John 10:1 – “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. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 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. 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, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (NIV)

For a number of years, a Church that I pastored was involved with a mission in Mexico.  This particular mission involved reaching out to a small community in the northern Mexico desert.  We called it a desert, but those who lived there called it home.  To look at the land, we at first did not believe that anything could live there, as there were only small shrubs, and very little water.  It looked like a hard place to live. 

As we became more and more involved with the people of the community, we began to see shepherds leading large flocks of goats into town. After a few days, in which some of the goats would be sold, they headed back out of town, and into the desert.  This truly aroused our curiosity!  How could anything live out in that desert?  We learned that quite a bit lived in the desert, including wolves that would prey upon the goats.  The shepherds were experts at leading their goats.  They knew where the water was, and where they could find vegetation.  The really good shepherds were able to keep the wolves at bay, and would always safely bring their goats back.  I asked a shepherd how he kept his goats safe, and he replied, “I never really sleep, and I always watch my flock.”

Jesus is our good shepherd.  We are always under the watchful eye of our Lord, and it’s a good thing because sometimes our world is a hard place to live!  Oh, sure we have more than enough food and water, but sin is always ready to devour us.  Our shepherd protects us from sins power.  Our shepherd has laid down his life for us, so that we might live.

Today, as we begin our week, let’s take a moment to celebrate our Good Shepherd. 

Posted by Ramón Torres