Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods” ’? If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
—John 10:22-39

~~~~~

The Just Shepherd
By Jennifer Kane

They wear the badge,
carry the sword,
sit behind robes and benches—
appointed, elected,
given the power
to decide right from wrong,
to weigh the scales.
But their hands shake.
Their vision blurs.
Sometimes the gavel falls
on the innocent.

We cry for justice
in courtrooms built of stone,
but the stones
do not answer back.
The law is cold
when mercy is needed.
And too often,
truth slips quietly
through cracks in the system.

But there is another gate—
a Shepherd stands there.
He does not climb in by force,
nor twist the law to His will.
He enters by right,
by nature,
by love.

He calls each sheep
by name.
No case file.
No docket number.
Just—
beloved.
Known.
Protected.

Where rulers fail,
He does not.
Where the sword cuts wrongly,
His staff guides gently.
Where no one listens,
He hears the cry.

The Just Shepherd
laid down His life
not as a martyr,
but as a judge
who bore the sentence Himself.

And He will come again—
not with pomp or campaign,
but with fire in His eyes
and justice in His hands.

So I wait,
not bitter,
but bold.
Not afraid,
but faithful.

I trust the Shepherd
who knows the whole story,
who rights every wrong,
who never misses a name.

~~~~~

Scripture: John 10:1-42

In John 10, Jesus paints a vivid contrast between Himself and others who claim authority over God’s people. He is not like the hired hand who abandons the flock in danger, nor like the thief who climbs in by another way. He is the Good Shepherd—the one who enters by the gate, who knows His sheep by name, who lays down His life willingly. His authority is not borrowed, bribed, or bestowed by man. It is inherent in His divine nature. He is God in the flesh, and as such, He is the perfect judge and protector.

In contrast, the apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 13:1–7 that earthly rulers have been granted authority by God to bear the sword—to uphold justice and restrain evil. This authority is real and God-ordained, yet it is delegated, not divine. And because it is exercised by flawed human beings, it is often marred by injustice, bias, and corruption.

We feel the ache of that imperfection when the guilty go free and the innocent suffer. We long for justice, and rightly so—it reflects God’s own character. But when the systems of this world fail us, we do not despair. We lift our eyes to the One who will never fail to do what is right.

Jesus, our Good Shepherd, not only leads us beside still waters—He also judges with righteousness and truth. He laid down His life to satisfy divine justice at the cross, and He will come again to set all things right. Where earthly courts may err, the heavenly court will not. Every hidden motive will be revealed, every wrong will be reckoned with, and every tear will be wiped away by the Shepherd who knows our suffering firsthand.

So we live in confidence, not cynicism. We honor earthly authorities as Scripture commands, but we do not place our ultimate hope in them. Our trust rests in Jesus Christ, the Shepherd-King, whose justice is both perfect and eternal.

Have you ever experienced or witnessed a failure of earthly justice? How did it affect your trust in authority?
What does it mean for your peace and confidence to know that Jesus sees and will judge rightly in the end?
How can you reflect the justice and mercy of your Shepherd in the way you treat others?

~~~~~

Lord Jesus, You are the Good Shepherd who laid down Your life for us. While earthly authorities may fail, You reign with justice and truth. Help me to honor those in leadership, but to trust fully in You. When I face injustice or see others suffer unfairly, remind me that Your justice is sure and Your kingdom is coming. Strengthen my heart to wait on You, and help me to act with integrity, mercy, and hope in the meantime. Amen.

July 5 2025