Title With the Shepherd (John 10:1-15)
The Bible describes our relationship with Jesus as sheep and shepherds. In Korea, cows, chickens, or dogs can live alone even if they leave their owners. But not in Israel. If the sheep do not follow the guidance of the shepherd, they will not be able to find water, and the terrain is so rough and there are many cliffs that they are in danger of falling from where or when. Jesus said that he was the shepherd of the sheep living in this land. He is the shepherd who leads you to safe and green pastures.
The Lord explains five things about being our good shepherd.
First, the Lord is the gate of the sheep. That door is the door that saves us. If you enter through that door, your sins will be forgiven and you will enter the kingdom of heaven. There is no other way to be saved.
Second, the Lord leads each sheep by name. Christianity is a religion of calling. I am not looking for God, God is calling us. We have been called by the Lord to be where we are now. As in Ephesians 1, He called us before the foundation of the world and is here. When we leave the Lord, we will surely hear a voice calling us. The original meaning of church is ekklesia, or gathering of those who are called.
Third, the Lord is the shepherd who goes before the sheep. When the Lord goes ahead, the sheep hear His voice and follow Him. Christianity is a religion to follow. A well-believing believer is a follower. The Good Shepherd prepares everything, waits, and knows the future. Jesus is troubled by our problems, his heart aches, and he solves those problems. Not knowing this, we worry and suffer. If you entrust everything to Jesus and rely on him, he will lead you to a successful path.
Fourth, the Lord came to make life abundant with sheep. Our physical life is the life that goes to the earth, the life that perishes, but Jesus is the life that lives forever. Therefore, whoever believes in him will not die, but have eternal life. No matter how splendid life in this world is, without Jesus there is no life. Only the Lord can enrich our lives. Zacchaeus, the woman at the well, and Peter, a fisherman, also gained abundance by being close to Jesus.
Fifth, the Lord came completely for the sheep. To keep the sheep from dying, the Lord carried a heavy load and was slain. Because of him, we do not die and do not perish, but have eternal life. We do not fear death because the Lord died for us.
The Lord is our shepherd and we are his sheep. As sheep, we have a sheep's work to do.
You should only listen to the shepherd's voice and not listen to other voices. It is said that a shepherd wore the same clothes and called the sheep with a similar voice to know how the sheep could discern the shepherd's voice. But strangely, the sheep knew the fake shepherd. At least we should get to that level. Only Jesus can solve the problem and lead me to the right. Don't listen to other words, don't go the other way. The American Puritans only heard the words of Jesus and it went well.
You must enter only through the gates of Jesus. Success or success may attract people's attention and gain popularity, but that is not the door to salvation. You must enter through the door of Jesus to be saved, and if you go in and out of Jesus often, you will be successful.
Sheep need to be in a cage so they can eat safely and abundantly. The sheep's job is not to be tempted by the outside, and to go outside often. It is safe to be inside the fence. Believers must be in the Lord. I have no other worries in the Lord.
The sheep must only follow the shepherd. The saints must follow Jesus and obey only the message of Jesus. It is safe and happy here. If you listen to other things and follow other things, you will fail and get hurt. We are the sheep and the Lord is the shepherd. The shepherd sacrifices everything for the sheep. There is abundance and prosperity in it. I hope that you will enjoy an abundant life in the Lord.