9th June 2025
The opening of our eyes
Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
John 10:21 (NLT)
This question was asked by some in the crowd, after Jesus had explained about who he was – the Good Shepherd (vv. 7-18). They were still confused, some saw him as a demon, some looked at what signs he had performed. If I was there in the crowd, would I have been confused as well? I am blessed with the word of God in written form and in the Spirit within me. How blessed I am to have God with me in this way.
As I read these verses about Jesus, I was brought back to my 20 years of raising sheep. It started with one ram needing a home and grew as my daughters entered ‘4-H’ with their sheep projects and proceeded to raising rams and lambs. It was a labour-intensive time of my life. I learned the meaning of 24/7/365, where taking care of the sheep (and my family as well) was a full-time job. I remember going out in the dark at 2 in the morning with temperatures near –20F to check on the ewes who were beginning to have their lambs. I had to care for their every need no matter what time it was.
We often take this life for granted. We are provided for in so many ways. Here is Jesus, our Good Shepherd, giving his all for his flock, 24/7/365, and even to the point of dying for us. He is always giving and sacrificing for us. There were a few ewes who were ready and willing to hurt me and did. They did not understand how what I was doing was to their benefit and were afraid. Oh, how we hurt Jesus with our wayward ways, but he stays with us and loves us, helping us to understand.
One of my many jobs was bringing the ewes into the barn to have their lambs. I assisted if they needed help, I made sure the lambs were nursed and I cared for their health needs: with shots, setting broken legs, docking tails, and even treating inverted eyelids. If not treated, the inverted eyelids would be more than uncomfortable, it could lead to infection and blindness. As Jesus cares for us, he opens our eyes, our minds, so that we can see the truth of who he is, as our always present God, our loving Saviour, the giver and maintainer of our lives. He is the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life so that we could live a blessed life in him.
I knew everything about my sheep, and they learned to trust me. When sending a few ewes out to another farm to be bred, the shepherds were frustrated with them because they ran from them refusing to go where they wanted them to, and my ewes were not afraid of their sheep dog that tried to herd them. They were not their shepherds. They knew my voice; they trusted me and trusted where I led them because they were witnesses to my care for them. Jesus showed how much he cared as he laid down his life for us and took it up again bringing us with him to the Fathers side. “They will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd” (v. 16). Praise be to our Lord Jesus!
Prayer
Merciful God, we trust you will lead us where it is safe, where you will provide for us and teach us your ways. Though this world can be a scary place at times, you will be by our side and will lead us through the hard times. Thank you, God, for your goodness and your saving ways. We praise you, in Jesus’s name, Amen.
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Study by: Anne Gillam About the author: |
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