Sunday 7 December 2014

The parable of the Good Shepherd - Christ's message in a nutshell

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Watching this today, it seemed to me that I understood the well-known parable properly for the first time; and it seemed to say almost everything essential in Christ's teaching.

How strange and interesting that a simple parable should be so profound, should say so much in so small a compass; but then why else would Christ have taught using parables?

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The Gospel of John - 10:

1. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Also, in the index of Alfred Edersheim's great work at ccel.org you can click particular miracles or times/locations of Jesus' ministry for amazing insight.

-Martin S.

Leo said...

Bruce,

I must thank you for alerting me to these video's a while back. I was previously vaguely aware of them, but not following them closely. Since then I have been greatly nourished by them. They are wonderfully simple, yet powerful.

Besides the ones featuring the Savior, I have watched the Song of Zacharias multiple times of late. See https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/the-naming-of-john-the-baptist?lang=eng

Bruce Charlton said...

@Leo - Glad to be of service! I agree about that particular video. It makes me feel almost as if I was there.