"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-- and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." -- John 10:14-16

The good shepherd is the one that doesn't abandon his sheep when the wolves come.  The good shepherd is the one who the sheep can count on to be there to the end.  Jesus did just that.  He laid down his life for his sheep.  The sheep metaphor is a tough one for me.  I don't want to be a sheep... grazing and following... following and grazing... I'd rather be less dependent on my shepherd.  But I can't be.  I know him and I am known by him.  As much as I'd like to think that I'm independent and a lone wolf, I cannot escape the fact that I have the capacity to love.  I have exercised that capacity.  And in so doing, I have experienced Christ.  I know him.  He knows me.  If you have loved, then you too know his voice.  And so many others know him, but don't realize it.  It leads me to think that these are who he is referring to when he says he has "other sheep that are not of this sheep pen"... those who love as he did, but don't realize they do so by the power of God.  Who do you think the other "sheep" are?

Readings:  1 Samuel 22:1-23:29; John 10:1-21; Psalm 115:1-18; Proverbs 15:18-19