John 10:11-18 (NRSV)
Read John 10:11-18 on biblegateway.com
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
We know about thieves and robbers. Even if we haven’t been the victim of a break-in or a purse snatching, we are familiar with those who take advantage of us for their own benefit. We learn early on about those who will share with us in order that our life will be enriched and those who hoard from us so that they might have and we might not.
It’s often the scheme of thieves to pose as friends until they get what they want. Not so with Jesus! Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Not only does Jesus give generously to His sheep, but He died in our place in order that we might live life to its fullest by knowing and serving Him.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for being our Good Shepherd. We know that we can trust you to love and care for us. Amen.