Text: John 10:1-16

Israel had such terrain that it was suitable for pastoral than agricultural because of the central plateau of the Judean mountains. This central plateau stretched from Bethel to Hebron for a distance of 35 miles and varying from 14-17 miles across. Its layout was such that the narrow plateau dipped sharply down the narrow craggy deserts on either side and was always liable for the sheep to stray away and get lost.

Therefore the Bible is woven into the language and imagery of the picture of the shepherd - Psalm 23:1; 95:7 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

There were two kinds of sheep enclosures. The one in the villages had proper roof and doors, while the one in the country side was in the open, which only had four walls as an enclosure, but no door. The shepherd himself slept at the entrancer and kept a watch of the sheep from thieves and any wild animals.

Jesus became a literal door where one can pass in and pass out without any trouble. This talks about the peace and security that one can receive in Christ. In the OT the concept of God was (1) Stranger (2) Enemy. The incarnation of~ Jesus, in which God became man and lived among us, brought us into a reality of totally a different picture about God. He is loving, compassionate, merciful caring. He is a Father to all. Once a man discovers through Jesus Christ, what

God is like, a new sense of safety and of security enters into life. If like is known to be in the hands of God like that, the worries and the fears are gone.

Thieves and robbers speaks about the adventurers and conquerors who promised peace and security but nothing was done without bloodshed, especially the zealots. Jesus taught that without love nothing can be conquered or achieved. Therefore he is the true door. Entering only through him can bring us to God and to one another in close unity. Jesus taught about the fatherhood of God. Only in this reality there can be oneness.

My sheep shall hear my voice. Usually a Palestinian shepherd made different sounds, which his sheep were trained to understand and respond. Just as there was intimacy between the sheep and the shepherd, is thee such a close intimacy the Lord and us, so that we always hear the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The coming in and going out of the true shepherd (this is at the sheep enclosure in the village, where there was a caretaker, but the shepherd went in every morning to take his flock out) talks about the openness in the lives of believers. Is our life a real open book. Most of us actually wear a mask over us. We are not what we look and pretend to be. We need a close examination concerning our lifestyles. A believer has to have one common life inside and out. Our lives are one inside and another outside.

The life of every Christian is an open epistle. In fact the epistles of the NT are not completed. We are the living epistles. Do we conform to this imagery.

Jesus said I am the light of the World. He also said that you are the light of this world and salt of this earth. Light has to dispel darkness. Light has a conquering effect. Light is on the winning side because darkness can’t stay when light enters.

Salt has to be saturated. Sitting on the table in the dispensers is no use to anyone. Getting out from there and mixing into the food not only makes the food palatable, but also tasty.

John 1:47. Jesus’ comment about Nathaniel. This is a true Israelite. In him there is no falsehood.

Sincerity: Are we sincere in our workplace or are we Kamchors. Are we sincere in the our spiritual assignments.

Honesty: Are we honest in our dealings. I was told that Christians are the biggest cheats. In the name of a Christian or a "born-again" many people have become frauds. Are we subtle, selfish, seeking only our interest, etc.

PORTER opens the door to let in and out the sheep. This talks about our trustworthiness. First of all do people trust us and are willing to share their joys and sorrows. Do we take in their pains, sorrows and hardships, so that we might talk it to God. Does that comes out us brings comfort and is full of wisdom to those who need it.

Laying down one’s life. Talks about sacrifice. Do we live sacrificial lives. Are we willing to walk the second mile.

Matt 5:14-16 talks about a candle that glows while getting burnt out. Thank God for this old adage, which is very meaningful. A Christian’s life not only has to glow, but has to be burnt out as well. I am not talking about doing too many things and finally crash landing. The concept is a life of sacrifice.

Most of our lives are not sacrificial, but they are casual. if our lives had to be sacrificial, then our accomplishments would have been much more than what we are struggling to achieve. Worldliness teaches about advancing forwards, which is a very logical concept, but spiritually we have not cared nor bothered to know where we were, where we are and where we will be.

Jesus lived a sacrificial life, in which he was willing to give himself on the cross of Calvary to bring victory to the fallen mankind, If we also live a sacrificial life, then this reality would have been achieved to a larger extent.

Evangelism: Jesus trusted those disciples. Except for few most were ordinary folks. Today most of us are educated lot, but yet this task is moving at snail’s space.

The Bible talks about all coming into one fold under one shepherd. Now we need to give an helping hand to Jesus to accomplish this task. You are our God and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep of his hand. Amen