“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become one flock, with one shepherd. John 10:14 -16.
Dear reader, about 2000 years ago there lived a Man named Jesus who declared Himself to be a good shepherd among the children of Israel. He obeyed all the commandments of God. He taught the people concerning the Will of God. The Good shepherd is the owner of the sheepfold (people). He knows those who are His sheep (Those who heed to the Will of God). Do you want to become one of His own? Keep reading to find out…
There are those who want your loyalty and want to steal kill and destroy from the shepherd’s sheepfold, they are called thieves and robbers. Listen to the voice (THE WORD) of the true shepherd and not to these strangers who will lead you away from Him. Jesus knows there are other sheep like you who belong to His fold. His mission is to search for them all and bring those who will listen to His voice so that there will be one fold and one shepherd who will guide you to eternal life.
“The good shepherd (Jesus) who gave His life for His own sheep”.
Whenever the Lord Jesus Christ saw a multitude, He felt compassion for them. He always saw them as sheep without a shepherd. Wherever He went, large crowds followed Him as they saw the miracles and heard the Word of God. As was His usual custom He went atop a mountain to teach His disciples. Thus Jesus saw a large crowd coming towards Him. Out of Compassion He wanted to feed them like a shepherd feeds His sheep. So, He asked His disciple Philip where can they buy enough bread for the crowd to eat? Jesus wanted the disciples to understand their inability to provide for the crowd. 200 Denarii was not sufficient to feed them with a decent meal.
Andrew a disciple, of Jesus said. “There is a young boy in the crowd with five loaves and two fish but how do we feed so many people with these?” Jesus Christ the servant of God – the Creator of all was readily willing to use what was available to amply supply their needs and provide for the people. It is an important lesson He taught the disciples then as well as now.
There were five thousand men seated, apart from women and children. Jesus then took the loaves and gave thanks to God for His Provision. After giving thanks He kept giving the bread and the fish over to the disciples to set before the people as much as they wanted. After the whole crowd was satisfied they collected twelve baskets full of leftovers without wasting what was provided. Seeing this miracle the people recognised Lord Jesus Christ as the prophet who is to come into the world.
God through His love for people, seeks to be the provider for mankind’s greatest need. God has chosen to forgive our sins. Forgiveness of sin comes through Jesus Christ the Saviour.
Every sin is a violation against God’s Commandment and Will. Going astray from the path of uprightness. Wandering from the law of God, violating His Law. Your creator wanted all to remain innocent and have knowledge of good and evil so as to love, keep and tend the creation. God with His infinite wisdom has a more complete and accurate definition of right and wrong in order to help the human beings to make right decisions.
As the loyal servant of God He satisfied the requirements of God’s justice when our sins were laid upon Him and He died in our place taking upon Himself the penalty for our sins. Therefore Jesus Christ has provided us peace with God. He made a way and forgave our sins through the cross and thus provided us the opportunity to become children of God, when we repent and confess the sins we have committed against God and by faith accept the provision of forgiveness offered by the Lord Jesus our Saviour.
The Lord Jesus said, “I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.” When you accept the Lord Jesus as your Saviour and Shepherd, His words will guide you into eternal life and show you the way to possess it.
The Lord Jesus then as now recognised that without Him the crowds of people are like sheep without a shepherd and that only He out of a compassionate heart can provide moral guidance to a people who are without a saviour and a good shepherd who leads them towards eternal life.
Do you want to know how to become one of His own sheep? How to have the guidance of this good shepherd throughout your life? Read the Gospel of John in the Bible to further understand how to possess eternal life.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17.