THE SHEPHERD KNOWS HIS SHEEP

Passage: John 10:1-6

Key verse: 3b

NIV

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.(A) 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.(B) 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.(C) He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.(D) 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.(E) 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech,(F) but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.(G)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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ESV

I Am the Good Shepherd

10 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 (A)A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus (B)used with them, but they (C)did not understand what he was saying to them.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The shepherd enters by the gate (1-2)

The true shepherd is sent by God. He does not become a leader by political maneuvering. Jesus came from God to be the promised Shepherd of God's people (Eze 34:15-16,23-24; Ps 23; 8

; 95; 100).

2. He calls his sheep by name (3)

The Good Shepherd calls his sheep by name. He knows and loves each one; he knows our weaknesses and strengths. The Good Shepherd knows us better than we know ourselves (Ps 139:2,3).

3. He goes before them (4-6)

The Good Shepherd goes on ahead of his sheep. He leads them by his example, not by threats or coercion or special favor. They follow him because they trust him. They do not trust a stranger. We must know the voice of our Shepherd, Jesus. This means that we must know his heart and accept his word as absolute authority in our lives.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to hear your voice and follow you all the way.

One Word: Jesus is our true Shepherd