John 10:11-18
The Good Shepherd
Daily S.O.A.P. Prompts
S – What verse stands out to me today?
O – What is God revealing about Jesus?
A – How should this change my life today?
P – What is my prayer in response?
Scripture
(John 10:11-18, NLT)11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. 17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
Observation
Everything Jesus is doing was commanded by his Father. Jesus clearly connects himself with the Father. He knows Jesus, and Jesus knows him.
No one takes the life of Jesus. He has the “authority” to lay it down and take it back up again. He voluntarily sacrifices himself for the sheep because he is the good shepherd.
There are several repeating terms: shepherd, good, sheep, Father, wolf, and sacrifice.
The contrast to Jesus as the good shepherd is the wolf who comes to attack and scatter the sheep.
The hired hands don’t care about the sheep the way the shepherd does because the sheep belong to the shepherd (Jesus).
A key term in this passage is “sacrifice” because this is what sets the good shepherd apart from the hired hands and the wolves. It is also the reason God loves Jesus. (v.17)
Application
I belong to Jesus, and he will protect me.
I have salvation because of the sacrifice of the shepherd (Jesus).
The wolf (the thief) is always trying to attack and scatter the sheep.
Jesus has all authority. I have access to this authority through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Father God, thank you for sending Jesus to sacrifice his life for me. I am eternally grateful. You are my protection from the attacks of the enemy. Help me to stay close to you and your people so I won’t ever be scattered. As a pastor, help me to be a good shepherd to those you entrust to my care. In Jesus’ name, amen!
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