As promised we continue on past verse 14. I pray that these are more than just words but in all sincerity we come humbly to His message and the Spirit guides us and provokes discussion, encourages, enlightens, chastises when necessary, and most importantly cause us to search His scripture for ourselves. (AND IN ALL THESE THINGS HE MAY BE GLORIFED).
Extra credit: One of my biggest concerns every week is exactly this extra message today What to publish by Henry Mahan. It seems some weeks I am convicted by my pride when I feel I had a good message and other weeks I feel so insignificant that is difficult to write anything. I can be stiff necked and hard headed and need this message daily in my walk and service. I especially need to learn it is when we learn to lean on Him that the path becomes easier to walk.
Jhn 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Jhn 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, one shepherd.
Jhn 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
Jhn 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Discussion forum : Who are the other sheep in verse 16?
It is important and often neglected that Jesus is not part God and part man but was as much God as He was man. Christ is one of but not separated from the Godhead. It is clearly expounded as we read that there shall be one Shepherd. We can clearly see this also in the sovereignty of His words in verse 18. For it is only Him who may lay down His life, and only Him who has the power to raise it up again.
Jesus speaks here though as a moderator and servant that became flesh. As man eternally connected to the Father. We see in these verses God in the essences of flesh being loved and known of the Father. We see in these verses the eternal I Am. As one being part of His Father who knows Him from all eternity. And so we may also see the connection of His elect with the Savior. Known from eternity past, seen and loved though they may be apart. The shepherd who knows each sheep by name and they know their masters voice. Both with an intimate knowledge of the other, to view one is to see the other. For as the Father knoweth the Son, and as the Son knoweth the Father, so Christ knows His sheep, and so the sheep know Him.
