Monday 1st July
Read John 10:1-6
“‘Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold 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 recognise a stranger’s voice.’ 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.” (NIVUK)
John 9 presents us with an extended presentation of the Pharisees interactions with someone who is purportedly of their flock and under their care. Nowhere else in the gospels do we see such a story as most of the encounters tell us about their interaction with Jesus. Therefore it is unsurprising that Jesus begins with a parable about how the true Shepherd of Israel, one who cares for the sheep, seeks them out (as he just did when the formerly blind man was cast out) and who then follow Him. The Pharisees are strangers who refuse to hear His voice and can’t comprehend it.
Whilst this is a message about what true leaders of God’s people look like, the characteristics of those people are quite clear. They listen. They hear Jesus’ voice and they obey it. It is essential that we spend time listening to it and quiet meditation on His words and regular prayer. Those are the marks of God’s true people. They listen.
