The Voice of the Good Shepherd
By: Heather Strube, Head of School
During chapel last Friday, we read aloud from John 10. The pastor reading to our K-8 students had intended to stop midway through the chapter at verse 10, where Jesus says:
“ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ”
The pastor stopped, but there was a tangible sense the children desired for him to keep reading.“ I was going to stop reading here, but do you want me to keep going?” he asked.
“Yes!” they responded enthusiastically. The pastor kept reading.
“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. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
As I heard the passage read aloud in the company of children, faculty, and staff, I wondered how the Spirit might work these words into their hearts and minds. I prayed He would help them imagine these words as spoken directly to them. I AM the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep; My sheep know me; I lay down my life; No one takes it from me; I lay down my life and take it up again.
As you hear this scripture today, do you hear Jesus the Good Shepherd speaking to you? Do you long to hear more, just as the children longed to hear more? As we journey through Holy Week, may these words remind you of who Jesus is and what He has done. He is your Good Shepherd. He knows you fully, loves you deeply, gave His life for you, and rose again so that you might have life in Him. May that truth bring you comfort, courage, and hope in the days ahead.
