I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ~ John 10:11 (NIV)
我 是 好 牧 人 ； 好 牧 人 为 羊 舍 命 。 ~ 約 翰 福 音 10:11 (CUVS)
A shepherd is a person who looks after sheep. Our picture shows a shepherd carrying a very large sheep. Maybe it got lost in the woods and he rescued it. Look how relaxed that big, floppy sheep looks in the shepherd’s strong arms. It feels safe because it knows the shepherd will look after it no matter what. It has a good shepherd.
Jesus is a good shepherd too. How do we know? He said so. We can read what he said in today’s verse. But his sheep don’t look like the one in the photo. His sheep look like you and me and all the people who follow him like sheep follow a shepherd. How do we follow him? By trusting him and doing what he tells us.
A good shepherd protects his sheep, so if a lion or wolf comes, he will fight it off. He will even die protecting his sheep if he has to. That’s what Jesus meant when he said the good shepherd “lays down his life” for his sheep. Think about that. Jesus loves us so much he would die to keep us safe.
And that’s exactly what Jesus did when he died on the cross. His death made it possible for his sheep, us, to become God’s children. Now, no matter what happens here on Earth, God will keep our hearts safe. And when we die too, we will be safe forever with God our Father and our good shepherd Jesus.
Our Father, thank you for sending your son Jesus to be our good shepherd. Help us listen to Jesus and follow him like good sheep. Amen.
Argyle Road Baptist Church 