The Full Life

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

THE FULL LIFE

John 10:1-10

10:1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."  6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

NIV

Jesus has more to say regarding the shepherd and the sheep, but we should camp out here for a moment. Who is the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate? It has to be the law which Jesus is making reference to. Because he has been talking with the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, who are steeped in sin and the law cannot save them, he is telling them if they try to enter the pen by the law, if they try to enter heaven by observing the law, they are a thief or a robber. Jesus is the shepherd, he comes through the gate, in fact, he is the gate. The whole idea is we know the voice of our shepherd but the Pharisees think the law is the gate and want the sheep, the people of Israel, to listen to their voice. Jesus says his voice is the only one to listen to. Today we have many voices screaming for our attention, wanting us to follow after their teaching, but they are strangers. They do not know us, they do not even know our name, all they want is for us to follow them and support their lifestyle. We need to run from them as fast as we can because we do not recognize their voice. We do not recognize the words they speak, because they speak non-truths, lies. Jesus is the only voice, he goes before us. Who else can go before us, lead us to green pastures and still waters? Who else, what other voice can give us life everlasting? These other voices, the voices of the world and of the false teachers, all are thieves and robbers. When Christians start quoting these voices rather than the voice of God they are in danger of wandering off from the shepherd and his pen. Jesus is the only one who goes before us, he lived, died, was resurrected and ascended into heaven. Who else has done that? He is the way, the truth and the life, no one enters through anyone else but him. These false voices only come to steal and kill and destroy. We have seen so many through our lifetime who have come to do just that. They come and go, showing up, making a big splash and then all of a sudden they are but a drip in the ocean. The words of Jesus are eternal. They come to swallow up followers and their money, seeking fame and fortune, Jesus comes so we can have life, and have it to the full.