JESUS TAKES CARE OF HIS OWN.
This would have to be one of my favourite promises. It is something I have experienced for many years. Jesus is truly the One I can go to with assurance that He is always with me and has me in His hands.
"Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love (compassion) for the child she has borne? But even if it were possible, I would not forget you! SEE, I HAVE WRITTEN (ENGRAVED) YOUR NAME ON THE PALMS OF MY HAND. The walls of Jerusalem are ever before me." Isaiah 49:15&16 (NLT/NIV)
One of the most beautiful ways Jesus describes himself is as the "Good Shepherd". One of Jesus favourite stories was of the SHEPHERD who was SEARCHING for a LOST SHEEP. He still had 99 other sheep, but he went out to search for the sheep that was lost.
This story reminds us of JESUS' LOVE. When we have times when we are lost and afraid, He calls our name. Jesus' picks us up - HIS SHEEP - and we can feel HIS LOVE, because we know His promise: JESUS TAKES CARE OF HIS OWN.
"The Son of Man came to SEEK and SAVE those who are LOST." Luke 19:10 (NIV)
"We have a GOOD SHEPHERD - HIS NAME IS JESUS CHRIST." Greg Matte
1. I AM THE LAMB OF GOD
"The next day John saw JESUS coming toward him and said: "LOOK, THE LAMB OF GOD, who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29 (NLT)
Why are LAMBS so important in the Bible? Firstly, the "blood of the lamb" saved the Israelites from slavery. With their Father and His Son Jesus, they were able to "walk in freedom to the Promised Land."
"The Lord is my strength and my song (defense), He has become MY SALVATION. He is my God and I will praise Him, my father's God and I will exalt Him. With your unfailing love you lead the people You have REDEEMED. In your might (strength) , you will guide them to their sacred home (Your holy dwelling)." Exodus 15:13 (NIV/NLT)
Secondly, in the time of the Passover, LAMBS were used as a sacrifices. We are reminded in Samuel that "the Lord no longer delights in burnt offerings", but he still wants our "obedience".
Finally, the good news is that we no longer live in Old Testament times. We are reminded that Jesus is our LAMB OF GOD. Not only did He give His life for us as the SACRIFICIAL LAMB, but we now have FORGIVENESS from our sins, but we are FREE from any "guilt, shame and worthiness" we may feel.
Jesus is our perfect LAMB OF GOD, "without defect". He shed His blood for us and we were REDEEMED. But we need to continue to "FOLLOW HIM" and need to put our "TRUST IN HIM".
"For you know that God paid a ransom to save (redeem) us from an empty life you inherited (handed down) from your ancestors. It was not paid with mere gold and silver, which lose their value. It was the PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, the sinless (without blemish or defect), the spotless LAMB OF GOD.....Through Him, you BELIEVE (TRUST) IN GOD, who raised Him (Christ) from the dead and glorfified Himm and YOUR FAITH AND HOPE ARE IN GOD." 1 Peter 1:18&19, 21 (NLT/NIV)
"He is the grand champion LAMB that died that DIED ON THE CROSS to WASH YOU CLEAN. The TRUTH and PROMISE changes anyone's life for all eternity." Greg Matte
2. I AM THE GATE
"Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen BY THE GATE, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters THE GATE is the SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP. THE GATEKEEPER OPENS THE GATE foor Him and the sheep listen to His voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all of His own , He goes ahead of them, and HIS SHEEP FOLLOW HIM because they know His voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize the stranger's voice." John 10:1-5 (NIV)
Each SHEPHERD has a special call for HIS SHEEP, and this is the only VOICE they listen to and follow. The sheep are in an enclosure and they get led out only when their SHEPHERD calls them. At the end of the day the SHEPHERD returns his flock THROUGH THE GATE. He checks for injuries and looks around for predators. What a beautiful picture of JESUS, THE SHEPHERD - HIS LOVE AND PROTECTION.
Recently we bought a new puppy. She has a tendency and running under the gate, and we need to call her to come back in. But at night time, Elsa curls up on Mark's knee and won't leave his side until he goes up to bed. She settles at night on her bed, but we have to close our bedroom door or she comes up to the door early in the morning. Mark usually opens the door, because he loves his morning cuddles.
Jesus calls himself the GATE (DOOR). We need to listen to His voice, for he wants us to come through the door to spend time close to Him.
"I AM THE GATE, whoever enters (come in) through Me will be saved. They will come in and find pasture. The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy; I HAVE COME so that THEY MAY HAVE LIFE , and have it to the FULL (rich and satisfying)" John 10:11 (NIV/NLT)
"JESUS PROTECTS US, KEEPS US SAFE AND LEADS US DOWN NEW PATHS. Lord, help us to find the DOOR - in every situation. Help us to hear you and see you, so we can FOLLOW YOUR PATH, and WALK THROUGH THE GATE with YOU AT OUR SIDE." Nicky Gumbel
3. I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Jesus, our SHEPHERD spends time with HIS SHEEP, leading to "intimacy and familiarity". He calls HIS SHEEP by name. He has a difficult task at times - CARING, PROTECTING and LOVING them. The sheep need to LISTEN TO HIS VOICE and TRUST IN HIM.
"I am the GOOD SHEPHERD. The GOOD SHEPHERD sacrifices HIS LIFE, FOR THE SHEEP.....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 My sheep. I have OTHER SHEEP too, but they are not in MY 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 (NLT)
As Jesus' sheep, in his sheepfold, there are three things we need to do: BELIEVE IN JESUS - TRUSTING IN our SHEPHERD; KNOW AND LISTEN TO HIS VOICE, and FOLLOW HIM. This is the "declaration" we have as Christians, and we will also follow His example of LOVE.
Jesus promises us that our relationship with Him will GROW. We will never perish, and we "cannot be snatched out His hand".
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them from me." John 10:27&28 (NLT)
"We may have many struggles and temptations along the way, but ultimately the hand of Jesus and His Father are engaged together to protect you. With liberty (freedom) and eternal life, we can never perish." Nicky Grumbel
"The Holy Bible - New International Version" (2011) Biblica
"The Holy Bible - New Living Translation" (2015) Tyndale House Publishers
"Worthy is the Lamb", 2015, Darlene Zscech (Composer/Performer), Hillsong/Integrity Music
"Jesus, the Good Shepherd", 2023, Louize Z Balbion (Composer), Dion, Darys & Dea Dolorito, (Performers), Children's Action Songs, Daughters of St Paul/You Tube
MATTE, Greg, "Lamb of God", 2025, houstonfirst.org/You Version
GUMBLE, Nicky, " The Bible - Classic Edition: Knowing God as the Father", 2025, Alpha/You Version
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