“…the Lord stood near Paul. He said, “Be brave! You have given witness about me in Jerusalem. You must DO THE SAME IN ROME.” (Acts 23:11) Paul was just assured by God that he would go to Rome and preach the Gospel but the devil had a different agenda, “The next morning the Jews gathered secretly to make plans AGAINST PAUL. They took an oath that they would not eat or drink anything UNTIL THEY HAD KILLED PAUL. More than 40 men took part in this plan.” (Acts 23:11-13) The Lord saw to it that Paul made it to Rome ok.
So, we see once again Satan’s plan to PREVENT THE GOSPEL from being preached, “The thief (ho: one who steals) does not come except to STEAL, and to KILL, and to DESTROY. I have come that they may have LIFE, and that they may have it MORE ABUNDANTLY.” (John 10:10) The devil wants to steal our ability to see the true means of salvation, kill our confidence in what God can do, destroy our relationship with God. Jesus offers us life, zōē: the absolute fulness of life, which belongs to God. Life more abundantly: superior in quality.
Just prior to Jesus’ discussion of shepherds and sheep, He had healed a man born blind (John 9). The man was taken to the Pharisees, who investigated the healing but refused to acknowledge Jesus as the healer; in fact, THEY MOCKED THE HEALED MAN FOR TRUSTING JESUS. When Jesus heard what happened, He went to the previously blind man, revealed Himself as the Son of Man, and accepted the man’s worship of Him. Then Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind” (John 9:39). “Some Pharisees overheard this and, taking offense, asked, “What? Are we blind too?” (John 9:40). Jesus replied, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, YOUR GUILT REMAINS. Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is A THIEF AND A ROBBER. The one who enters by the gate is the SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP” (John 9:41—10:2).
“…though I WALK THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for YOU ARE WITH ME; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalms 23:4)
-Bill Stockham