John 10:1-18 (NRSV)
Read John 10:1-18 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. Verse 11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Verse 12The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away-and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. Verse 13The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. Verse 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, Verse 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. Verse 16I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. Verse 17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. Verse 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."
Devotion
Our newspapers and newscasts remind us of stealing and corruption, terrorism and war, and all kinds of threats to life. Alarm systems, police, armies and neighborhood watches seek to protect us. But Jesus offers us something more than protection. God has made Jesus the gateway, the door to abundant life. In Jesus, we already taste the powers of the age to come.
Prayer
Creator God, open up for us the gate to abundant life. In this Holy Week, show anew the great gift of the abundant life that Jesus mercifully gives us. Amen.