The Good Shepherd

Last night I was reading John 10:14 and was encouraged by its incredibly deep message.

V.14- "I and the good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me"

I see Jesus making three statements here.

(1) "I am the good shepherd"- Jesus shepherds us. And he is good! Shepherds will protect, look after and guide their sheep and I love how Jesus uses a term here which everyone in his day would have understood.

(2) "...I know my sheep"- A shepherd would spend so much time around his sheep that he'd know each one well. Jesus is saying that we're his sheep and he knows us completely! And I don't think this is a passive knowing. What I mean is that because Jesus knows us, we each have a unique relationship with him and not a one-size-fits-all relationship. If Jesus shepherds us as a whole body (the church) and individually as well it means that he calls us knowing what we can and can't handle. 1 Corinthians 10:13 "And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear".

(3) "...and my sheep know me"- When we say "I know Jesus" it doesn't mean "I know everything there is to know about Jesus", but instead it means that we're on a journey with Jesus. That means there's no room for religious arrogance! Earlier on Jesus says "But they (my sheep) will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice" (verse 5). To know Jesus is to know his voice. I think this is done through the Holy Spirit by reading the bible, praying and being part of the body of Christ doing life together.

So those are just a few thoughts on John 14. I moved to Aberdeen in Scotland this week for university so now I'm off to find a church I can start going to!