John 10 11-18 Devotion
The Voice of the Good Shepherd or Shepherd’s
Introduction: An American tourist who was traveling in the Middle East. He came upon several shepherds whose flocks had intermingled while drinking water from a brook. After an exchange of greetings, one of the shepherds turned toward the sheep and called out, "Manah. Manah. Manah." (Manah means "follow me" in Arabic.) Immediately his sheep separated themselves from the rest and followed him.
Then one of the two remaining shepherds called out, "Manah. Manah." and his sheep left the common flock to follow him. The American tourist then said to the third shepherd, "I would like to try that. Let me put on your cloak and turban and see if I can get the rest of the sheep to follow me." The shepherd smiled knowingly, as the traveler wrapped himself in the cloak, put the turban on his head and called out, "Manah. Manah." The sheep did not respond to the stranger's voice. Not one of them moved toward him. "Will the sheep ever follow someone other than you?" The tourist asked. "Oh yes," the shepherd replied, "sometimes a sheep gets sick, and then it will follow anyone."
Many comforting words have been preached about this text over the years, and rightly so. Truly we are comforted by the personification of our precious Lord as our shepherd and guide. Leading us to new and inviting pastures, our Lord, fills our thirst with springs of living water. This shepherd, our shepherd, is the one that tends to our every need. He carries our young and weak on his shoulders. Our wounds are healed by his tender touch. When we are lost he searches us out, leaving the flock behind to find us. He knows each and every one of us by name and more so He knows our personalities, tendencies, temperaments, habits and most of all our hearts. The protection of his flock is his priority and to save us he is willing to die.
“The good shepherd lays his life down for his sheep”. Jesus tells us that he came to rescue his sheep from the grip of the ravenous wolf, the false shepherds and all those who lead to death. He storms the gates of hell, sin and death. His weapons are His word and his body crucified on the cross and blood shed on the cross. The Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. In his death he makes the supreme sacrifice, and reconciles us all to God. The shepherd became a sheep—the very Lamb of God—and becomes the bloody Lamb of sacrifice. Why did He do this? The scriptures declare that all we like sheep have gone astray, every one to his own way. What about you? Have you gone astray?
What can we do? Is there no protection? Listen to Christ’s words. “I know my sheep and am known by them. My sheep hear my voice and they follow me.” Through His word in the Bible we hear his voice, His voice reminding us how much he loves us. Through them the Good Shepherd guides and protects us. In them we hear His voice as he comforts and leads us to a pasture beside still waters where he restores our souls. Yes, all we like sheep have gone astray, but the scriptures continue…”and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquities of us all…He was led as a lamb to the slaughter.” For the sake of Jesus, by His stripes he has healed all his sick sheep. We are forgiven for all the times we have followed other voices, other shepherds. The Lord has carried us upon His shoulders.
Conclusion: There is only one shepherd. He is the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. We have heard his voice. Even though we all stray at times, he chases us down, gathering us in his arms and close to his heart. There he removes our burs with his nail pierced hands and tends our wounds and makes us well and gives us life…His life laid down for his sheep. Hear the voice of Jesus. “I am the good shepherd, who lays His life down for his sheep.” Such is His love for you. Amen.