SHEPHERD OF SOULS

Let's begin, shall we? Truly, truly, I say to you, He that doesn’t enter through the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber. But he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter opens, and the sheep hear his voice and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. And when he lets out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And they will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.

Jesus told this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what He meant. Then Jesus said to them again, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

I am the door, if any man enter in through me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief only comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd.

The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But he that is a hired hand, and not the shepherd, whose sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees, and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep. The hired hand flees, because he is an hireling, and cares not for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knows me, I also know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold. (Jesus was speaking of the Gentiles.) Them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Therefore my Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment I have received of my Father.

There was a division again among the Jews because of these things that Jesus said. And many of them said, He has a devil, and is mad; why do you listen to him? Others said, These are not the words of one that has a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

This happened in Jerusalem at the feast of the dedication. It was winter and Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then the Jews gathered round about Him, and said to Him, How long will you make us to doubt? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and you didn’t believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, they testify of me. But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.

Psalms 2:7

Then the Jews picked up stones to stone Him. Jesus said to them, I have showed you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me? They answered Him, We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy; and because you, being a man, make yourself God.

Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods (Psalms 82:6)? If he called the prophets gods, to whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; yet you say of Him whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, You blaspheme; because I said, I am the Son of God?

If I don’t do the works of my Father, then don’t believe me. But if I do, though you don’t believe me, believe the works: that you may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in Him. Then they tried again to take Him: but He escaped out of their hand, and went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there He stayed for a time. Many resorted to Him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spoke of this man were true. And many believed in Him there.

Do you know the voice of the Good Shepherd? Is He calling you home? Be sure to follow only Him because there are many thieves and robbers out there who want nothing more than to steal the souls of the sheep (1 Peter 5:8). Stay close.

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