John 10:14-18, 25-30, 36-38
14“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16“I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. 17“For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18“No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
“I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. 26“But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29“£My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30“I and the Father are one.”
36do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37“If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”
Psalm 23- The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, HE makes me lie down in green pastures, HE leads me beside the still waters. HE restores my soul; HE leads me in paths of righteousness for HIS names sake. Although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; Because YOU are with me; YOUR rod and YOUR staff, they comfort me. YOU prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; YOU annoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
The sheep hear the true shepherds voice. That is what it says..do you know the voice of the shepherd? The shepherd loves HIS sheep, and lays down HIS life for them, HE doesn’t run and hide and look out for himself. There really isn’t any earthly glory to be had in dying for sheep. I wonder if that is what the heavenlies was wondering as they watched HIM lay down for us…just my own thinking…did they gasp, and wonder why HE did not free himself, and were they ready to fly down to HIS aid, waiting for HIS word to come?
Amazing love, HE said, HE has the authority to lay HIS life down, and to pick it up. HE really could have said no, they are not worth it. But HE chose obedience to the Father, and felt we were worth it. HE didn’t have to do anything, and then HE encourages us…HE says NO one can snatch us out of HIS hand..HE and the Father are one.
I deliberately skipped the narrative between, sometimes I just want what HE said, and not so much what they thought…why? because we tend to make excuses for the people of that time, and we are just like them, in more ways than we would like to admit. So just on what HE said, would you have believed HIM? Do you believe HIM?
ponderings of a princess... 
I’m so thankful I heard His voice. I’m happy to be a sheep in His fold. His love overwhelms me and all I can do is cry, “thank you!”
No one will be able to snatch me out of His hand. Wow. The promise of that…love it. I’m in Him and He is in me…I’m totally surrounded by Him…safe.
He is so good to His children.
baaa baaa baaa 😆
Oh Yes,
I BELIEVE HIM and I hear Him. Even though He gives me a good “shearing” every now and then, He always makes me a soft covering with it to let me know not one hair is wasted. And I just love that nothing can snatch me out of His hand too. I am so glad that He loves me. I just have to love Him back. Love you too Darla.
Laurie in Ca. (the former “black sheep”)
I believe him – now. I will admit that I tend to be skeptical – I am not sure how i would have handled it in biblical times – what if the Messiah had just showed up in my neighborhood today – I don’t know, I just don’t know. But – I love him supremely today!!
“There really isn’t any earthly glory to be had in dying for sheep.”
Powerful statement that. And so very true. It speaks again to His love and His obedience.
Because I am exhausted (Lying awake in bed starting at 2:00am on will do that to ya)…..
To quote one of my favorite lines from O’brother where Art though.
“OK….I’m with you fellers.”
Darla I will try to make it back later to read for comprehension. If I don’t pass out on the lawn mower tonight. Is it a good thing to mow while sleep deprived?
Man, this challenged me for sure. I always ask myself the same question…still don’t know the answer, but I know I believe today (even though it is difficult) and I know that today I seek the truth, and even though it takes me away from the faith of my childhood, I am always led to Christ.
I wanna be a sheep baa baa baa baa 😆
How can we not be faithful to Him when He was so faithful for us?
Praise- whenever the puppet team does this song “i wanna be a sheep” I always remember these verses.
Nate- this challenged me too..I want to be in tune to the small voice, and I want to believe HIM more..don’t know what side I would have been on if I were physically there, hoping that I would have heard HIM in truth.
CK- did you get some rest yet bro?
Joe- HIS love and obedience..this is where I think the rubber meets the road…without both…we can’t honestly say we are followers of the Shepherd.
Papa- you have wisdom that comes from God, and often speaks straight to my heart. Today counts!
Laurie- I know you hear HIS voice, I have been on the recieving end of your answered prayers for me and the bus filled with kiddos, I have seen hearts soften, and the boldness of the young believers reach out to their class mates in Christ…love you obedience in praying for me…priceless!
Michelle- love that you walk this road with me, we are not perfect (yet LOL) but we know the one who is, as we strive to be obedient, and loving…its the voice of our Shepherd who leads us. love you and praying for you
God never stops working does He??? 🙂 I look at my sheep sometimes and scratch my head…I’m sure He does the same…pointing to His word saying “It’s right there!” LOL
Thank you for these scriptures, I pray to hear Him today loud and clear, and that He would touch you with your illness. Love you!
I like that you skipped everyone else’s words. 🙂 I’m like that myself. “Don’t tell me what every other human thinks … tell me what God thinks … He knows the truth.” 🙂
Good munching, sister. I can only say with Michelle … I am so thankful.