Day 402 | Sunday, 25 April 2021

Day 402 - Audio Version

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Day 402 | Sunday, 25 April 2021

 The assigned scripture readings for this the fourth Sunday of Easter are Acts 4:5-12, Psalm 22:25-31, 1 John 3:16-24 and John 10:11-18.

 The reading from 1 John is a reminder of the fact that we are to love each other.  Verse 23 says “This is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love each other as he commanded us.”

 The passage from the Gospel of John is where Jesus affirms that he is The Good Shepherd.

Here is the passage from The Message.
11 "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary.
12 A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf.
13 He's only in it for the money. The sheep don't matter to him.
14 "I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me.
15 In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary.
16 You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too. They'll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one Shepherd.
17 This is why the Father loves me: because I freely lay down my life. And so I am free to take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me. I lay it down of my own free will. I have the right to lay it down; I also have the right to take it up again. I received this authority personally from my Father."

 “Jesus is both the good shepherd and the gate of the sheep (vs 7-10), a stone enclosure to keep and protect sheep at night.”

“The shepherd – sheep relationship is one of intimacy, guidance, and care.”
“The image of Jesus as the good shepherd focuses on his death (mentioned five times) as an essential part of offering abundant life.” (CEB p 1349)

 The Hymn that reflects this scripture is “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” words: attribute to Dorothy A. Thrupp, 1836
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1.   Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care; In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare: Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou hast bought us, Thine we are; Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

2.  We are Thine; do Thou befriend us, be the Guardian of our way; keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray: Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Hear, O hear us when we pray; Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Hear, O hear us when we pray.

3.  Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be; thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse, and power to free: Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, we will early turn to Thee; Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, we will early turn to Thee.

4.  Early let us seek Thy favor; early let us do Thy will; Blessed Lord and only Savior,
with Thy love our bosoms fill: Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou hast loved us, love us still;
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou hast loved us, love us still.