Our Good Shepherd 11.04.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are continuing our studies on the book of John, please read Chapters 9-10 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read them online. If the link does not work you can copy and paste this one to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%209-10&version=9

Today we will read about Jesus healing a man born blind; Jesus, the Good Shepherd; and the religious leaders desire to stone Jesus. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that Jesus is the answer and hope for all prayers. Jesus, Our Good Shepherd, is always with us and all prayers are answered according to His Will.

The Pool of Siloam was part of the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, during the celebration water was poured out of the pool by the high priest in hopes of an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The next day, violence once again erupted in the Temple and this time stones were hurled at Jesus, as He escaped the violence He passed a blind man not far from the Pool. "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing." (John 9:1-7). This man's affliction became a means of manifesting Jesus as the Light of the world.

There is a spiritual purpose of God's love in much of human suffering, and this man's blindness was the very means of keeping him from being lost for eternity. By faith, he obeyed Jesus' command to wash in the Pool of Siloam and it was His faith that cured him of his blindness.

The same miracles still happen today to all who put thier faith in Jesus, always remember that whatever comes our way is God's Will and although people are born with infirmities they are not always caused by sin. God never places any situation before us that He knows we can not handle, He knows our strengths better than we do. What one person lacks in one thing has strengths in many others.

The religious authorities in Israel were considered the shepherds of Israel, but they were false, self-serving leaders. However, Jesus identified Himself as the Good Shepherd. "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (John 10:7-11).

This prophecy was foretold by Ezekiel, "And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it. And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods." (Ezekiel 34:23-25).

One of the distinguishing marks of a Christian is recognizing the need for guidance and desiring to follow the Good Shepherd. Jesus also said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." (10:27-30). How comforting it is to be assured that we have Jesus the Good Shepherd caring for us and that not matter what we face He is right there with us.

Today's Prayer:
Dear Jesus,
We who are children of the light, do not live as those who walk in the darkness. Instead You have shown us right from wrong, truth from error, and You have given us discernment to test the spirits to see that which is from You and that which is from the evil one. The foundations seem to be shaking as we are flooded with a tidal wave of twists and spins that seeks to confuse or demean the believer. We clothe ourselves daily with godly armor, both defensive and offensive weaponry since our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but rather the authorities from this world. May we not fluctuate, but walk boldly in the conviction and power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name......Amen.

Have a wonderful day!
God Bless,
Christina

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