Who Cares About You?
Monday May 20, 2013
On a regular basis, when you climb into bed at night, do you sleep soundly or do you count sheep? Do you feel at peace, or do you worry about the problems each day brings? Jesus often spoke of physical occurrences to give spiritual insight into things of the Kingdom of God. He talked about a place where shepherds would bring their sheep when they wanted them protected from the weather, from thieves or from wild animals. The sheep of each shepherd was brought to the sheep pen and a gatekeeper or watchman looked after the sheep while the shepherd was absent.
“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” (John 10:1-5 NIV) Jesus was speaking to men who had declared that He was a sinner because he made mud on the Sabbath day, mud which He put on a blind man’s eyes and healed him. Instead of rejoicing that the blind man received his sight, the Pharisees sought to find fault with how Jesus did it. The Pharisees did not believe who Jesus said He was, even though the scriptures they knew pointed to Jesus over and over again. Jesus tried to paint a picture for them using a sheep pen and shepherd – everyday things they would understand.
The sheep pen that Jesus referred to appears to be the world where we live. The shepherd who enters in by the gate is Jesus, the true shepherd of the sheep. Jesus entered into this world through physical birth, the gateway of a mother’s womb, enabling Him to become a Son of Man. By taking on human flesh was He qualified to become the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The gatekeeper, who opened the gate for Jesus is God the Holy Spirit. The sheep that belong to the shepherd will listen to His voice. He calls His own sheep by name and He leads them out. When He has brought them all out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow Him for they know His voice. The sheep will not follow a stranger for they do not recognize a stranger’s voice. Are you one of His sheep? Do you listen for His voice? Does He call you by name? Do you follow Him? Evil spirits have entered into the world, i.e. the sheep pen, by other means but they are the thieves and robbers which Jesus spoke of, and only desire to steal, kill or destroy the sheep.
God the Father loved His creation, which includes you and me, so extravagantly that He gave His son Jesus as a sacrificial lamb to pay the price of our sins. As one of the sheep, do you feel loved and cared for by the shepherd who became a sheep that he might die in your place in order that you would have 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 NIV) ©2013 Partners in Hope www.partnersinhope.ca
Audio for Who Cares About You?
Recent Meditations
Giving Hope
Partners in Hope is supported wholly by our friends and community. We are thankful to everyone who partners with us to help bring hope to the discouraged, hurting, and hopeless.