The Good Shepherd 2

The story in this chapter took its root from chapter 9. There he met a man that was blind from his mother’s womb. Jesus put the clay on his eyes and told him to wash at the pool. He washed and was able to see!

The man was later harassed by the religious leaders as a liar and wanted him to disclaim his experience. He replied by saying:  all I know is that once I was blind but now I can see! I also know that God does not answer the prayer of a sinner. They were so angry they threw him out of the church.

Jesus will later speak of the religious leaders as the thief and robbers…with their unseen master – SATAN.

In the Middle East at the time, sheep were raised primarily for their wool and not just for food. There were two types of sheepfold Jesus referred to in this passage:

1. The sheepfold in the city: There is also a Porter who kept the gate. When a shepherd brings the sheep, they would mingle with other sheep and the shepherd would go home to his family. In the morning, when he comes, he would call his sheep by name and they know his voice.
2. The other sheepfold was in the wild: There were rock covers and the shepherd would put his staff low so the sheep would pass through. He was able to examine them. After they have all gone in through the small opening, the shepherd would sleep across the opening (I am the door)…No one can go to the sheep without going over the shepherd or would any sheep go out without the shepherd knowing.

Three areas the shepherd benefits our lives:

• Direction: Psalms 23:1 The Lordis my shepherd; I shall not want.
• Correction: A life without correction is a life without boundaries! The shepherd corrects because it is in the best interest of the sheep.
• Protection: The shepherd protects His sheep and we are in the hand of our shepherd.

There are litany of opposing forces that are against the sheep (Strangers, wolf, thief and robbers) but God is for us. Your shepherd is your protector. Glory to God!

Romans 8: ³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?