“I Am The Good Shepherd III!”

“I Am The Good Shepherd III!(Jn. 10:11-16).
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns 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. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this pen, I must bring them also They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
It is documented that during his earthly ministry the Lord Jesus Christ travelled to Egypt when he was a baby. Apart from this lone asylum residence in Egypt he knew only his country.
Besides, Judaism into which he was born did not have a missionary outlook. Judaism was not enthusiastic about converting non-jews – even though they welcomed few proselytes.
Jesus talking about himself as the good shepherd mentions the universality of his shepherding responsibility.
It is true that he told the Syrophoenician woman that “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs”; even so, he lauded the woman’s faith(Mt,15:21-28). Jesus was against the exclucivism of Judaism. Christ is the embracer of whoever believes in him from wherever.
The accusations often levied on African Christians by fellow Africans is that African Christians are brainwashed to believe in a Jesus Christ who is not related to them. That’s not true! The Lord Jesus Christ says, “I have other sheep that are not of this pen, I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
Dear friend, while the good shepherd already laid down his life for us, have we been listening to his voice? Do you know him the way he knows you?
There is one thing you must be convinced of: Under any trying situation or hard-to-accept circumstances in your life, Jesus loves you with an everlasting love! He cares for you and will never leave you nor abandon you.
Prayer: Holy Spirit help me to be a meek and obedient sheep and not to overburden the Good Shepherd. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.