I have been talking these last few days about the end of time for us here on the earth. So why now bring in the scripture in John 10:1-16?What does it have to do with end times?
Please read ahead.
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. 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 besaved.[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. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:1-16
Jesus had been teaching those around him one day. And in this scripture he was trying to give them a warning. Something they could understand to prepare them, so when they saw it coming, they would know that he was their only escape.
Why? By using an analogy of a Master, and sheep and a thief? Exactly.
If you have any knowledge of sheep, you will know that they are considered a feast by their enemy-the wolves who are prowling around looking for dinner. And that is why they need a shepherd that keeps them safe because these thieves will go into a flock to "kill, steal and destroy" them
And because their shepard leads them to where they can graze for their own food, they follow him.
Jesus, knowing that as the world continues, there will be human wolves entering into his flock with the same ambition. And some have, as we know, killed, stolen and destroyed many people. And they are still out there, doing it even today.
To explain it in terms that the people he was teaching that day so they would understand, he likened it to him being the Good Shepard that watches over his sheep (his followers) so that we too can be protected and fed by God's word.
Jesus came to die for us, but he knew that we would have thieves following us around trying to take everything they can from us. It was a warning, and he was the only one that could protect us.
All that has happened throughout our world history is leading to the end of times just as Jesus predicted.
And that is why evil is happening.
But before we go onto the question of what we can do about it, (from yesterday's post) I want to look at verses 17-42 and see what they have to say to us.
Come back Monday for some of that answer. I reiterate that I am not a bible scholar and do not even try to pretend that I have all the answers but do try to always tell the truth from what I have learned according to God's word. As for tomorrow's post, I will bring you another story of God's grace. Thanks for coming by and have a blessed day!
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