Scripture
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
1“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
6Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me[1] were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.[2] They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Translation notes (2)
- 10:8 Some manuscripts do not include before me.
- 10:9 Or will find safety.
10The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
As we study angels and demons this week, it is very clear that they are of opposing forces. Angels are God’s messengers who worship Him and bring light and life, and demons represent the enemy and bring with them destruction and death. When we encounter anything that is not of Christ, we know it is from Satan and his demons. Anything that brings with it death and destruction is not from God. Conversely, anything that brings life is from Christ.
Jesus explained it this way in John 10:10: “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.” There is a lot to unpack here in such a short verse. What stands out to me the most is the contrast between the thief, which represents Satan, and the things of Satan, including demons, and Christ. The enemy clearly represents destruction and chaos. Anything that steals, kills, and destroys is of Satan and his demons. Satan and his demons’ sole focus is to bring destruction and death.
John 10:10 may begin on a bleak note, but it does not end that way. Jesus continued teaching in this verse, saying, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” Unlike Satan and his demons, Jesus brings life. Anything joyous and life-giving is from Jesus.
We can be sure of this: the enemy brings destruction, but Jesus brings life. Maybe today, you are struggling because of all of the difficulties that have come your way that you know are from the enemy. I urge you, friend, to turn to Jesus. He is the one true source of light. He can bring light out of even the darkest times. After all, even the smallest glimmer of light breaks through the darkness.
Moving Toward Action
It is easy to focus on all of the hardships and difficulties we are facing that we know are from the enemy. However, we forget to focus on all of the gifts and blessings that God has given us. Take some time to think about your life. Scripture teaches that Jesus brings life. What is evidence of His life in your life? Anything that brings life is from Jesus. Make a list of all of the gifts in your life from Him, and thank Him for all that He has done for you.
Going Deeper
John 10:1-10 (NLT)
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