I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Comment: We see here 1. The extent of His goodness. He lays down His life for His sheep, which points to the Calvary story, 2. The extension of His flock. His earthly ministry was almost totally to the Jews but His flock includes Gentiles. 3. The mixed response to His claim. There was a division of opinion about Him, and there still is. We have two thousand years of history of His effect in the world but still we have to make a decision about Him. The Bible teaches that a lot hangs on our decision – heaven or hell.
Prayer: Help me to understand clearly what You are saying,Jesus.
As I read it! 