Lent Day 12 : The Good Shepherd (John 10:11-15)
Lent Day 12
The Good Shepherd
John 10:11-15
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
◇ I have never raised sheep and do not know the life of a shepherd. However, I can empathize with Jesus's words about how precious each sheep is to a shepherd. Just as sheep are precious to the shepherd, so are the congregants to a pastor. I am well aware of the dedication, prayer, and effort it takes to win over one congregant, to guide one congregant onto the right path. I understand that protecting the congregants in various situations requires much sacrifice.
Sometimes people misunderstand what it means to be a good shepherd (pastor). They judge a pastor's goodness by how much they toil and sweat to gain congregants. But think about it. Whether a good pastor or a bad one, they both exert effort and sweat to gain congregants. That alone cannot be the sole and absolute standard of a good pastor. It's not evident in times of peace. It's when the wolf comes, when danger is present, when faced with challenging situations, that you can discern a good pastor from a bad one. You must carefully examine the various actions and words of a pastor, claiming to care for the church and its members. Are they truly for the church and the congregants, or are they harmful? A bad pastor acts for themselves, but a good pastor sacrifices themselves for the church and its members.
The good shepherd sacrifices for the sheep, while the bad shepherd abandons and sacrifices the sheep. Jesus said that the good shepherd knows his sheep and the sheep know their shepherd. That's why he said he lays down his life for the sheep. Jesus exemplified the good shepherd. He carried the cross for the sheep, as he said, "I lay down my life for the sheep." By dying on the cross for the dying sheep, he saved them. Because of his death and resurrection, we have received the blessing of eternal life.
God, we thank you for making us belong to Jesus and Jesus belong to us. Help us to follow Jesus, the example of the good shepherd. Make us into good sheep of the good shepherd! Holy Spirit, lead us in truth!
The Good Shepherd
John 10:11-15
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
◇ I have never raised sheep and do not know the life of a shepherd. However, I can empathize with Jesus's words about how precious each sheep is to a shepherd. Just as sheep are precious to the shepherd, so are the congregants to a pastor. I am well aware of the dedication, prayer, and effort it takes to win over one congregant, to guide one congregant onto the right path. I understand that protecting the congregants in various situations requires much sacrifice.
Sometimes people misunderstand what it means to be a good shepherd (pastor). They judge a pastor's goodness by how much they toil and sweat to gain congregants. But think about it. Whether a good pastor or a bad one, they both exert effort and sweat to gain congregants. That alone cannot be the sole and absolute standard of a good pastor. It's not evident in times of peace. It's when the wolf comes, when danger is present, when faced with challenging situations, that you can discern a good pastor from a bad one. You must carefully examine the various actions and words of a pastor, claiming to care for the church and its members. Are they truly for the church and the congregants, or are they harmful? A bad pastor acts for themselves, but a good pastor sacrifices themselves for the church and its members.
The good shepherd sacrifices for the sheep, while the bad shepherd abandons and sacrifices the sheep. Jesus said that the good shepherd knows his sheep and the sheep know their shepherd. That's why he said he lays down his life for the sheep. Jesus exemplified the good shepherd. He carried the cross for the sheep, as he said, "I lay down my life for the sheep." By dying on the cross for the dying sheep, he saved them. Because of his death and resurrection, we have received the blessing of eternal life.
God, we thank you for making us belong to Jesus and Jesus belong to us. Help us to follow Jesus, the example of the good shepherd. Make us into good sheep of the good shepherd! Holy Spirit, lead us in truth!