Daily Devotions
My Song In The Night (Gospel of John)
我夜间的歌曲 (约翰福音）
A Special Relationship between Shepherd and Sheep
Text: John 10: 3
A SPECIAL RELATIONSHP BETWEEN SHEPHERD AND SHEEP
A special relationship is cultivated between shepherd and sheep. This is beautifully described here.
“To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”
John 10:3
1. The shepherd and the doorkeeper
a. The relationship between them is normal.
b. Both are human beings and they can communicate with each other easily.
c. The doorkeeper and the shepherd
i. They have a business relationship.
ii. They may even have a casual friendship.
2. The shepherd and the sheep
a. This relationship is complex.
b. Much of the work has to be done by the shepherd in order to build a strong relationship.
3. The cultivation of a deep and lasting relationship involves at least three things
a. The shepherd gives to his sheep a name each.
i. The shepherd would have to know each sheep well.
ii. He has to care for each one especially.
iii. He has to love each sheep individually.
b. He calls them by name until they are used to his voice.
i. All sheep may look alike.
ii. They would be difficult to distinguish in a common public sheepfold.
iii. The shepherd would call his own sheep by name and it would respond to his voice.
c. He leads them out.
i. This is what he does regularly.
ii. He and his sheep have established a special relationship with each other.
iii. His sheep would respond to his call.
4. The sheep
a. They would have to make an effort to respond to their shepherd.
b. This would be natural if they related to him from birth (a process called “imprinting’).
经文：约翰福音10：3
牧羊人与羊群之间的特殊关系
牧羊人和羊群之间建立了一种特殊的关系。以下经节美好地描述了这 一点。
“看门的就给他开门，羊也听他的声音。他按着名叫自己的羊，把羊领出来。”
《约翰福音10：3》