JESUS AS THE GOOD SHEPHERD
John 10 (ASV)
1 Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door
into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way,
the same is a thief and a robber.
2
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the
sheep.
3
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and
he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 When he
hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the
sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not
follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice
of strangers.
6 This parable spake Jesus unto
them: but they understood not what things they were which he
spake unto them.
7 Jesus therefore said unto
them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of
the sheep.
8 All that came before me are
thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door; by me if any
man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out,
and shall find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but
that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they
may have life, and may have it abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the
good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.
12 He that is a hireling, and
not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the
wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf
snatcheth them, and scattereth them:
13 he fleeth
because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd; and
I know mine own, and mine own know me,
15 even as the Father knoweth
me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the
sheep.
16 And other sheep I have,
which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they
shall hear my voice: and they shall become one flock, one
shepherd.
17 Therefore doth the Father
love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it
again.
18 No one taketh it away from
me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it
down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment
received I from my Father.
Ruined House and Animal Pen - Galilee, Jan
2006
THE LAZY SHEPHERDS
Ezekiel 34 (ASV)
2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, even to the shepherds, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe unto the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the sheep?
3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill the fatlings; but ye feed not the sheep.
4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought back that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with rigor have ye ruled over them.
5 And they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became food to all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.
6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my sheep were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and there was none that did search or seek after them.
7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of Jehovah:
8 As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, surely forasmuch as my sheep became a prey, and my sheep became food to all the beasts of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my sheep, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my sheep;
9 therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of Jehovah:
10 Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my sheep at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the sheep; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; and I will deliver my sheep from their mouth, that they may not be food for them.
PETER'S CALLING
John 21
16 He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19 Now this he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
PETER'S FIRST EPISTLE
1 Peter 4:
14 If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you.
15 For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men's matters:
16 but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.
17 For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator.
1 Peter 5:
2 Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;
7 casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,
9 whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you. 11 To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.