John 10:11-21
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. If you haven’t read the Introduction to John’s Gospel, read it here.
Yesterday we read the first part of Ezekiel’s prophecy to which Jesus refers in our passage today. Take a moment to read the next part of the prophecy in Ezekiel 34:11-16 and then read John 10:11-21 noticing the connections between the two passages.
From the time human rebellion first distorted God’s good and perfect dream for the world, God began to call people to repentance and redemption. God’s plan was to gather people to be a community. This “flock” would include those overlooked by others - the lost, the injured and the weak. And this flock, shepherded by God, would display God’s irresistible glory and love to the world.
The mission of Jesus is God’s mission. Jesus came to gather the flock, to call the lost back to himself, to heal the injured and to strengthen the weak. He came to gather a people who would display his glory and love to a broken world.
Do you ever feel lost, injured or weak? Do you sometimes fear that others will see beneath the surface of your life and realize that you are not all you appear to be? Or do you perhaps expose your brokenness openly in an effort gain attention or sympathy? Share your thoughts and feelings with Jesus.
What would it look like for you to trust Jesus, the Good Shepherd, fully with your failures, your injuries, and your weaknesses? Contemplate this for a moment.
Read John 10:11-21 again noticing the people’s responses.
In the upside-down Kingdom of God, the humble who recognize their need for God are more blessed than the powerful and prestigious. This reality stands in radical opposition to the ways of the world, and it is difficult to grasp and live out in a culture that idolizes self-sufficiency and power.
The pull of culture can make it hard to hear the voice of Jesus and hard to accept his counter-cultural message. If we aren’t constantly evaluating the voices around us against the voice and words of Jesus, we can easily mistake good for evil and vice-versa.
What do you need to do to become more familiar with the voice of Jesus? What might Jesus be inviting you to change so that you learn to hear his voice above all others?
For the last few minutes of this meditation, sit in the presence of Jesus with these questions. If you sense Jesus calling you to act in some way, take a first step before you move on with your day.
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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.
