The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. - Jn 10:11b-15
Parents know something of this. It hurts us so much to see our children hurt, even when it is due to their own choices, that we would rather bear the pain ourselves. I'm sure my mom often wished that she could have died in my sister's place. A hireling has no such ache in their heart over each sheep's welfare; he cares only for himself.
Each sheep that belongs to Jesus' flock is his own; I was bought by his blood when he laid down his life for me.
But I am afraid I am falling short on verses 14-15a. I am certain that it is true that Jesus knows me in every detail, better even than I know myself. But I am absolutely certain that I don't know him with anything like the intimacy with which he knows the Father. In this I need to conform my life more closely with his.
No comments:
Post a Comment