Thieves, Robbers, and Wolves

Jan. 17

Read: John 10:1-6

Thieves, Robbers, and Wolves

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.” - Jesus

There are forces at work that are seeking to “steal you”. It is odd to think of it that way, but Jesus clearly states that there are “thieves and robbers” that climb in over the wall and snatch up sheep. These robbers always come in the “backdoor” so to speak… they never enter through the obvious or expected “front gate”. Have you been “kidnapped”… taken… snatched up by a robber who climbed in over the wall?

Jesus uses the image of the shepherds voice to a paint picture of how the sheep will follow him:

“The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” (v.3,4)

It is so easy for “the robber” to jump the wall and steal us away… for things to come in unexpected and carry us off to where we are not hearing the voice of the “shepherd” calling us. It is worth asking today, whose “voice” are YOU listening to? Who or what are you following? Have you been walking, fixated on the voice of the good shepherd… or have you been carried away by some sort of “robber” or thief? Have you listened to Jesus enough in your prayers and reading of scripture that you recognize his voice? Do you at least try to run when you see the robber climbing over the wall?

In Luke 15, Jesus again speaks of sheep, this time in a parable. In this one, he speaks of a sheep that is “lost”… a missing sheep. (cf. Luke 15:1-7) What does the good shepherd do if there is a sheep who turns up missing? He searches for it and doesn’t stop until he has found it! This is tremendously good news… to know that the character of the shepherd is to teach for a missing sheep. If one who belongs to the good shepherd is taken… missing… lost… you can bet your bottom dollar that the Good Shepherd Jesus is on the hunt! It is a search and rescue mission to save the sheep. If you feel like something or someone has jumped over the wall and robbed you… taken you away… take heart, the shepherd is searching for you… he is on the way.

I have only been involved in 1 or 2 “search and rescue” missions, but this is what I know from those experiences - we are calling out the name of the person we are searching for… making noise while we actively look for them. I would guess a shepherd on the hunt does the same. Since the shepherd has told us that the sheep “hear his voice and know him”, then it only makes sense that he is calling out to them while he hunts. If you look up, and find yourself lost… picked up and carried away to some other pasture, know Jesus is searching but you need to start listening for his voice calling out to you. If you hear his voice calling… begin to move towards it! Respond by making your OWN noise… like a sheep bleating back at the voice of the shepherd. ( I am pretty sure I sound like a noisy sheep when I worship! LOL)

Look at these final words from Jesus this morning: “A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” (v.5) The right response for us is to run away from… to “flee from”… any voice that is not that of the shepherd. Jesus is our good shepherd in a world filled with robbers, wolves, and thieves who want to snatch up the sheep and destroy them! Stick close to the shepherd, he fights for you. If you become lost, he will come for you. Follow his voice as he leads you. Love you guys. - JDP