Main point: v.11 The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The death of Jesus has 2 purposes: 1. He died in place of the sheep when the wolf attacked v.11-13. His life for the life of the sheep. 2. He died according to the plan of the Father v.17-18. The plan of the Father included not just Jesus’ dying, but also His resurrection. Death is necessary in order for Him to resurrect (“I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again v.17b).
Jesus’ obedience to the Father was not due to a lack of power. “10:18 No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again.” He has the power, but He used that to submit to the Father’s will. Why He submitted was due to His mutual relationship with the Father v.14-17a. This relationship is just like His intimate relationship with His sheep.
Reflection: 第十二節耶穌稱呼羊為他自己的羊, 第14節他兩次稱呼羊為, 我的羊. 耶穌這樣子的稱呼是合宜的, 因為祂的羊的生命, 也是從他捨命而來的. 在這段聖經裏面, 有四次提到, 祂為羊捨命. 今日, 我們被稱為神所交託的牧者, 如果有危險來到的時候, 我會把羊看成是自己的嗎?会否為他們捨命嗎? 就算平日, 沒有危險的時候, 我有忠於託付嗎?還是只顧自己的事, 沒有去顧別人的事呢? 就算自己去預備查經, 或聚會的時候, 是否只是想著自己, 沒有為到受衆的需要去預備呢?
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