1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.
Jesus says that the sheep are called by name and that the sheep know their shepherd's voice and willingly follow Him...as He (leads) sets the example of where and how to go...
3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
Jesus says that the sheep will be disobedient to and run away from someone who is not their shepherd...(children will disobey and flee from people who are not shepherding them the right way as they are not designed to respond to them)
5 A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”
Jesus says that those who no matter what simply won't understand this...
6 This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.
Jesus says that He...His life recorded in the New Testament...is the door into the sheep's pen...and that all the "law" that came before Him had no power to save the sheep...(focusing on a few verses in the Old Testament to try to raise your children is missing the truth)
7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Jesus says that He...His life recorded in the New Testament...is the door into the sheep's pen...and that all the "law" that came before Him had no power to save the sheep...(focusing on a few verses in the Old Testament to try to raise your children is missing the truth)
7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Jesus says His life is the way you should shepherd your sheep...
11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
Jesus says that you're not truly the shepherd of the sheep if you fail to protect the sheep from predators...
12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.
Shepherd's Rod
Jesus says He shepherds the sheep God's way...
14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.
Jesus says the type of shepherding (parenting) that is pleasing to God is the one in which the parents center their lives on the welfare of their children and lay down their own lives for the children...and that they do this willingly...
17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
Jesus says that there are those among the church who will find this offensive...and will attack...(Christians who believe that "spanking" is wrong...get called lost, led-astray, liberals, leftists, non-Christians...basically "demon possessed.")
19 A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?” 21 Others were saying, “These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?”
19 A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?” 21 Others were saying, “These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?”
Interestingly enough...directly after Jesus said all this, we're told that this happened:
John 10:24-31
"The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him."
So, how about you?
Do you understand what Jesus means? Or, do you feel ready to "stone" this message against spanking?
I guess if you know His voice...you'll follow Him...
John 8:30-32
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
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