John 10:1-18 (New International Version)
1"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The 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. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I 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. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No 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."
My father died of cancer eight years ago after months of unimaginable suffering. Watching him go through this terrible struggle raised a lot of faith questions for our family about how a loving God could let a human endure such cruelty for so long.
But through it all as we desperately prayed for hope, help and answers, we five siblings all received encouragement through scriptures, dreams, and epiphanies; and when we compared notes, we realized that at each new phase of Dad’s struggle, and with each new question we asked, we were being lovingly guided and comforted by strikingly similar revelations.
We were hearing the voice of our Shepherd, Who was making us to lie down in green pastures and restoring our souls, even in the midst of the valley of the shadow of death. At the same time, in ways none of us could comprehend, He was preparing my father to lay down his old life in order to receive his new life in Christ.
Dad was a fighter to the end. He tried to control the course of his life, and even tried to control the course of his death. But he was only able to come into his rest after finally surrendering his will to the Good Shepherd in the loving presence of his wife and children as we spoke God’s truth and peace to him. (The details of the story are so moving that I documented the entire journey; I am happy to share that manuscript with anyone who might find comfort in the reading of it.)
So often I hear people say, “I wish I could hear God’s voice.” My answer is, “You DO! You just don’t realize it!” Seek the Good Shepherd; you will find Him (He’s waiting for you even now!). Then listen, watch, trust, and obey. He will make His presence known; and He will never leave you or forsake you – even in the valley of the shadow.
Prayer: Loving God, I know you love me and are always nearby. Please help me learn to hear and come to know Your voice, that I may never be afraid in any circumstance. In the name of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, amen.
Barb Robertson
