John 10:11–16

No greater loves than this that Jesus willingly gave up His physical body for a sinner like me! 

He came to His own and His own knew Him not!.

The very life of God can enter in our life and we can still choose not to see Him. Freedom of choice is not free. It cost the life of God’s only begotten Son to die in our place. 

His Body, the Body of Christ, we are one in Him.

Forever grateful. Forever loved.

In today's reading in Judges, Jotham, (the son of Gideon) the sole survivor of Abimelech's (half brother of Jotham) murder of his half-brothers, boldly stood atop Mount Gerizim overlooking Shechem on the day of Abimelech's coronation. Despite the fear he must have felt, Jotham used a prophetic fable of sorts to speak a curse over the people as he told the story of trees who sought to anoint a king over themselves.

The trees approached olive trees, fig trees and vines, but each declined because they were too busy performing specific and essential tasks that honored God and served others. (Judges 9:8-13)

The trees then approached the bramble, who eagerly accepted the request to reign over the trees. Immediately, the bramble required loyalty, demanding the trees take refuge under the shade of the bramble. (Judges 9:14-15) However, the bramble's low growth, its inability to produce anything other than the pain from its thorns, and its flammability rendered it useless for protection.

The purpose of Jotham's fable was to call the people to account as he referred to Abimelech as a worthless bramble king eager to demand power and authority. (Judges 9:20) May we be like the olive tree, fig tree and vine and live our lives as worthy individuals focused more on honoring and serving the Lord than seeking to rule over others.

Major Moment: Gideon's son Abimelech conspired to take power.

David Guzik wrote in his commentary. "One test of the character of a man is to see how he treats those who disagree with him. If his only desire is to destroy those who disagree, then he is much like the bramble – plenty of good points, but no real substance for good.

The condensed moral of the whole fable is this: Weak, worthless, and wicked men, will ever be foremost to thrust themselves into power; and, in the end, to bring ruin upon themselves, and on the unhappy people over whom they preside.” (Clarke)” First5 

John 10:11–16

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. The New King James Version

Jesus fulfills the messianic role of the shepherd. This role in Ezekiel is depicted as fulfilled by God; Jesus makes the claim that He (as God in flesh) is the one fulfilling it. 

‘I Am’ Statements evoke imagery of the young shepherd, David, risking his life to keep his sheep safe In addition to fulfilling God’s role with His people as shepherd, Jesus fulfills David’s role as their king. This gives Jesus the authority to make the claims He does. 

Alluding to the Gentiles and the ultimate universal scope of salvation via Christ’s atoning death. Faithlife Study Bible

Jesus is the good shepherd who gives His life for the sheep, as opposed to the wicked thief who takes their lives. Life here refers to physical life. Jesus laid down His physical life in order to give us eternal life. 

The hireling is a hired shepherd, a mercenary, who tends the flock for his own interest. When a hired shepherd sees a wolf coming he flees, not caring about the sheep.

The other sheep were not Jews in heathen lands, but Gentiles. The Jewish people had asked if Jesus would go and teach the Gentiles. Jesus now declared that He had sheep among the despised heathen. One flock anticipates the salvation of the Gentiles and the formation of the church, in which converted Jews and Gentiles would form one spiritual body. The NKJV Study Bible

Christ is a good Shepherd; many who were not thieves, yet were careless in their duty, and by their neglect the flock was much hurt. Bad principles are the root of bad practices. The Lord Jesus knows whom he has chosen, and is sure of them; they also know whom they have trusted, and are sure of Him. See here the grace of Christ; since none could demand his life of him, he laid it down of himself for our redemption. He offered himself to be the Saviour; Lo, I come. And the necessity of our case calling for it, he offered himself for the Sacrifice. He was both the offerer and the offering, so that his laying down his life was his offering up himself. From hence it is plain, that he died in the place and stead of men; to obtain their being set free from the punishment of sin, to obtain the pardon of their sin; and that his death should obtain that pardon. Our Lord laid not his life down for his doctrine, but for his sheep. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Isaiah 40:11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.

Isaiah 56:8 The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says,“Yet I will gather to him others besides those who are gathered to him.”

Ezekiel 34:12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day.

1 Peter 2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.