Lent Day 24 [03.16.2026] The Good Shepherd

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. - John 10:11

Scripture: John 10

In our scripture today, Jesus portrays His relationship with us to that of the good shepherd and His sheep. The goodness of this shepherd is described in three ways:

1.     The shepherd builds a familiar relationship with his sheep so they would recognize his voice.

2.     The shepherd provides a pasture to nurture his sheep.

3.     The shepherd lays his life down for his sheep to protect them.

Jesus emphasizes that a hired hand may be good at herding sheep, but only the one who loves his sheep would lay down his life for them rather than abandon them in the face of danger. His words cause division and conviction because many had followed the teachers of the Jewish law, but Jesus had called them thieves and robbers. He calls the hired hands, not true shepherds who love their people. We find the same sentiment in our world and lives today. As a society, we often find ourselves flocking towards the latest trend, riches and wealth, fame and glory; however, Jesus tells us that the things we desire to have and become of this world will abandon us to darkness, shame, and death. Jesus is the one true good shepherd because He chose to lay His own life down for us. Nobody forced Jesus’ hand and in every moment of His ministry and death, He remained in full control and yet with His absolute power, He chose to give up His life for us. In the circumstance of danger, darkness, and defeat, Jesus did not abandon us but allowed the wolves to take His life rather than the life of His sheep.

The beauty of God’s love for us is often described at the pinnacle moment of His crucifixion, but Jesus also describes the good shepherd as one who spends time with his sheep. The shepherd is so readily available and seeks to know each of his sheep so much so that the sheep recognize his voice alone. The shepherd calls them and leads them into pasture to provide a full life for each of his sheep. The sheep know the shepherd and the shepherd knows his sheep.

Reflection:

1.     How can we learn to listen for the voice of our shepherd and learn to ignore the voice of strangers?

2.     In what ways can we be a good shepherd to others?  

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for your gift of love and sacrifice. I desire to hear your voice and follow you alone. Help me to rid my life of voices, thoughts, and motivations that are not from you. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

제목: 선한 목자

본문: 요한복음 10장

오늘 본문에서 예수님은 우리와 자신의 관계를 선한 목자와 양의 관계로 비유하십니다. 이 목자의 선함은 세 가지로 설명됩니다.

1. 목자는 양들이 자신의 음성을 알아들을 수 있도록 친밀한 관계를 맺습니다.

2. 목자는 양들을 기르기 위해 푸른 초장으로 인도합니다.

3. 목자는 양들을 보호하기 위해 자신의 생명을 내어놓습니다.

예수님은 삯꾼도 양을 돌볼 수는 있지만, 진정으로 양을 사랑하는 목자만이 위험 앞에서 양을 버리지 않고 자신의 생명을 내어놓는다고 강조하십니다. 이 말씀은 많은 사람들에게 분열과 도전을 가져왔습니다. 왜냐하면 많은 사람들이 율법 교사들을 따르고 있었는데, 예수님은 그들을 도둑이요 강도라고 부르셨기 때문입니다. 그들은 참된 목자가 아니라 삯꾼에 불과했습니다.

오늘날 우리의 삶에서도 같은 모습이 나타납니다. 우리는 종종 유행, 부와 재물, 명예와 영광을 따라가지만, 예수님은 이러한 것들이 결국 우리를 어둠과 수치, 죽음으로 이끈다고 말씀하십니다. 예수님이 참된 선한 목자인 이유는 우리를 위해 자신의 생명을 자발적으로 내어놓으셨기 때문입니다. 누구도 예수님을 억지로 죽음으로 몰아넣지 않았습니다. 모든 순간 속에서 예수님은 완전한 주권을 가지고 계셨지만, 그분은 자신의 생명을 기꺼이 내어주셨습니다. 위험과 어둠과 패배의 순간 속에서도 예수님은 우리를 버리지 않으시고, 양 대신 자신이 희생되기를 선택하셨습니다.

하나님의 사랑은 십자가에서 가장 분명하게 드러나지만, 예수님은 또한 선한 목자가 양들과 함께 시간을 보내는 분이라고 말씀하십니다. 목자는 언제나 가까이 있으며, 각 양을 깊이 알고자 하십니다. 그래서 양들은 오직 그 목자의 음성만을 알아듣습니다. 목자는 양들을 부르고, 푸른 초장으로 인도하여 풍성한 삶을 누리게 합니다. 양은 목자를 알고, 목자는 양을 압니다.

묵상 질문

1. 우리는 어떻게 목자의 음성을 듣고, 낯선 자의 음성을 분별할 수 있을까요?

2. 우리는 다른 사람들에게 어떻게 선한 목자가 될 수 있을까요?

   
   

기도

하나님 아버지, 사랑과 희생의 선물을 주셔서 감사합니다. 주님의 음성을 듣고 오직 주님만 따르기를 원합니다. 제 삶에서 주님께로부터 온 것이 아닌 모든 소리와 생각과 동기를 제거하도록 도와주세요. 예수님의 이름으로 기도드립니다. 아멘.