| Yesterday's Bible Study |
In this verse from John's gospel, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees. He calls himself a good shepherd, one who gives life to His sheep, or those who follow Him. This morning we'll consider what it means for Jesus to be a good shepherd, including how that affects our lives today.
In ancient Israel, where Jesus lived, a shepherd would guard the sheep. If a lion came to attack them, a shepherd would scare it away or fight it. If a sheep got lost, the shepherd would find it. A good shepherd was someone who did all these tasks in an exemplary way. This is symbolic of what Jesus does for each of us: He guards us and protects us from our enemies.
Jesus emphasizes that a shepherd gives life to the sheep, and this can be interpreted in several ways. First, Jesus makes us alive. Whereas we were once dead in our sins, now we are alive in Christ. We have been given life and the ability to say no to sin. Our hearts are alive because of the love that Christ has for us and we are now capable of living holy lives.
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Another way of understanding this verse is that a shepherd gives his life for his sheep--and this is exactly what Jesus did. We were hopeless in our sin and there was no way we could ever atone for it. But Jesus made a way. He chose to endure a painful death on the cross. Because Jesus gave His life for us, we are able to know God. Like a good shepherd, Jesus laid down His life so that we might live.
If you ever feel alone, or uncertain, or just lost in a world that is far from God, remember that you have a Shepherd watching over you. He has proven His love for you over and over again, and He will never turn His back on you.
Remember that Jesus is your shepherd. Follow Him with certainty that you can trust Him.
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