The True Shepherd

Recorded in the Gospel of John, our Lord made seven statements referring to Himself as I AM…

I AM The Light of the World
I AM The Bread of Life
I AM The Door
I AM The Good Shepherd
I AM The True Vine
I AM The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I AM The Resurrection and The Life

Each week during this season of Lent, here on the Seeking Him blog, we will be focusing our devotionals on a different aspect of Jesus’ revelation of Himself as I AM.  The aim of Lent should be to prepare our hearts for the remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice—His trial and torture, the Crucifixion and His death…and above all, the celebration of His Resurrection from the dead.  We pray that this will be a great encouragement to each of you who read them.  And that all of us will consider the significance of Jesus’ words and, through them, be helped as we remember and are thankful for all Jesus went through during the last few weeks of His life on this earth.

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I AM the Good Shepherd.  The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep,
sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees,
and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
I am the Good Shepherd. 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.
So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
For this reason the Father loves me,
because I lay down My life that I may take it up again.
No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord.
I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.
This charge I have received from my Father.
John 10:11-18 ESV

Everyone knows about the window clings that you can get cheaply at Wal-Mart and dollar stores during the holidays.  I recently hung one of a cross and a sheep with flowers on our front door.  Our children saw it this morning.  Our daughter, who is four, says proudly that it is for Jesus. I smiled…at least for now she knows what the Cross stands for. Hopefully in the next 5-10 years, I can get her to understand the meaning.  The sheep, however, catches my eyes every time I look at that window cling.

When I see that sheep, I think about how my children are my sheep. They are mine to lead and take care of until they are grown.  It is my job to help them learn right from wrong.  It is my job to help start their spiritual foundation.  I am supposed to nurture them and help them.  They listen to my voice and look to me for security and love.

Just as my children are my sheep, we are the sheep of God.  We are His children.  When we listen to His voice and accept Him as our Savior, we become part of His flock.  Jesus laid down His life so that we may be reconciled to God and return from sin.  He went to the Cross to bring us home.  He is the Good Shepherd.

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Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being our Shepherd.  Thank You for protecting us as a shepherd does the sheep.  Without that protection, we would fall to our sin.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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