The Easter Difference – Good Shepherd takes us to streams of cool water and green pastures that roll into the horizon.
Picket Fence
When I picture a sheep pen, I see a little white picket fence with a rope holding the gate shut. The sheep are huddled in a ball for the evening’s rest. The reality in Jesus’ time was a pen made of stone high enough to keep predators out and the sheep in. Often there were thorns roped across the top of the wall to discourage anyone from going over the wall. But thieves and robbers still tried to break in. In contrast to thieves and robbers is the shepherd who walks through the gate to get to his sheep!
The sheep in the story are God’s people. God provided qualified spiritual care for his people by setting one of the twelve tribes aside as the spiritual leaders. These were the Levites or the priests. Through the Old Testament God calls the Levites and priests shepherds of his people.
Thieves and Robbers
The thieves and robbers in the story are the Pharisees. They have no business anywhere near the sheep. The Pharisees thought that they were better than everyone else because they followed not just God’s Laws, but extra laws. Like it’s wrong to heal on the Sabbath. God never said that, but they did. They would steal souls from God’s sheep pen as they stood on the corners and told everyone how wonderful they were. Some people wanted to follow them. The Pharisees thought, “Why look for the coming Savior of the world? Who needs a Savior when you’re perfect?”
God tells us that if we claim to be with out sin we deceive ourselves. Our Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, ensures the safety of our souls by providing quality spiritual care through pastors (the Latin word for shepherd), teachers, or maybe even Christian friend or relative. How do you know who’s a shepherd and who’s a thief?
Want to hear more? Watch this week’s message taken from John 10, The Easter Difference – Good Shepherd.
Book(s): John
Series: Easter Difference
Tag(s): Easter, Good Shepherd
Speaker(s): Fred Guldberg