April: John 7-10
In John 10 Jesus uses the analogy of a Shepherd and Sheep to teach his promise to those who follow him and our responsibilities as disciples of Christ. Then he declares himself to be the Good Shepherd.
As our Shepherd, Jesus says that the shepherd enters at the door of the sheepfold and not some other way, otherwise he is a thief. (John 10:1) The door is baptism by the proper authority. Even Jesus was baptized “to fulfill all righteousness.” And we are told in John 3:5 that “except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Next, the shepherd calleth his sheep by name. He knows us individually and loves us for who we are. When Joseph Smith prayed to know which church was true, he saw two personages appear. “One of them spake unto me, calling me by name.” Just as Christ knew the boy Joseph’s name, he knows our name too.
Third, he promises to go before us and lead us. He not only went before us through his great atoning sacrifice, “being the first fruits of them that slept.” (I Cor. 15:20) He also leads us through life, directing our choice by inspiring us individually with his spirit and giving us inspired spiritual leaders, called by his authority and priesthood.
In response, Jesus gives the sheep an important responsibility. We must learn his voice to be his sheep. Jesus says, “the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” (John 10:4) Do we know the Savior’s voice? Do we feel him calling us, asking us to do what he would? As we repent and turn to the Lord, his voice becomes louder. Like Elijah in the cave, the voice of the Lord doesn’t come in the wind or storm or earthquake, “it is a still, small voice.” (I Kings 19:12) And we often have to ask and wait, to learn to recognize his voice.
The last responsibility of the sheep is to ONLY follow the shepherd. To be a true sheep, “a stranger they will not follow, but flee from him.” (John 10:5) Like Joseph with Potiphar’s wife, do we flee from temptation? Do we not listen to strangers. Elder Bednar gave a talk in April 2022 where he spoke of “heeding not what the wicked may say.” He taught that “the word heed suggests taking notice of or paying attention to someone or something.” President Nelson recently warned us, “take charge of your testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Work for it. Nurture it so that it will grow. Feed it truth. Don’t pollute it with the false philosophies of unbelieving men and women.” In today’s world where we have access to the greatest of truths and the greatest of lies, it is essential that we focus and listen to the voice of our shepherd and shun those of strangers who would lead us elsewhere.
Finally, Christ stands before the people saying, “I am the Good Shepherd.” John 10:14. As he said those words, did they remember the promise of Isaiah of the coming Messiah? “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd and gather his lambs with his arms.” (Isaiah 40:11) Did they remember the Paschal lamb sacrificed at Passover and during the Atonement sacrifice for Sin? Did they think of David’s Psalm? “The Lord is my Shepherd. No want shall I know.” (Psalms 23)
Those that had ears to hear, would have known, he was the Messiah come to save them and is our Lord and Savior, come to save us all.
Women Read Scripture 