【双语灵修】耶稣是好牧羊人

约翰福音 10:7-18

所以，耶稣又对他们说：“我实实在在地告诉你们：我就是羊的门。凡在我以先来的都是贼，是强盗，羊却不听他们。我就是门，凡从我进来的，必然得救，并且出入得草吃。盗贼来，无非要偷窃、杀害、毁坏；我来了，是要叫羊[a]得生命，并且得的更丰盛。

“我是好牧人，好牧人为羊舍命。若是雇工，不是牧人，羊也不是他自己的，他看见狼来，就撇下羊逃走，狼抓住羊，赶散了羊群。雇工逃走，因他是雇工，并不顾念羊。我是好牧人，我认识我的羊，我的羊也认识我，正如父认识我，我也认识父一样；并且我为羊舍命。我另

外有羊，不是这圈里的，我必须领它们来，它们也要听我的声音，并且要合成一群，归一个牧人了。我父爱我，因我将命舍去，好再取回来。 没有人夺我的命去，是我自己舍的。我有权柄舍了，也有权柄取回来，这是我从我父所受的命令。”

7月18日

耶稣是好牧羊人

“我是好牧人，好牧人为羊舍命。” -约 10:11

耶稣清楚指明，祂的工作比一般的工作要付出得多，是要做出牺牲。祂不是在假装照顾主的羊，直至有更好的选择出现为止。耶稣乃是任何想要去到主的羊的偷猎者或腐败势力，先要经过的一扇门。祂因为深爱我们，愿意为我们受死，藉此带领我们返回祂父家的那一位。

这就是耶稣的使命，羊和好牧羊人是完全彼此相连的。《罗马书》八章39节告诉我们，没有任何事物能够”叫我们与神的爱隔绝；这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的”。耶稣不认为祂是为父的缘故被逼完成这个使命的，因为祂与父有同一的想法，推动祂们这样行的，就是祂们同样爱这些羊。

圣子耶稣放弃天上的权利，倒空自己来到世上，邀请我们重修与父神和创造主的关系（腓立比书2:6-8）。这是多么了不起的牺牲啊！而更伟大的，就是耶稣愿意为我们舍命，好让我们得蒙拯救。这是何等奇妙的恩典！这是何等丰盛的慈爱！

今天，我们可以怎样感谢神那出人意表的赐与呢？

祷告

耶稣啊，我们为祢舍己的爱感谢祢，又为没有任何事物能使我们与祢分开感谢祢。求祢帮助我们勇敢地活出这个充满恩典的真理。阿们。

John 10:7-18

FRIDAY, JULY 18

JESUS, THE GOOD SHEPHERD

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

Jesus makes clear that his work is much more than a job to do. He has real skin in the game. He is not playing at caring for the Lord’s sheep until something better comes along. Jesus is the gate that any poacher or corrupting force would have to pass through to get to the Lord’s sheep—and because of his deep love for us, he is willing to die on our behalf in order to bring us back home to his Father.

This is Jesus’ mission. The sheep and the good shepherd are completely connected to each other. As Romans 8:39 tells us, nothing can “separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus doesn’t feel put upon to carry out this mission for the Father; he and the Father are of one mind, both driven by a shared love for the sheep.

Jesus the Son gave up his privilege in heaven, emptying himself to come and invite us back into a relationship with God our Father and Creator (Philippians 2:6-8). What an amazing sacrifice! And this is amplified by Jesus’ willingness to lay down his life for us so that we can be saved. This is amazing grace! This is abounding love!

How can you thank God for this astonishing gift today?

We thank you, Jesus, for your sacrificial love. Thank you that nothing can separate us from you. Help us to live boldly into this gracious truth. Amen.