Who Is Leading You?

John 10

Parable of the Good Shepherd

1"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.
2"But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.
3"To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4"When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5"A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."
6This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.
7So Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8"All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9"I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
10"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
11"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

In a world like today where all kinds of voices are screaming at us from different directions, it is vitally important that we know the right one to follow. Last week a very peculiar event happened in Vancouver at the Winter Olympics. Sven Kramer of the Netherlands was competing in the Men’s 10,000 meter speed skate and was on pace to win the gold. With eight laps left to go in the race, Kramer’s coach, Gerard Kemkers, instructed Kramer to move to the inside lane; however, this was an incorrect move. It was a simple mistake by the coach, but it cost Kramer the gold medal and even money from endorsers.

This current day story can teach us many things that Jesus taught in John chapter 10. Jesus teaches us the importance of knowing the Shepherd’s voice so that He can lead us in the right direction. The question is, how do we know Jesus’ voice? Despite the mistake between the two, Kramer and Kemkers show us the answer. How could Kramer, skating in front of thousands of loud people, distinguish his coach’s voice apart from all the others? Kramer had spent time with his coach. He knew his coach, and he had trained with his coach. Kramer knew what his coach’s voice sounded like.

The same is true with God and us. If we never spend any time with Him, then we will never know His voice. How do we spend time with Him? As “Sunday School answerish” as it may sound, reading the Bible, prayer, going to church, fellowshipping with believers, and things like this are ways we can spend time with God. The more time we spend with Him, the clearer His voice becomes.

What’s amazing about all of this is that while Kramer’s coach led him astray, Jesus will never lead us down the wrong path. In fact, we will be led in quite the opposite direction. Verse 10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” Following Christ is not about “following the rules” or having a “boring life.” Jesus wants to lead us to an amazing life that fulfills every longing we have ever had. So many people are looking for meaning today, and a life following Christ gives us that.

He is the Good Shepherd. He lays down His life for His sheep. Doesn’t that sound like someone you would want to spend time with? If you do not know His voice very well, spend some time listening.

You can read the story of Kramer and his coach here.