ESOCS Devotional 28 January 2023
TEXT: JOHN 10: 1-11
MEMORY VERSE: “I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 NIV
Browsing through the prophetic books of Ezekiel, Micah, and others, we discover that several Old Testament scriptures have indications that God would someday send a shepherd who would – in all truth, tend to the needs of the flock of God. (See Ezekiel 34:23; 37:24-26; Micah 5:4). Jesus, without any atom of doubt, is the fulfilment of these prophecies.
More specifically speaking, Ezekiel 34 points to the background prophecy where God promised to send a good shepherd to Israel because of the bad shepherds of the time, who had led them to destruction. In our text, Jesus contrasted the leadership style of the Scribes, Priests and the Pharisees to the nature of the acceptable leadership of the Church during this Church age.
According to the Master, the religious leaders in ancient Israel were mere thieves and robbers of the flock of God. They had stolen the sheep of God’s pasture and subjected them to a religious setting of intimidation, and forcefully binding their consciences with their own selfish religious laws, (Matthew 23; Mark 7:1-9; Galatians 1:13-14). To ‘maintain credibility,’ these blind guides and thieves sustained their positions and power by unholy and selfish means. They were, therefore, nothing short of robbery gangs (Matthew 21:33-46; 3 John 9-10).
In verses 7-9 of our text, Jesus simply but honestly declared Himself as “the door.” By this declaration, the Master presented Himself as the only approved door through which all must enter into the Kingdom of God. Further to this, as stated in John 14:6, the Lord and Master categorically laid claim to the fact that He is the only way through which anyone can come to the Father. More so, Ephesians 2:18 confirms Jesus as the only way through which we have access by one Spirit to the Father. Acts 4:12 affirms that there is no other name under heaven given among men by which anyone can get salvation.
Jesus is Lord over all, forever. His divine power and wisdom have brought to all believers everything that appertains to the good life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Through the knowledge of Christ Jesus, we have received access to all divine virtue and glory. Praise God. There is no need to look elsewhere. Jesus is indeed the Good Shepherd. He is the indisputable Lord and Master of all. He is the King of all Kings. Hallowed be His Holy Name, forever.
- If true, no one can come to the Father except through Jesus, what then is the fate of other
religions?
- My Lord, my King, grant me the grace to follow.
FURTHER READING: Amos 7:1-15; Micah 5:2-7; John 8:1-11
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
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ESOCS Devotional 28 January 2023
