March 4
Bible Reading: John 10:1-7
John 10:1-2, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.”
John 10:7, “So Jesus again said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.’”
In Jesus’ day, it was common for a community to maintain a large sheep pen. At the end of the day, people brought their small flocks of sheep to that bigger sheepfold. The community hired a gatekeeper to stay with the sheep during the night. In the morning, he opened the gate for the true shepherds, who had their sheep enclosed in the pen. But it was possible for a thief or robber to enter by another way. Jesus used that analogy to distinguish between himself and the Pharisees (John 9:22, 39-41). They were the self-appointed false shepherds who drew the people away from true shepherd, Jesus. The false shepherds were thieves and robbers, having come only to “steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, warned his followers of such false shepherds. Sixteen centuries later, his words worked to change the heart of a man named Alexander Henderson. As a founder of the Reformed Church in Scotland, Henderson would become one of the most respected church leaders in his day. But things didn’t start out so well for him.
After finishing his education, he was sent to pastor his first church. But he wasn’t a kind and godly man. He was a churchman, not a genuine believer. The people of the church did not approve of his appointment, so upon his arrival, they shut and bolted the door to the church. Determined to claim his parish, Henderson crawled through a window and thus began his ministry—such as it was.
One day, he heard of a group of Christian meeting in a nearby community. The meeting was unauthorized by the state, and Henderson, wanting to eavesdrop, hid himself in a back seat in a secluded corner. The teacher rose and turned to the day’s Bible lesson, reading from John 10:1–2 about the thief who didn’t enter by the door but climbed in another way. Henderson nearly fell from his chair, the text bringing to his mind his recent undignified entry into the church through a window. God opened his eyes to the truth, and he placed his trust in Jesus. Afterward, he faithfully served Jesus for many years. But it wasn’t until he himself experienced salvation.
Be careful to avoid any so-called Shepherd that doesn’t know the Chief Shepherd and is not careful to follow His example (1 Peter 5:1-4). It is the Good Shepherd alone who can save and watch over our souls (1 Peter 2:25)!
The best way to avoid thieves and robbers is to stay near the Shepherd!
O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED
O Jesus, I have promised
to serve Thee to the end;
be Thou forever near me,
my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
if Thou art by my side,
nor wander from the pathway
if Thou wilt be my Guide.
O let me feel Thee near me,
the world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
the tempting sounds I hear;
my foes are ever near me,
around me and within;
but, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
and shield my soul from sin.
O let me hear Thee speaking
in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion,
the murmurs of self-will;
O speak to reassure me,
to hasten or control!
O speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul!
O Jesus, Thou hast promised
to all who follow Thee
that where Thou art in glory
there shall Thy servant be;
and, Jesus, I have promised
to serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
my Master and my Friend!
LookingtoJesus 