I AM The Good Shepherd

        John 10:11- "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." Jesus shows Himself metaphorically as a shepherd and us, His people, as His sheep. 

        Compared to the intelligence of the shepherd, sheep are not intelligent. They can't survive for long wandering on their own. It's upon the protection of their shepherd that they must rely. Indisputably, sheep are entirely undeserving of their shepherd's protection. However, a shepherd protects and fights for his sheep even to the point of death. 

       In Jesus' case, He fought for us and protected us by His death on a cross. As a sheep's understanding is minuscule compared to the vast perspicacity and intellect of his shepherd, so is Jesus' understanding of this world and life infinite beyond our imaginations. Without Christ, we can't survive for long. We're headed for death. Yet with Him, we can have protection and eternal life. Even though we're entirely undeserving of the grace and protection of our good shepherd, He's always there, always constant. Jesus loves us so much He gave His life to give us life.  

        John 10:3- "To him (the shepherd) the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear His voice, and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out."

        Near Eastern shepherds don't guide their sheep from behind, using sheep dogs as Western shepherds do. They lead their flocks by their voice, calling for them to continue moving. The sheep recognize their shepherd's voice. In Jesus' case, He calls His sheep (His chosen people) by name out of the fold. This insinuates that even before He called us out of our sheep fold He knew us, He knew our names. He had chosen us prior to when we came to know His voice. Jesus calls us by name and leads us by His voice. He leads, we follow where He goes. 

       Are you following the good shepherd's voice?