flocks of sheep just as they did in Jesus’ day. We saw this in evidence when we traveled in Israel. It is also the case that these shepherds will sometimes bring their flock into a fenced area for the night and then lay down across the opening to guard the sheep from predators. Jesus’ uses this image to give courage and strength for those who wish to follow him. While we often think of Jesus at the center of our lives, here he gives us an image suggesting that what comes into our lives must come through him. When other voices strive to sway us, Jesus is the filter through which we evaluate these other words. Jesus is the one who guards against the pressures to be self-serving, over consumptive, xenophobic, racist, or hateful. We trust his words to give us life that is abundant.
Prayer
Shepherd of the sheep, you call us by name and lead us out. By your Spirit enable us to hear your voice and respond as lambs of your flock. Guard us from the thieves and bandits that might lead us astray. Amen.
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