We see Jesus share with us today two things that made me ponder. First, He has sheep in other flocks. What did this mean to the people who heard Him? What does this mean to us today? And we also see this beautiful reminder. No one took His life; He laid it down willingly. Why? Because He loves His sheep. He loves us. Life comes from laying down your life as a Christian, as a spouse, as a parent, as a child, and as a friend. When we lay our lives down, we find life.

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Good morning! It’s a pleasure to be with you on this beautiful Wednesday. I’m Andy Stoddard, the lead pastor at St. Matthew United Methodist Church, and I’m glad to continue our “Rooted in Christ” devotions today. I hope these sessions have been meaningful for you as they have been for me. We’ve been studying the Gospel of John, which is such a rich and powerful book. You know, many people recommend starting with John when first reading the Bible because of its well-known passages, like John 3:16. However, John is also incredibly deep. For example, we’ve seen in recent chapters just how complex Jesus’ teachings can be, particularly when He speaks about communion and the sacrifice He offers. Because of this depth, I often suggest starting with the Gospel of Mark for newcomers, as it’s more straightforward. That being said, John’s Gospel is truly a treasure.

Today, we’re going to continue with John 10. We’ve broken up this chapter into two parts. Yesterday, we read verses 1–10, and today we’ll finish by reading John 10:11–21.

Once again, we find Jesus making a bold statement with another “I am” phrase: “I am the good shepherd.” A few key things stand out in this passage, and I’d like to focus on a specific verse that really struck me as a young Christian and still resonates with me today—verse 16:

“I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

When I first encountered this verse, it blew my mind. Jesus was speaking to the Jewish leaders and essentially telling them, “I have sheep that are not Jewish.” He was talking about the Gentiles, expanding the reach of His ministry to include those outside of the Jewish community. We see throughout the Gospels that Jesus constantly welcomed outsiders and extended His grace beyond traditional boundaries.

Now, when I first heard this verse as a young Christian, I understood it in a broader sense too. It made me realize that there are sheep beyond just my church, my denomination, or even those who share my theology. The Body of Christ is larger than any one group or denomination. Jesus is calling all who hear His voice into His fold, and it reminds us that His grace extends to everyone, regardless of their background.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that true maturity in faith is not about having all the answers, but about acknowledging how little we really know. We are saved by grace, not by our knowledge or theology. So whether we come from different denominations or theological perspectives, we are all part of the same flock if we put our faith in Jesus. We may not always agree on everything, but we are called to love one another and work together as one flock under one shepherd.

Jesus is the good shepherd who willingly laid down His life for us. It’s not that His life was taken from Him—He gave it freely out of love. This self-sacrifice is the heart of true love and relationships. Just as Jesus laid down His life for us, we are called to lay down our lives for others. This isn’t just a figurative idea; it’s about sacrificing our egos, our pride, and our selfish desires for the sake of love. Whether it’s in our marriages, friendships, or parenting, true love involves putting others before ourselves.

In every aspect of life, growth comes when we are willing to let go of our ego and serve others. Jesus modeled this perfectly by sacrificing Himself for us, and we are called to follow His example. He didn’t run away when things got hard, like the hired hand in the passage. He stayed and gave His all because He loves us. And that’s what we are called to do in our relationships—with our spouses, our children, our friends, and even our co-workers.

At the end of the day, Jesus is our good shepherd, and He knows us intimately. He laid down His life so that we might have life. Let’s remember that as we go through our days, and let’s commit to following His example by laying down our lives for those we love. That’s where true life is found—in giving of ourselves for others.

Tomorrow, we’ll finish John chapter 10 by reading verses 22 through the end of the chapter. Until then, may you have a blessed Wednesday, and I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow. Take care, and have a great day!