John 10:11-21

Be Still: Lord, as I wait on you, lead me by your Spirit into more of your truth. Amen. 

Read: John 10:11-21

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (v11)

Encounter: In conversation with a friend, I was praising the self-sacrificing behaviour of someone I'd heard of. 'Huh,' said the friend, 'I expect they were only fulfilling their own need.' 

Cynical or what? But then I thought -- how often do I do something for someone without any thought whatsoever of what I'll get out of it. Am I subconsciously just fulfilling my own need? The probable answer to that is 'mostly yes.'

And that's what separates us, even our best selves, from Jesus. He has left the glory and sovereignty of heaven behind, to become the Shepherd King and rescue his 'sheep'. To lay down his life for them. With no sense of profit to himself.

That's what makes him the good shepherd. A bad shepherd when a vicious predator menaced his flock would run away in his own interest and leave them to their fate. The good shepherd not only guards the flock but goes out to deal with any threat himself, whatever the cost.

That's Jesus. He's already received death threats and now he tells his listeners he is choosing to walk towards the darkness of violent death for the sake of his 'flock'.

But there's good news in the dark. The bad shepherd wouldn't bother if the flock was ravaged or dwindling; Jesus is going to enlarge his! He came first for his people Israel but on the Cross he opened wide his arms so all might belong to him, including you and me. Unconditional love.

Apply: You and I will never quite rid ourselves of self-interest but that mustn't stop us from doing things in Jesus' name. And the closer we walk with him, the purer our motives will become because we will reflect more of his nature.

Devote: Lord will you increasingly replace my self-interested love with your unconditional love.