2 Chronicles 1—3, John 10:1—23 • John 10:11

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then how much is a word picture worth? When it communicates the message Jesus has for us, it is of inestimable worth. A priceless word picture is found in John 10, that of the shepherd and his sheep.

Most of us have little experience with sheep. In fact, most of what we know is secondhand information gathered from lessons taught at church, maybe from Psalm 23. We are like sheep and Jesus is the Good Shepherd. We are the wanderers and He is the finder, keeper and protector.

Take this part of the word picture—a man dying, intentionally, for animals. Hard to imagine, yet it is the image that Jesus used to describe what He did on Calvary. Willingly, on purpose, the shepherd is described as one who “‘lays down his life for the sheep’” (v. 11). Let those familiar words sink in for a minute. The Finder, Keeper and Protector of the wanderers died on purpose, with purpose, for us.

Death can be striking. It catches our attention, making us pause and reflect. The death of Jesus occurred nearly 2,000 years ago, but it should still catch our attention. We like to talk about salvation being free. That is true—but what was free to us came at tremendous cost. The price paid was the life of the Good Shepherd.

_Quietly reflect on this tremendous truth-—Christ died for you. Then thank Him for paying the price. You had a debt you could not pay, and He paid a debt He did not owe. “Thank You, Jesus. ”_

Woodrow Kroll & Tony Beckett
www.backtothebible.in