March 20, 2019 – John 10:9-10

Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10: 9-10.

Learning about Jesus is seeing beyond the everyday things and learning the spiritual lesson. This is how Jesus taught –  through parables. When we see the obvious things, and see a spiritual application, we learn about Jesus.  Our vision is clarified and our hearing is more acute as we listen for God’s teaching.

We often wander in the wilderness of spiritual darkness, until we see Jesus.  Our son Paul, tapping maple trees for sap to boil down and make syrup, wrote, “I was thinking, God makes the syrup, I just cook away the water. God makes new life then cooks away our sinfulness.”

When we understand spiritual truths through things about us, we grow in wisdom.  David wrote, The Lord is my Shepherd, and now Jesus emphasizes, I am the good Shepherd.  The unity of the Family of God as One Body is emphasized by the phrase, There will be One flock with One Shepherd.

‘Love one another...” Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.  Colossians 3:13. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. Romans 4:5.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.” John 10:14-16.