April 13

John 10:1-18
“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but
climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit.
The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep
hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.When he has
brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because 20
they know his voice.
They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him
because they do not know the voice of strangers.”
Jesus used this figure of speech
with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
All
who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them.I
am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and
find pasture.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they
may have life, and have it abundantly.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the
sheep.
The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees
the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away — and the wolf snatches them
and scatters them.
The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care
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.
I have other sheep that do not belong to 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 in order
to take it up again.No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I
have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this
command from my Father.”


DG Comment: The pastoral image of the shepherd resonated with Jesus' audience. God cares for us like a shepherd and guides us. And through Christ sacrifices for us.