John 10

 

"THE VOICE OF THE STRANGER"

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ² But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 

⁵ Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶ Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.

 ⁷ Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

BeyondTheVeilDaily; This morning let us listen with our spiritual ears, to the words of Jesus in this chapter. Our emphasis will not be the voice of the shepherd only, but the voice of the stranger.

 To understand this voice, and those he employs, is first to understand the character of the one behind the voice. His motive, and strategy to lead many to obey his voice astray.
 
In this chapter Jesus flips the on the switch of His heavenly x-ray, for nothing  is hidden from His sight.  He without hesitation  identifies  the character behind the voice of the stranger.

Let us together take a good look, at what Jesus clearly exposes about this man. "He is prideful, and disobedient." "He does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way."

He and his cohorts are "thieves and robbers," they look to get around the doorkeepers, that the Shepherd has placed at the door.

Now fully exposed,  on the viewing screen for all to see and understand.  The stranger's  character revealed, his voice and motive. Jesus declares; The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

BeyondTheVeilDaily; If the x-ray of Jesus was turned on you this morning, what will it expose in you? The voice of the Shepherd, or the voice of the stranger? If it is the latter, undoubtedly you are in a place that is full of the deceptive voice of the stranger. He has achieved, climbing over the wall of your faith. Only to steal, kill and destroy the voice of the Shepard in you. No more going in and out, finding green pastures, but rather parched land. Confusion, disappointments and discouragement await you there.

Jesus says to you this morning;  "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." What are we to do? "RUN!"  but my sheep will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Have you lost the door in this room? Jesus declares to you again; "I am the door of the sheep." Run to Him, and find green pastures once again!