God’s Mission
John 10:7-18
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.
~ Jesus, John 10:10
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The 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. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own 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. 13 The 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— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 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. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 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.”
Pondering Point
Consider the contrast of missions here. As followers of Jesus, we often highlight his mission, “Go and make disciples of all nations” (see Matthew 28:19). He wants to bring abundant life to his sheep, his disciples. We less often acknowledge the mission of our enemy the Devil, labeled here as the thief. Here is Satan’s black-and-white mission:
- To steal and kill and destroy
- To steal and kill and destroy you as a follower of Jesus
- To steal and kill and destroy you and any other follower of Jesus.
That is real. It is a beautiful thing to sing Jesus like a shepherd lead us – and it is appropriate too! It is also wise to pray as Jesus taught, “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” or as some translations put it, “deliver us from the Evil One.” You are his target. You need your Shepherd.
Prayer for the Day
Lord Jesus, my Shepherd, lead us not into temptation. Deliver us from the Evil One. I long to know the abundant life You desire to bring us. Help me find it in You and be on my guard for evil thieves whose mission is to steal from, kill and destroy me. So I pray for myself and others. Amen.
Mark 16:6-8
The
Great Sending
Word of the Day
Mark 16:6-8
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.