Description
The Astounding Sacrifice of the Good Shepherd | John 10:11 Explained
In this episode, we delve into John 10:11 where Je… (visit YouTube for more)
Transcript
Sometimes Jesus absolutely astounds me. Let’s look at the words he speaks in John chapter 10 verse 11. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Now if you think about the relationship between sheep and shepherds, the sheep aren’t as important as a shepherd. A sheep can never be as valuable as a human being.
So if it’s a choice between the sheep and the shepherd, one of them dies, well you’d say surely the sheep has to die because any shepherd as a human being is more valuable than a sheep.
And Jesus is saying it’s not that way for me. I place such a high value on my sheep that I will do everything in my power to ensure that they are preserved. And that’s what he did of course going to the cross.
But in this metaphor, he is showing us how counterintuitive that is, that Jesus, that the God of the universe, come to earth in human form, should consider human beings to be more valuable than his life.
You know, it was clear that Jesus didn’t actually, in his humanity, want to go to the cross. He said, please take this cup from me, God. And yet he did it, because he was the good shepherd. He was the best shepherd, the only shepherd that would without hesitation say, I am going to leap into the path of danger and make a way for this flock to be saved.
And that, for anybody who’s in a position of leadership, is just an incredible standard to attempt to live up to. Do we do that as church leaders, as parents, as business leaders? Are we willing to take the bullet for those people we’re responsible for?
Lord Jesus, as we meditate on this, we just can’t help but be amazed again at you and at all that you did for us. All that you still do as you mediate for us before your Father. Thank you for being such a good shepherd. Lord, will you help us please to live up to your example? Amen.
