All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
John 10:7-18
Here Jesus compares himself to a shepherd the owner of the flock. He makes it clear that he is not a hireling. That he is indeed the Shepherd and as such is willing to lay down his life for his sheep.
He also makes it clear,
“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
John 10:17,18
Ultimately when it came to Jesus going to the cross it was he who made the decision.
In the garden of Gethsemane he said,
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Luke 22:42
Jesus being the Son of God could have at anytime called upon God to stop what was happening. But Jesus while on this earth chose to do things as a normal man.
He knew why he was here. He was in complete control and he chose to accept his fate.
Even as he was dying on the cross he was in control. Luke telling us,
“Jesus called out with a loud voice,“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Luke 23:46
Jesus is God. He came to earth to live life as a normal man. Thus he knows all there is to know about what it is like to be a man.
We therefore cannot accuse him of not knowing what it is like to be a man. Quite the contrary he understands.
Thus when we stand before him in heaven he has the right to judge us.
We can never say you don’t understand or you didn’t care about me because he did and he does.
Not only did he live the life of a normal man but he laid down his life for us. The ultimate sacrifice.
So when you stand before God on that final day. Will he be your judge or your saviour?
Think about it.
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