Friday 5th July
Read John 10:11-13
“‘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.” (NIVUK)
Jesus extends the metaphor, doubling down on what it means that He is the good shepherd. At heart the shepherd loves the sheep because they belong to him. The hired hand does get something out of it but when there is genuine risk he flees, leaving the sheep to be attacked and then scattered. The good shepherd is invested personally. So invested that he would sacrifice his life for the sheep. This foreshadows what Jesus will eventually do for those whom He loves, those who belong to Him. Right now though, Jesus is simply pointing out that sacrificial care is at the heart of invested relationships. A standard He eventually calls all of us to.
