On Monday, a few of us headed for the Manchester Cathedral for a small group. This was the first time I had been. The group meets once a month for dinner and then they have a teaching. Right now they are studying the seven "I Am's" of Jesus. This week was "I am the Good Shepard".

This week we talked about some interesting things that had to do with Jesus being the Good Shepard. For example, in the parable, when the Shepard had to leave his sheep to go find the one sheep that was lost, what happened to the rest of the sheep? When we are in the pin, can we still get attacked by wolves? Or wolves in sheep's clothing?

Just a few interesting topics to think about. What are the wolves in your life? The things that are degrading to you, tear you down, break you. How do you feel the Jesus coming and healing you? Putting you back together, mending you, carrying you until you can walk again.

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The
hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the
wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks
the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I
have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them
also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock
and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No
one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have
authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This
command I received from my Father."